It includes an obsession with these abstractions and the anxiety that comes along with them. Here are the best ones. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) causes repeated actions or thoughts, and it can manifest in a variety of ways. Contamination OCD means you're neat and organized: The common utterance of "I'm so OCD" is often made by people who prefer to keep their houses, cars, and office spaces neat and organized. All rights reserved. It is characterized by fear of getting contaminated with something and compulsive behaviors that are performed to eliminate the. This could include: You might also benefit from using an OCD workbook, such as Getting Over OCD: A 10- Step Workbook for Taking Back Your Life or The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD. Turna J, et al. The obsessions in contamination OCD revolve around exposure to potentially harmful substances, Rosen said. (2020). What this means is that when you have a cut on your arm, for example, the blood is pushed out of the cut pushing whatever might have fallen onto the cut away from the opening. People may believe that by cleaning objects or spaces in a specific order or with a particular frequency, they can avoid or recover from contamination or infection. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) doesnt distinguish between different types of OCD, which is why contamination OCD isnt a diagnosis in itself. Obsessions can revolve around the fear of: These obsessions might center on the feeling of uncleanliness. The internal voice that says ewww is also saying run away. Normally, this would not pose much of a problem, unless you felt you needed certainty that you were far enough away. Sometimes OCD goes into remission on its own, especially if it initially appears during childhood. If you help them carry out their compulsions, it reinforces the idea that everything needs to be clean in order for them to feel safe. Hockey player Corey Hirsch shares his story on this podcast episode. For more general information, please visit our "About OCD" section. This disgust may be an evolutionary necessity. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC, Psychology and the Mystery of the "Poisoned" Schoolgirls. The best outcomes happen when people are diagnosed early and start a robust treatment program right away. But when OCD puts all the focus on dangerous, all of lifes other qualities become obscured. Anything could make you sick, so everything should be treated as a possible source of contamination. Beyond therapy, you also might benefit from prescription medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). There is not only a fear of possibly harming others, but also a fear of having to live with the resulting guilt. Antibacterial soaps, peroxide, and disinfectants, such as Lysol, can be used to excess by some, causing further skin damage. (2022). The problem, however, is that compulsions fail to guarantee success. I should know I've lived it. Compulsions are the usual responses of sufferers to these fears. These intrusive thoughts cause the person serious anxiety and distress, which they try to relieve with compulsive behavior, like excessive washing or avoiding crowded spaces. Some patients can only touch something that has touched a feared substance or object, and only later do they go on to touch directly what is feared. Actually, when you take a closer look, contamination is quite a bit more complicated than that. Moody TD, et al. These articles are about special topics related to OCD and related disorders. (2019). But OCD makes it difficult to draw that line. Perhaps the most visible of all OCD symptoms are those related to the fear of disease. Some dangers, like predators or harsh weather, were easy to recognize, and our ancestors evolved straightforward behaviors to manage themsuch as the fight or flight response. Contamination OCD is a common form of OCD. Some people choose to hide their symptoms, often in fear of embarrassment or stigma. Because the threat of contamination is so vague and nebulous, it can overwhelm you and inappropriately occupy your thoughts. After all, if you are seeing blood outside of the body, it usually means something is wrong. or call 410-927-5462. A monozygotic twin difference study. By staying with the anxiety, sufferers come to learn the truth of the matterthat nothing really happens when they face their fears, and that their efforts at taking precautions serve no real purpose. Alcohol preps and disinfectant hand wipes are also popular. The Nature and Moral Significance of Disgust writes that the disgust response is equippedunderstandably, given the nature of the adaptive problemwith a bit of a hair trigger. When you feel sick, it is very easy to become disgusted by anything that might have caused it. a red mark on a wall), Checking for blood or for cuts in the skin (on self or others), Reassurance seeking online (or elsewhere) regarding blood-borne illnesses and how they are contracted, Reassurance seeking from others that they have not come in contact with blood, Mental rituals, such as mentally retracing what could have touched what or mentally repeating reassuring statements, Scrutinizing the behavior of dentists, doctors or any other professionals who may be exposed to blood (yours or others), There are no documented cases of contracting HIV through environmental contact (i.e., touching infected blood), There are essentially only two ways to get HIV the use of shared hypodermic needles in which blood from one person is literally extracted and put into the bloodstream of another person, and unprotected sex with an infected person in which semen or vaginal secretions are essentially pushed into the bloodstream of another person through tears in the skin of the mouth, vagina, anus, or penis (other ways of contracting it include transmission from pregnant mother to fetus and