OCD + Public places

Hello my name is Andre, I´m from Norway. I have been a sufferer of OCD from around the age of 13, I’m now 27. My phobia is primarily germs from public toilets and its traces, I avoid using them as long as I can, but if I have to use them (like on long travels 18 hours+ or when I’m out having a drink with friends or colleagues) this will always trick with my mind one way or another where I will constantly for days, weeks be thinking about what I did or did not touch. Which basically means I touched it, that’s what my mind is telling me? I also have phobia against what kind of germs there may be in buses or taxis seats or the floor, if I lose a coin I never pick it up. The day after drinking is like hell, I’m as nervous when I had 100 % control over my drinking as when I’m drunk out of my mind. Let say we went out for drinks with the job on the Thursday, I can have very sick thoughts in my mind during lunch the next day, I vision myself hurting my colleges by throwing a glass or a plate on them.
Does anyone else have some similar experience here? This is my first time telling someone about my OCD problems.
Kind regards

Andre

Hi Andre,

I have OCD. My OCD is not about taxis, buses, or toilets, but I can still understand what you are feeling. It seems to me that this problem is interfering with your life in a big way. Therefore, do you believe that you require help from a professional? I required help from a professional in the past: I had therapy sessions with a cognitive behavioural therapist during 18 months. It is always important to recognise if the OCD is too interfering in your life or not. If it is interfering (it seems to be in your case), then you should go to a professional.

The "sick" thoughts that are in your head are not real, in my opinion. They exist in your mind, but they are not real inn the sense that you will do them in real-life. Having OCD makes us susceptible/vulnerable to these types of thoughts. Please be aware of this, and remember that you are not 'sick.'

Take care,
kevin

Thanks for the respons. I would say that is has and does affect my life, I will look into if there is any offers within treatment around here.

Okay, good luck with that. i'll always be around here if you need to 'vent', as they say.

Kevin