tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post5045843080028373194..comments2023-12-07T00:20:11.666-08:00Comments on My OCD Story: Putting one foot in front of the other...hopefulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964188029918140725noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-42205482623727061522014-08-27T00:06:00.542-07:002014-08-27T00:06:00.542-07:00Also, going out to eat for your birthday would be ...Also, going out to eat for your birthday would be an amazing start to kickoff the year. Maybe you could try going out the week before just so it wouldn't be the first time the day of your birthday, or try thinking of it as a statement of minimizing ocd of this year of your life from day one. Again, I've been in this exact same boat and eating birthday cake from somewhere when I couldn't eat anything anyone else made was something I tried that day and I've never looked back. It sounds like a great opportunity if you can try. I can tell you exactly how I got through that part if that would be helpful to you. Xoxo. Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10315632629477590150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-52143290104031522072014-08-27T00:00:49.779-07:002014-08-27T00:00:49.779-07:00Hi Hopeful,
You sound like you are doing so mu...Hi Hopeful, <br /> You sound like you are doing so much and I understand (and live out) the idea of getting your clean world mixed with your contaminated world. With handwashing, here are a couple things to consider: have you tried making a record of when and how long you wash your hands and what triggers each event? Doing that could help you see where you are exactly and then you can start to try and cut back slowly in some areas after you get a baseline (or at least that's what I did)...for me, I think it was starting with touching my phone and then not washing my hands and I tried it once, and then continued on from there. Also, I think you said you live out west, but it is going to be colder soon and I've always found that my skin would get worse on my hands when handwashing increased and the weather got colder. You could also try decreasing the duration of your handwashing, as you might have a specific routine of how you wash your hands...very little steps, one change. One thing that really helped me for some reason was knowing that some of my friends didn't wash their hands after touching their phones--or anyone I knew really--and I thought about that..if these people I looked up to could do it, so could I (if that makes any sense). I am so proud of you and the 20% decrease is just ridiculously awesome....that's a huge number!! Merging your safe and clean worlds--well, there is no word that comes to mind for how mentally difficult that is in ocd...so try not to think of that as minimizing your progress. <br /><br />Going back to the handwashing--I can think of a time when it hurt me just to make a fist with my hand because my skin was so raw and bleeding and I would AVOID washing my hands bc it got to the point that it hurt so badly....life is better without the three pumps of soap, the scrubbing routine, the counting in case you messed up, the repeat of the entire thing. I wish I could do that Harry potter thing where you can read thoughts because I have been in both situations and would love to hear that this part is getting better for you. <br /><br />Also, I agreed with everyone of Sunny's words, per usual. Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10315632629477590150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-86577971749100472014-08-02T20:34:22.322-07:002014-08-02T20:34:22.322-07:00WOW. Seriously, WOW. You are making significant pr...WOW. Seriously, WOW. You are making significant progress, this is incredibly impressive. Oh how I hate that "unclean" feeling too! But you know what? It actually DOES go away over time. Well, the only suggestion I can give you about the handwashing us just to allow yourself one wash at a time and that's it. Go to the bathroom, wash hands once, for example.<br /><br />The other thing is that I watch other people for examples for how to act. If they touch a door knob without washing, then I try to do the same.<br /><br />Anyway, I think you should be IMMENSELY proud of yourself. These are NOT little victories. They are huge. You are literally changing your life and your daughter's life. Just think about that . . .71º & Sunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09981113989131619635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-34022772509048896752014-08-02T17:48:13.092-07:002014-08-02T17:48:13.092-07:00A friend tipped me to buy some crab apple essentia...A friend tipped me to buy some crab apple essential oil and put 4 drops to a glass of water, and drink as frequent as I'd like. She said its good for people like us who feel that we can never be dirty. I did not try it because Im already on medication, but I have read it could really be helpful, you may want to google it.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-70122837469751871022014-08-02T17:43:20.447-07:002014-08-02T17:43:20.447-07:00A month ago, I accidentally contaminated my bed (i...A month ago, I accidentally contaminated my bed (i dont even remember now how), but because i was tired and just changed the sheets the night before, i did not change it. I could not sleep well, but I was thinking if i still feel the same way the next day, I will just change the sheets. I think thats how I accidentally applied the delaying tactics they mentioned in books. The night after, I was already comfortable sleeping on the "contaminated" bed. Changed the sheets 2 weeks after, which is my normal frequency.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-6158457766675496922014-08-02T17:35:41.984-07:002014-08-02T17:35:41.984-07:00maybe i ve missed a post on how you share the frid...maybe i ve missed a post on how you share the fridge with your husband? because if you do, then i think youve been "contaminated" all these years without knowing it. And youre still alive!Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-55672469745891886562014-08-02T17:30:11.835-07:002014-08-02T17:30:11.835-07:00I think ive mentioned in previous comments, and yo...I think ive mentioned in previous comments, and you know this too, that our immune system needs to practice on fighting germs to keep it strong. We are a part of the earth and our environment, and theres really no way you can completely avoid germs. Theyre everywhere! Our skin has its own bacteria (natural flora) which attacks foreign germs that attach to our skin. I know its not very easy to absorb these truths, but they helped me with my case. When I get exposed at the grocery for example, I just look around and feel consolation that others are exposed as well but they dont mind at all. We have our immune system, and it helps me when I think of that. We should focus on keeping our immune system healthy and strong, thats the only way we could really combat germs.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-27597318590020331222014-08-02T17:18:12.670-07:002014-08-02T17:18:12.670-07:00Can you get your clothes dirty and just shower bef...Can you get your clothes dirty and just shower before going to bed for now? And then later on when youre ready, dont shower at all? Johnnoreply@blogger.com