I haven't posted on here in a long time, but could really use some prayers in help with my OCD. Lately it has been attached to germs and I constantly have to wash my hands. I've washed them to the point that I have cracks and they even bleed sometimes. I'm terrified of getting sick and possibly dying from that sickness so I wash and wash and wash my hands. Tonight in my head I was thinking if I was wash them one more time or use hand sanitizer they will stop working against the germs, but then I touched something and used sanitizer and now I'm terrified that nothing will work anymore for me and I will get sick now and probably die since I don't have anything left in me to fight off the germs since I washed them all away. This fear is really getting out of hand and is effecting my whole family to the point that my 4 year old daughter tells me don't worry I didn't touch it I didn't get germs or don't worry mommy I washed my hands so I don't have germs. Tomorrow my friends church is starting a series on fears that I am going to go to and hopefully it will help. I'm praying for everyone on here who is struggling with their OCD.
-
The General Mental Health Forum is now a Read Only Forum. As we had two large areas making it difficult for many to find, we decided to combine the Mental Health & the Recovery sections of the forum into Mental Health & Recovery as a whole. Physical Health still remains as it's own area within the entire Recovery area.
If you are having struggles, need support in a particular area that you aren't finding a specific recovery area forum, you may find the General Struggles forum a great place to post. Any any that is related to emotions, self-esteem, insomnia, anger, relationship dynamics due to mental health and recovery and other issues that don't fit better in another forum would be examples of topics that might go there.
If you have spiritual issues related to a mental health and recovery issue, please use the Recovery Related Spiritual Advice forum. This forum is designed to be like Christian Advice, only for recovery type of issues. Recovery being like a family in many ways, allows us to support one another together. May you be blessed today and each day.
Kristen.NewCreation and FreeinChrist
-
Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
Germs and dying
- Thread starter tyield1102
- Start date
ForJesusChrist
Follower of Christ
Hi I bet I can help you.
I used to be a major germaphobe like you and I washed my hands to the point where there would be blood running down my arm.
Anyway, the best way to stop is to realize these key points
1. After you wash, use sanitizer, etc, IMMEDIATELY there are thousands of germs on your hands, just from the air alone. Every little thing you touch and even every time someone breathes, you get more germs on your hands.
2. You are correct, too much washing/sanitizing can make your hand so un-exposed to germs that they will become more vulnerable to them, so don't wash too much.
3. You are putting yourself at a greater risk when you hands start to dry and crack because open skin can allow more germs in than if your skin is closed.
4. Literally 99.99% of the germs that your hands are exposed to everyday can't do anything to you but maybe give you a cold or flu. You won't get any catastrophic disease.
Just remember that its all in your head and if you really need help, ask God for some assistance in getting rid of this fear of germs.
God Bless and good luck
Feel free to send me a message if you need any more help.
I used to be a major germaphobe like you and I washed my hands to the point where there would be blood running down my arm.
Anyway, the best way to stop is to realize these key points
1. After you wash, use sanitizer, etc, IMMEDIATELY there are thousands of germs on your hands, just from the air alone. Every little thing you touch and even every time someone breathes, you get more germs on your hands.
2. You are correct, too much washing/sanitizing can make your hand so un-exposed to germs that they will become more vulnerable to them, so don't wash too much.
3. You are putting yourself at a greater risk when you hands start to dry and crack because open skin can allow more germs in than if your skin is closed.
4. Literally 99.99% of the germs that your hands are exposed to everyday can't do anything to you but maybe give you a cold or flu. You won't get any catastrophic disease.
Just remember that its all in your head and if you really need help, ask God for some assistance in getting rid of this fear of germs.
God Bless and good luck
Feel free to send me a message if you need any more help.
Upvote
0
GeorgiaGuyinAtlanta
Regular Member
- Mar 13, 2006
- 1,081
- 244
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
Tyield, what are you really afraid of? Is it germs? Is that all?
Every person is covered with at least trillions of Germs. Yes, I said it, trillions.
Honestly, as soon as you wash your hands, your hands quickly pick up more germs.
Most germs are good Don't think that it is something that is bad.
