Covid did this to me… 🙃
Also I have family members that are just like sometimes don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom… so yea that really just triggers me…
Honestly this is probably kinda makes me a bit suicidal…
Which is ironic because the fear of germs is a fear of death…
but sometimes this fear is just so big I can’t deal with it…
wtf…
My spouse has this exact same thing, the thing that worked for them is OCD therapy.
OCD therapy is a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and occupational therapy (which despite the name is more just about strategies to use for practical things like going to the store, out to a cafe, etc)
It hasn’t been easy but they’ve been keeping at it and it’s really helped them in a way nothing else has.
There are very few problems so large that they can’t be solved, but that doesn’t mean the solutions aren’t big and scary themselves. It’s easy to say “go get therapy” but I know that the reality of doing so is difficult. I’ve seen it now first hand how hard it is, but it’s worth it.
The phone call to discuss whether or not they can help is free, NOCD
Take care of yourself, you deserve it.
On top of this, medications like Sertraline help with OCD. (You’ll probably want both until you’re steady, not just therapy or meds.)