if i can't touch a toilet seat or a door knob with my bare hands and then proceed to eat my sandwich without washing my hands first?
2007-04-27 14:46:45 · 19 answers · asked by just me 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
You might have a germ phobia. OCD is cleaning your hands after you touch anything and everything, and cleaning your hands even if you haven't touched something.
2007-04-27 14:49:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
No dear, you do not have OCD. Now then, If you had to touch the doorknob three times every time, then wash your hands twice ... you might have it. OCD being very obsessive and very compulsive. I thought I had OCD so I went to see a therapist. It turns out I had symptoms of both OCD and Anxieties. But those were just underlined problems of Bipolar Disorder. There's no shame in any of these conditions. They are caused by a chemical imbalanced which needs to be regulated by proper medication and sometimes group therapy. I do not need group therapy but I do need medications. Until I got the meds I wasn't sure what was wrong. I just knew I felt different and I did things differently than other people. Sara D has already posted a web site for a self test to determine if you have OCD. Please, if you have any doubts then take the test. It will only take a few minutes and it will help to put your mind at ease. I'm almost positive you do not have OCD from what you have told everyone but for your own peace of mind, take the test.
2007-04-27 14:56:52 · answer #2 · answered by Average Joe 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That's a bit on the extreme side. However, it's not OCD it's "germophobic". They can be somewhat related though. I'm very "germ conscience" myself. I wash my hands many times through out the day. However, it doesn't interfere with my life in any way. I tend to think of such things when I'm out in public, but I can get over it enough and blow it off to just forget about it if needed. Like if I was unable to wash my hands for some reason out with my friends before I ate... I would think for a sec.. this is kind of gross.. but get over it. It's good to be cleanly... but when it's to the point where you are so extreme in nature about it that it effects your life negatively then it's a problem.
Personally, if I went grocery shopping say, and had to push a cart... that's pretty gross who knows what germs could be on there... but I just don't think about it and make a point not to touch my face or mouth until I can wash my hands.
You've got to be able to at least do these type of things and not require plastic gloves to push the cart or touch anything often touched by others in public. If not, it's a problem and you should seek counseling before it could potentially progress further.
2007-04-27 14:57:14 · answer #3 · answered by B Z 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No sounds like you are pretty normal to me. That sounds about like most people. Most people don't want to touch a toilet seat or a door knob to a public restroom with their bare hands, however they think nothing of it when they grab a sandwich and throw a chow.
2007-04-27 14:51:20 · answer #4 · answered by Kythrol 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No that doesn't sound like OCD to me. Usually OCD is obessive thoughts, like thinking you are always dirty even if you are clean, and then having the compulsion to do rituals. These rituals relieve the anxiety of your obessions, but usually your obessions come back. It is like your brain is stuck on it. That is why you see people touching the doorknob a certian number of times, or wash their hands a certain number of times.
2007-04-27 17:16:37 · answer #5 · answered by thathockeychick23 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, not really. Be worried if you have a ritual that you do to avoid touching these things, like wearing gloves or wrapping everything in toilet paper in an eccentric way. You just don't want to touch something that is known to carry germs before eating. You're smart, not disordered.
2007-04-27 14:51:23 · answer #6 · answered by oh really 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
OCD requires both obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive thoughts about something that gives you anxiety. Compulsions are ritualistic behaviors that are often quite abnormal and time-consuming, which are used to relieve that anxiety.
The biggest difference between normal little quirks and OCD is that with the latter, the obsessions trigger compulsions that markedly interfere with your daily functioning. If they're so bothersome and time-consuming that you can't function the way other people do, you're likely to be suffering from OCD.
2007-04-27 14:50:55 · answer #7 · answered by Buying is Voting 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, you're just anti-germ. It's OCD if you have to touch the door knob 20x before you wash your hands with a new bar of soap every time you eat a sandwich. :o)
2007-04-27 14:49:11 · answer #8 · answered by dragonflyrivers 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i understand the toliet seat and door knob thing but when u get out of there do u at least wash ur hands! That does not sound like it!
2007-04-27 14:51:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Um... you could be a germophobic, which is a form of OCD. From what I can tell, you're scared of touching any places that may carry germs or bacteria. And the fact that you need to wash your hands constantly is a sign of OCD. But, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's a bad thing. It depends on how great of extent your obsession goes.
2007-04-27 14:52:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Could be. OCD can have very different traits for each person. It isn't a problem unless it is affecting your daily living. So if this is getting in the way of your daily life, see a doctor or therapist
2007-04-27 14:50:13 · answer #11 · answered by inkedcalf 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