I can tell you that cleaning your hands obsessively is more likely to cause harm to your body than any germs will do. Sure, wash your hands, but don't be obsessive about it. Do you realize that beneficial bacteria on your skin can actually be helpful in fighting off harmful bacteria?
Other people have germs all over themselves. What makes you different in your mind? If people, in general, are overall well, then you likely will be too.
God made "germs" for a reason. Only a small percentage of bacteria are harmful, and there's really little that the typical person can more do to avoid them, other than staying away from sick people, or the occasional hand wash, or daily shower.
Don't worry. God provided us with an immune system for a reason. It's working for you.
Every person is covered with at least trillions of Germs. Yes, I said it, trillions.
Honestly, as soon as you wash your hands, your hands quickly pick up more germs.
Most germs are good Don't think that it is something that is bad.
I can tell you that cleaning your hands obsessively is more likely to cause harm to your body than any germs will do. Sure, wash your hands, but don't be obsessive about it. Do you realize that beneficial bacteria on your skin can actually be helpful in fighting off harmful bacteria?
Other people have germs all over themselves. What makes you different in your mind? If people, in general, are overall well, then you likely will be too.
God made "germs" for a reason. Only a small percentage of bacteria are harmful, and there's really little that the typical person can more do to avoid them, other than staying away from sick people, or the occasional hand wash, or daily shower.
Don't worry. God provided us with an immune system for a reason. It's working for you.
Upvote
0
The fear is more dying from a deadly disease and it being painful and something that happens quickly. Not even just a disease but anything that I can't see coming possibly like with germs you can't see them, but they enter your body. I'm scared of dying maybe not so much of the what happens after but the thought of what if feels like to not be able to breathe and suffocating possibly. I'm also claustrophobic so that may be part of it. This flu season a lot of people in my age group that were somewhat on the young side were dying from it because the H1N1 strain was going around. It got to the point I didn't want to leave my house, but I asked for prayer anonymously on my church's website and someone replied to me saying they felt led to share Luke 10:19-21. God spoke that very same verse to my heart a few months before that. Even knowing that I still have a lot of fear. I don't want to live in fear anymore I hate that my OCD controls so much of my life.
Upvote
0
GeorgiaGuyinAtlanta
Regular Member
- Mar 13, 2006
- 1,081
- 244
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
Tyield, while people have been known to pick up dangerous bacteria or viruses, it is EXTREMELY RARE to die from such a pathogen. Likely, one out of of thousands rare. With those odds, I don't know why this should even be a concern.
You seem to worry about the event of dying. When one is that sick, your body often enters a peaceful state right before death. It isn't usually the violent event that many people believe that it is. It's not to say that it will be peaceful, only that if often is.
You need to remember that the human body is very resilient. It can take much more than a lot of people realize. Of course, we should take care of our bodies, but we shouldn't obsess about germs for which we have little control over. Remember, God has allowed them to be here for a reason. They serve a purpose.
Don't worry. The Lord has told us to NOT FEAR.
God has given you an immune system for a reason. A healthy immune system is the number one prevention against disease. Worrying and stressing actually weakens the immune system and can make you more likely to get sick. Stress is one of the worst things that one can do, given the release of cortisol. Eating foods rich in vitamin c and vitamin d are very helpful in building our immune systems. For the latter, however, a nice twenty minute sun exposure per day is helpful.
You seem to worry about the event of dying. When one is that sick, your body often enters a peaceful state right before death. It isn't usually the violent event that many people believe that it is. It's not to say that it will be peaceful, only that if often is.
You need to remember that the human body is very resilient. It can take much more than a lot of people realize. Of course, we should take care of our bodies, but we shouldn't obsess about germs for which we have little control over. Remember, God has allowed them to be here for a reason. They serve a purpose.
Don't worry. The Lord has told us to NOT FEAR.
God has given you an immune system for a reason. A healthy immune system is the number one prevention against disease. Worrying and stressing actually weakens the immune system and can make you more likely to get sick. Stress is one of the worst things that one can do, given the release of cortisol. Eating foods rich in vitamin c and vitamin d are very helpful in building our immune systems. For the latter, however, a nice twenty minute sun exposure per day is helpful.
Upvote
0
Similar threads
