tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post7024660083675634764..comments2023-12-07T00:20:11.666-08:00Comments on My OCD Story: Vacations and OCDhopefulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02964188029918140725noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-53066154319347461832017-06-06T21:49:14.215-07:002017-06-06T21:49:14.215-07:00I can't stand it when anyone refers to a menta...I can't stand it when anyone refers to a mental illness and says they're ADHD or OCD or have panic attacks or anxiety when they just are going through regular situations where most people would feel the same way. Just because you are temporarily anxious about a test or something, you do not have an anxiety disorder. I've seen people saying if you aren't diagnosed you don't actually have the disorder, and I'd have to respectfully disagree. Many people live with disorders for years but are afraid to open up about it and talk to someone because they are embarrassed... like me. Contamination OCD is my issue. For me, there are basically two categories, the "outside world" filled with germs and things that are contaminated, and the safe things, or things that I keep clean and will not let anyone touch. Public places are my enemy. I will not touch door handles unless I have a coat on, which I will use the sleeve then fold it so I won't accidentally touch it, then wash it immediately after getting home. My clothes I wear outside in public have to be changed before I sit on my furniture at home and my bed. If my bare skin touches anything out in public which I consider dirty, I'm going to head to the bathroom and scrub it off with some soap and water. Hotels are also very big trigger. The beds... The only time I touch the actual bed is to put my sheets I brought from home and my comforter and pillow on top of the hotel's. I scrub my hands right after, of course because if I don't, I'll be thinking about it up until the time when I get to wash my hands. Tissues and my best friend in hotels especially, although they are always something I couldn't live without. Need to touch the door handle, faucet, remote controller? Just the tissues. I bring my own towels, because the hotels towels have been used by countless amounts of people. Certain things I have like my phone for example, will be dirty due to being outside with me, but I will scrub the case and wipe the screen with alcohol and soap and water as soon as I get home. It's a long list of things, but there are many more. For me, it's a constant embarrassment and takes so much time and energy out of me to performer these rituals I my mind can't be at peace because it constantly worrying an obsessing over contamination.sd00618https://www.blogger.com/profile/09267095375373274427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-50676094480527899322017-02-05T10:09:20.772-08:002017-02-05T10:09:20.772-08:00Hi V! Thanks for reading. This is a really old p...Hi V! Thanks for reading. This is a really old post, but I would still have most of the same problems unfortunately. I would probably do a little bit better with the clothing contamination, but staying in a hotel would be quite difficult for me. I would definitely have a problem with the bedding, towels, etc. To be honest, I haven't even stayed in a hotel since I posted this. If I did I would bring my own linens. I would also bring some disinfectant wipes and wipe down everything in the room (I guess mostly just doorknobs, lightswitches, faucets, remotes, etc. Whatever getes touched often). I'm not sure how I would keep things clean, that is probably part of the reason why I avoid it. Because I just don't know how I would deal with it. As far as sleeping on a bed, I would absolutely bring a big blanket that could cover the whole bed, and then some kind of sheet to cover myself with, and my own pillow. Not to add to your own concerns, but I am terrified of things like bed bugs or just icky contamination being on the bed. I realize that probably most hotels don't wash the comforters between guests, and that really really bothers me. Sorry to hear that you're struggling with it too. It seems like it's always bringing challenges every day, as you well know. Take care!hopefulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02964188029918140725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-65309157858352036832017-02-02T17:45:31.442-08:002017-02-02T17:45:31.442-08:00Hi, I struggle with contamination OCD too, I used ...Hi, I struggle with contamination OCD too, I used to travel a lot but now the idea of sleeping on a hotel bed scares me so much. How do you keep all the items you bring to a hotel clean? Thanks, VVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01430160941852061579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-78839618934809562902016-02-14T16:56:45.613-08:002016-02-14T16:56:45.613-08:00Yes, I would be happy to talk over email. Are you...Yes, I would be happy to talk over email. Are you also suffering from contamination OCD? Please just post your email address on here, and then I will delete the comment (so your email address doesn't stay on here) and I will send you an email message. Thanks!hopefulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02964188029918140725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-15906772009363707062016-02-14T14:36:05.994-08:002016-02-14T14:36:05.994-08:00Are you still working on your ocd? Can we talk ove...Are you still working on your ocd? Can we talk over email?Questionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12058368717174588231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-69766193821867580952016-02-14T14:33:39.337-08:002016-02-14T14:33:39.337-08:00Are you still working on your ocd? Can we talk ove...Are you still working on your ocd? Can we talk over email?Questionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12058368717174588231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-20009820892269428872016-01-17T09:06:18.409-08:002016-01-17T09:06:18.409-08:00Yes, this is a really old post, but I would still ...Yes, this is a really old post, but I would still have most of the same problems. I would probably do a little bit better with the clothing contamination, but staying in a hotel would be quite difficult for me. Unfortunately camping would be even more difficult I think :(, but thanks for the suggestion. I am feeling somewhat better these days, but OCD still is a big part of my daily life. Thanks for the comment, and take care!<br />hopefulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02964188029918140725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4180443944080254295.post-66661336730716010852016-01-14T03:10:37.249-08:002016-01-14T03:10:37.249-08:00I know this is an old post! But I just stumbled ac...I know this is an old post! But I just stumbled across it, and I understand that any hotel vacation would be really stressful for you. I wonder if you have tried camping? You could buy your own tent and bring your own sleeping bags, and even bring the dog - and kids love camping! I hope you are feeling better these days and wish you all the best.<br />AnnieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com