transfusions of infected blood [which is no longer an issue due to testing standards]). Contamination: Body fluids (examples: urine, feces) Germs/disease (examples: herpes, HIV) Environmental contaminants (examples: asbestos, radiation) 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_516_18, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519704/table/ch3.t13/, mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354438, nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml, ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/obsessive-compulsive-disorder, 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_518_18, 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_521_18, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4331096/, How to Manage and Treat Real Event Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Understanding the Impact of Severe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), No, Youre Not So OCD for Washing Your Hands More Often Now, Understanding the Connection Between Depression and OCD, Everything You Need to Know About Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Glycemic Index: What It Is and How to Use It, feel disgust or fear over certain objects or substances, including dirt, illness, body secretions, trash, or chemicals, believe you or others can be contaminated by magical or spiritual means such as by saying certain names or numbers, have a strong urge to wash your hands or shower frequently, use a very specific process or ritual for washing yourself or your surroundings, avoid places or people that may have been infected, refuse to allow others into your safe spaces, damage your skin or body through excessive cleaning, experience serious anxiety if certain things are not arranged just right, feel an urge to repeat what happens to one side of your body on the other side of your body, fear that if something is unbalanced or uneven, a catastrophe could happen. (2018). They are made to reassure to clean things that cannot be approached, to check the sufferer or the environment for cleanliness, or to touch or use things that are thought to be contaminated. Although people with this symptom cluster generally have no history of violence, they spend a lot of time and energy trying to suppress or erase these thoughts. People often call this issue bathroom OCD.. How is OCD with compulsive cleaning treated? Commonly identified contaminants the context of Contamination OCD include (but are not limited to): Dirt Germs Animals Insects Bodily excretions and fluids (urine, feces, vomit, sweat, tears, mucus, blood, semen, saliva) Bacteria and viruses Raw or spoiled foods Plants Chemicals Cleaning products Radioactivity Sticky substances High traffic areas Common Contamination OCD compulsions: Avoidance: Avoiding objects, places and people that you fear could threaten your health. Brain scans also reveal differences in estrogen receptors and in the amount of white and gray matter in the brains of people with the contamination and cleaning symptom dimensions. The Nature and Moral Significance of Disgust. For example, your therapist might challenge you to touch a dirty shoe and resist the urge to wash your hand immediately. People with contamination OCD may fear getting diseases, touching bodily fluids, spreading germs, and more. Their hands often become bright red and chapped with cracked and bleeding skin. The need to precisely perform rituals and compulsive acts can cause serious anxiety. While there are many treatment options for OCD, ERP and SSRIs are the most effective. The obsession with contamination, and the associated rituals of cleaning and washing, are easy for non-sufferers to identifyand not only because the sufferers distress is so obvious. People with OCD will fear infection or disease from certain triggers. doctors, hairdressers, homeless people, gay people), Avoidance of contact with people in general (i.e. OCD sufferers can feel alienated by their disorder, or even find themselves judged by others. The good news is that there are treatments that can help, The glycemic index (GI) is a value used to measure how much a specific food increases your blood sugar levels. You can find a therapist by searching in the IOCDF resource directory. Since it is not possible to know anything at all times, it is unreasonable to set a rigid guideline that involves a requirement to know such a thing. They also concentrate on learning to accept that there will always be a certain amount of risk in life that can never be eliminated, and that life can still be enjoyed and lived freely in spite of this fact. Being a perfectionist about cleaning doesnt necessarily mean you have OCD. One kind of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), called exposure and response prevention (ERP), is particularly effective. With ERP, youll be exposed to the things that trigger your obsessions without being allowed to engage in your compulsions. In mainstream media, people with OCD are often depicted as strict cleaners who wash their hands excessively and have extreme fears of dirt. This is a common misconception, though. It spirals out of control pretty easily, with each new avoidance sending the message to the brain that death was narrowly escaped, prompting further, more indirect reasons for avoidance. Last medically reviewed on September 23, 2021. OCD symptoms are separated into two categories: obsessions and compulsions. You only need to be infected once to get sick, so you always need to be actively protecting yourself. And how connecting with the OCD community changed her life forever. What this means is that nobody wants to be the cautionary tale or the first person made famous by getting a terrible disease from casual contact with blood. By trying to eliminate risk, they come to see that along with it they will eliminate their ability to function. Here's what can cause