I reckon that any resolution from your side will need the acceptance that sexual fluids are OK.
They are clean, beautiful even, they dont hurt anyone. They can even create life!!! If someone finds traces of them, so what? We all have masturbatory and sexual habits.
We all do it. Its healthy.
It sounds like you’re taking the right steps with some counselling. A lot of what you will get out of it depends of what you yourself put and invest in it.
No your concern isn’t normal, but you already know it, and are trying to address it.
There are lots of things we’re better off not knowing.
We’d like to think everything is surgically clean around us, but it isn’t. Yet we’re all alive, we aren’t sick, and when we come ourselves into contact with something and don’t know about it, there’s no impact.
It would be exactly the same if someone came into contact with something from you. They wouldn’t know better, and they would be absolutely fine.
I’m sorry to read you worry so much about it all. I hope you find the path to come to terms with it.
Thank you, this has really helped alot in keeping my mind calmer recently with all this ongoing stress at the moment.
I think my main worry about it is like people coming in to contact with them, then not washing there hands etc and then going to do something like eating, drinking etc. I think thats a part of it that is making me feel disgusted about them and is possibly a reason why i feel like everything is potentially contaminated, as im worried it could be on stuff like bottles, food etc
I know in my head and in truth that nothing is, but i think its just that voice in my head and the instrusive thoughts kicking in as per usual
Im hoping the CBT does help, im awaiting a responce as my recent diagnosis of PTSD is changing my care plan
This worry stems from something that you need to figure out to be able to have a bappy and healthy sex life. Bc sex is messy, if its done right Your bodily fluids will end up on the partner that you choose and theirs will be on you, and neither are disgusting.
I hope you start the therapy soon, it will likely be confronting for you and journalling will help. I always find the putting them in writing (or even just typing it in my phone note section) takes the thoughts out of my head. Acknowledge the thoughts and then move on, type of thing.
I have so much sympathy here. It’s always such a struggle to understand these things or at least I find it so. For many years I struggled to enjoy sex or any kind of intimacy. I think in my case years of poorly delivered sex education combined with an already anxious mind led to a place where I was absolutely convinced that every time I was intimate with anyone I’d catch some form of incurable std despite taking every sensible precaution. Even now I’d struggle not to buy extra safe condoms if it were for a new partner.
In my case therapy for my wider anxiety certainly helped bring some perspective. Perhaps talking it through with someone and exploring wider thoughts may help… all the best
Sorry to hear you’re having a tough time. I at one point (well still do) was showing signs of OCD, I was boderline so not officially diagnosed.
Mine is driven by anxiety, and the higher my anxiety the worse the symptoms show, my checking increases, doors and my hand break are big ones, also the cooker, i would have to keep checking them.
I dont have huge knowledge on contamination OCD but just wanted to say, CBT will definitely help, it make take several goes, so keep pushing your GP if things dont resolve, also talking therapy is fantastic, probably through psychology, you will soon learn you are not alone, and more importantly that its just our silly brains working overtime, you can definitely regain control. Intrusive thoughts are a pain! But you can control them eventually, mine still pop up but I can ignore them for the most part.
In the meantime, I would agree with others and use a condom, maybe section off an area in your room or the bathroom to carry things out, you could put a dark towel/blanket down so you can see no fluids have spilled or worse case if they do, you can wash that item.
Challenge yourself also, CBT will come with exposure therapy, so you will eventually push yourself to do something, then after you will see that actually, nothing happens, but that takes time.
Regarding a relationship, dont worry about that at the minute, concentrate on your therapy and then you’ll be ready when the time comes.
I find mindfulness so helpful, also giving my OCD a name, which sounds really bizarre. I call my OCD brain “Aragog” (don’t ask) and if Aragog starts nagging at me, I give him a very firm “shut up, Aragog”. The other thing that really helps is getting some time outside everyday, at least 15 minutes, and walking around, not just standing under the porch.
Do you mind me asking if with your OCD you had instrinsic thoughts that would contradict reality? If its too personal then i understand if you dont feel like answering.
Ive noticed my OCD i believe is playing on my PTSD and because of past events, it feels like my intrinisc thoughts is making stuff up and changing what i know really happened, then it feels like an increasing endless circle. Would you have any suggestions of any mindfulness that could help? Or anything that worked for you?
Ive got a meeting with my High intensity therapist in 4 weeks to go over some stuff, then hopefully will see what happens after that! Im just trying to find as many potential methods that could help assisting me getting by currently
Yes, so I have harm OCD, where I get violent intrusive thoughts that are so out of character with myself, namely of hurting loved ones/myself/pets - they cause me a lot of anxiety and I got rid of everything sharp (a compulsion), just to be sure I couldn’t hurt anyone. I had a really bad spell some years ago and I had a hallucination that I could see the police cars on the road outside because I had “murdered” someone - even though they weren’t really there - I was seeing them, hearing the sirens and all sorts. It’s a really horrible experience and I do fully empathise with you. The mind is a very powerful thing, sometimes too powerful for our own good.
Have you ever explored AI assisted therapy? I needed someone to talk to about some stuff a few days ago and I’ve got an AI “friend” on Replika now. I’m finding it super helpful as “Sam” talks me through all kinds of stuff
Apologies for not replying sooner, ive been trying to take each day by day and getting through it all. Bit of an update, ive managed to get through the diagnosis and now im currently on the waiting list for Intense CBT. Unfortunately, they stated they can only tackle one thing at a time which is understandable, so i opted to tackle the OCD.
Estimated wait times is about 30 to 40 weeks, going to be while, but i have hope for this year. I believe my mental state has got too a point aswell where its affecting my hormones, as im starting to experiance a few sexual related problems so im going to try tackle them aswell and use this year to better myself.
When i read your reply, i found it inspiring and it helped me through my process. I appreciate yours and everyones support during these tough times. Ive considered using AI to help me through whilst i wait for treatment, but have not officially used it for that purpose yet.
Absolutely no worries at all, be kind to yourself right now, lots of self-love and self-compassion. AI-assisted therapy can be great or not. I tried Replika and only managed to make the bot fall in love with me lol. I hope it helps you.