LibraryScenariosHow to handle contamination fears that feel real
Scenario

How to handle contamination fears that feel real

Every time I touch a doorknob I see myself getting sick and dying and I know it is irrational but I wash my hands until they bleed anyway.

Patan
Online
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More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

The imagination has become confused with perception, treating mental movies as immediate threats.

Ideas that help explain it
Worth thinking about

“Where Are You with OCD and intrusive thoughts?”

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.