OCD guilt and how to reduce symptoms. Poor sleep and diet can worsen your mood, which can increase your stress levels and OCD symptoms. Theres a good outlook for people who seek treatment for their OCD. OCD can affect your time management by making you overthink, strive for perfection, or have trouble focusing. All rights reserved, [ Placeholder content for popup link ] Compulsive cleaning is often related to fears of contamination, and compulsive arranging can be caused by a need for symmetry and balance. If the OCD demands certainty and certainty is unavailable, then why would I certainly avoid sharing a needle but not certainly avoid hugging a person who looks like they might have once shared a needle? About 2 percent of the general population has OCD. Living with OCD comes with a range of daily challenges. . This doubt can be hurtful, but there are ways around it. While OCD isnt curable, it is treatable. Research from 2017 noted the symptoms of OCD can be managed effectively. Here's why someone with, As someone living with OCD, I was afraid of the law of attraction and how I could be manifesting my negative thoughts and obsessions. (2017). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). I have a OCD fear of body fluids, especially sperm and blood. In this series on Contamination OCD, I will attempt to break down the symptoms and treatment for obsessive fear of contamination from three common triggers. There is also a whole category of fears of contamination of a stranger and more magical type, which could include: Obviously, logic has little to do with these fears. It often includes fears around dirt, germs, or illness, and it can involve excessive cleaning and washing rituals. If your loved one lives with OCD, remember to take care of yourself, too. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. For example, one 2017 study found that in people with OCD, theres greater connectivity and activity in parts of the brain associated with habit formation and in parts that process emotions especially fear. OCD produces serious anxiety. Contact contamination OCD is when an individual is triggered when they are touching and/or around physical contaminants, such as dirt, bodily fluids, or garbage. Psych Central only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. From my own experience, I would guess that the fear of certain illnesses may still the leader. All kinds of OCD, including contamination OCD, are categorized as the same disorder as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Contamination OCD involves a lot more than simply being diligent about cleaning, and the symptoms can differ from person to person. But they also faced a different category of dangers that were far harder to notice or react to: the invisible threats of poisons, parasites, and viruses. Stress can make the symptoms of OCD worse, so engaging in healthy stress-management activities may help. Contamination OCD is a common OCD subtype in which a person obsesses over contracting an illness or spreading germs. Not everyone with OCD needs SSRIs in order to improve, though. OCD: Semen Contamination. Genetics seems to play a role in whether you develop OCD or not. OCD begins for people to obtain appropriate treatment. SSRIs would have to be prescribed by a doctor or psychiatrist. Blood is a liquid in the body that delivers oxygen and nutrients to cells and carries away waste from those cells. Its not clear why this is the case. In the next installment, I will go over another area of contamination OCD that many find difficult to talk about, yet many OCD sufferers struggle with fear of contact with semen. It can also include such things as: bodily excretions (urine, feces) bodily fluids (sweat, saliva, mucus, tears, etc.) DSM-5 emphasizes that compulsive acts can take up a lot of time. You experience obsessions, compulsions, or both. Basic self-care, like sleeping adequately and eating a balanced diet, can be helpful. However, this actually enables their OCD, which makes it worse. This means that there is no cure. They may involve any protective act that an individual carries out to avoid becoming contaminated or to remove contamination that has somehow already occurred. Because bathrooms are often thought to be dirty, many people with contamination OCD develop anxiety around bathrooms, whether public or private. (2019). People commonly associate fears of germs and contamination with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), often with images of someone feverishly using hand sanitizer and Lysol to quell their fears. What is most interesting about the obsessive fear of HIV is that for all the handwashing and avoiding, HIV is not an environmental contaminant. Many people with OCD have obsessions about contamination or using the restroom. Contamination OCD often focuses on the bathroom because bathrooms are an area where you can easily be exposed to others bodily fluids. An excessive dread of being responsible for harm can lead to compulsive checking behaviors for example, repeatedly making sure youve turned off the stove or an iron. Sometimes the usual washing or showering may even be part of the magical ritual. This article was initially published in the June 2000 edition of the OCD Newsletter. I believe it should be regarded as a tool to assist in doing behavioral therapy. OCD, then, is much more than a desire to work or live in a clean environment or a preference for neatness. September 21, 2014. OCD produces serious anxiety. You experience obsessions, compulsions, or both. They may . Ekman, Paul. Employing mindfulness skills can be an integral part of revealing distorted thinking and compulsive urges. This can include disease-causing germs, bodily fluids, chemicals, trash, environmental toxins, dead animals, and even dirt. Research suggests that it can affect up to 46% of people with OCD. Why We Need to Stop Using Mental Health Labels So Casually, OCD Scrupulosity in the Mind of a Churchgoing Child, Breaking Down the Cycle of Relationship OCD, Why Our Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts Are Not Random, 5 Things Everyone Needs to Understand About OCD. Some people become preoccupied with arranging objects in a certain order, often because of a kind of magical thinking or magical ideation. People often call this issue "bathroom OCD." We include products we think are useful for our readers. You may feel stressed in circumstances where you feel out of control or uncertain. Often, these unwanted thoughts involve sex, violence, or religious images. hospitals), Avoidance of intimacy and sexual behavior for fear of catching or spreading blood-borne diseases, Excessive avoidance of sharp objects, Band-Aids, or anything that could be perceived as causing or having come in contact with exposed blood, Excessive washing to ensure there is no blood on the skin or clothes, Excessive cleaning of items feared to have come in contact with blood (i.e. Some will go as far as to make lists of things they believe may have happened in the past, so as not forget this vital information. (n.d.). Jalal B, et al. You may have heard that all people with OCD are focused on cleaning and organizing. Anxiety Disorders, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Federal Financial Conflict of Interest Policy, Forms, and Training, Contamination OCD: Blood, Fluids & Bodily WasteOh My! To those of you familiar with OCD, the answer should be obvious behavioral therapy and possibly medicine. It describes OCD as a disorder that causes people to experience distressing thoughts and mental images that wont go away. The compulsion might be to avoid going out in public for too long or to locate a bathroom as soon as you get to a public space. Other common compulsions include repeating mantras, prayers, or safety words to ward off danger or reduce anxiety. The OCD makes a pretty strong case for doing compulsions. With contamination OCD, the symptoms can look like: Possibly. In order to be diagnosed with OCD, you must fit the following criteria: Contamination OCD specifically can include the following symptoms: If you think you might have contamination OCD, its best to seek out a therapist who is experienced in treating OCD. Turna J, et al. In cases of obsessions regarding contamination, many people with OCD will engage in ceremonial hand washing, bathing, or grooming techniques. Led by Jon Hershfield, MFT, The Center for OCD and Anxiety is a private pay outpatient center devoted to the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety disorders in teens and adults. Daniel Kelly, author of Yuck! So, despite there being nothing inherently dangerous about blood, somewhere in our genetic database is probably an urge to avoid being in its presence. If I am not certain, then I may have gotten some blood on me and it may give me a terrible disease. A 2020 study also found that OCD was associated with more inflammation in the gut. A study of psychiatric comorbidities in irritable bowel syndrome. Some studies have found that the symptom dimensions involving OCD cleaning and ordering are especially likely to run in families. Some people with OCD benefit from using medication, but some do not. The main family of medicines used to treat OCD is known as SSRIs (Serotonin Specific Reuptake Inhibitors). Bathroom OCD can also refer to an obsession with pooping. (n.d.). In the end, only acceptance of some level of uncertainty will allow the OCD to be diminished. Morgan Rondinelli talks about growing up with OCD without knowing she had OCD. There are practically no limits to the things that can be contaminating. Read our review of the best online therapy options to find the right fit for you. Protection: Wearing gloves or using paper towels to try and stop germs from touching your skin. But what do these look like, and how are they related? Did You Know Anxiety Can Enhance Our Relationships? Obsessivecompulsive disordercontamination fears, features, and treatment: Novel smartphone therapies in light of global mental health and pandemics (COVID-19). A 2021 study looked at the link between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and OCD. Counting may also be part of a washing ritual to ensure that it has been done long enough period, or a certain number of times. Mindfulness is the practice of observing what is going on inside in the present without judgment or analysis. Common Contamination OCD compulsions: Avoidance. With the right treatment, you can hope to live a normal productive life and go on to fully realize your own real potential. After all, dirt, germs, washing what could be simpler? Yet OCD creates the same problem. They may also be able to live freely in their clean world as long as they themselves are clean when they enter it and also stay that way. Everybody has them because theyre fundamental to our psychology, and a major reason for our success as a species. Similarly, if a thought about blood is present in the mind, mindfulness enables you to see it for what it is, a thought about blood. ERP helps you learn to stop engaging in compulsions. The origins of this obsession lie with our prehistoric ancestors and their dangerous environment. The prevalence of obsessivecompulsive disorder in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: A cross-sectional study. Both are treatable. Mindfulness practice would entail noticing the feeling of contamination and allowing it to be there, as a feeling, without making compulsive attempt to eliminate it. (2015). Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health issue in which the person suffering from it experiences unwanted intrusive thoughts and engages in repeated behaviors aimed at getting certainty that the thoughts wont come true.
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