Fear of Contamination OCD

 

Mysophobia is a pathological anxiety dealing with the fear of contamination as well as germs. The term was coined by Dr. William Alexander Hammond in 1879 when describing a situation of obsessive-compulsive disorder displayed in repetitively washing one’s hands.

 

While it is typical to attempt to avoid some exposure to germs and contamination, it ends up being pathological when it dramatically limits the person’s day-to-day performance. This consists of the development of sores and also chaffed skin on the hands as a result of washing and incorporating the overindulgent use of cleansing items.

 

This fear may also include not being encouraged that all of the bacteria is removed after excessive cleaning steps, hardly ever going beyond the home as a result of a severe anxiety of getting ill, anxiety of physical touching with others, preventing particular areas where bacteria are more likely to be such as with confined locations, in addition to staying clear of consuming food prepared by others.

 

The Fear of Germs After Divorce?

 

Not long ago, a team of researchers shared beneficial insights about the treatment of psychological contamination with a solitary case research study of a forty-year old male, by the alias of John, experiencing serious fascinations of psychological contamination that resulted in a twenty-year period of unemployment and limited living arrangements.

 

In John’s instance, sensations of contamination were induced by having a distrust of the federal government, brownish envelopes, as well as his dealings with his ex-wife. John’s record exposed that signs and symptoms first started after a traumatic divorce with his ex-wife, an activity taken after John discovered his spouse had actually been unfaithful on several occasions.

 

Thought Contamination

 

 

He was taken to court for wardship of their kids when the federal government mail (in brownish envelopes) had included damaging materials such as separation documents. John’s mental state was the constant state of feeling polluted merely by thinking the government or his ex-wife.

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John’s treatment included excellent quality cognitive behavioral treatment and cognitive treatment concentrated on mental contamination. Prior to therapy, he was administered numerous assessment scales to determine other compulsive symptoms including stress and social adjustment.

 

The outcome for the therapy of John’s psychological contamination problems got rid of John’s reported obsession with too much washing as a result of contamination fascinations. John likewise reported boosted familial partnerships and also capacity to tolerate mail/brown packages delivered to his house. He was able to make use of neighborhood facilities that historically would have greatly concerned him for contamination.

 

The research group concluded that this study satisfied a number of traits. Mainly, it properly highlights the requirement of attending to mental contamination by targeting the underlying and also historical issues through a series of especially tailored cognitive treatments such as imagery re-scripting.

 
The purpose of these treatments, gradually, to affect just how a patient appraises historic memories and present activators, or exactly how he/she reviews individuals or occasions that activate claimed memories and also trigger the instinct to re-live emotional injuries.

 

Is the Fear of Germs and Dirt Making Us Mentally Unstable?

 

 

Tracey was a 65 year old married female and physical therapist who recently retired that looked for cognitive-behavioral therapy at the behest of her psychoanalyst for clinical depression and other obsessive compulsive problems.

 

Her psychiatrist had recently diagnosed her with obsessive compulsive disorder when she reported to having severe memory problems. She had also noticed that the obsessive compulsive signs and symptoms were awakened a few years prior when she had witnessed her brother-in-law pick his nose and right there on the job site. Once she got home, she wiped the whole car down for fear that she would be contaminated.

 

Tracey felt everything her brother in law touched ended up being dirty. A couple of months after this initial occasion, these signs and obsessions were transferred as well to include her spouse. She wound up staying clear of touching any of his personal valuables since she was afraid that her brother-in-law may have touched these exact same objects. Whenever she welcomed her brother-in-law or had any kind of type of physical call with him, she really felt as if it was somewhat in the feeling that it was forbidden as well as having sex-related undertones.

 

The main procedures used on Tracey included direct exposure and also response prevention; progressive muscular methods of relaxation; diaphragmatic breathing; and also cognitive re-structuring.

 

The diaphragmatic breathing patterns were employed initially in order to help Tracey manage anxiousness signs and symptoms. Cognitive re-structuring was released to make it possible for Tracey to re-evaluate her very challenging behavior.

 

The extensive visualization methods had Tracey thinking of touching avoided items that were less associated with anxiety. She also reported that the sessions also made her feel safer in her home where she would go back to touching all of the items in the house without constantly washing her hands for fear of contamination.

 

After seven months of treatment, Tracey’s anxiousness levels were substantially lower when she had future calls with her brother-in-law, and she was able to abandon the routine of cleaning her spouse’s vehicle; however, she still felt some disgust in having contact with her brother in law.

 

Ultimately, one of the most significant gains was acquired after two years of treatment. Tracey reached a dramatically reduced degree of stress and anxiety, highlighted in the ceasing of her performing numerous and constant cleansing routines around the house.

 

The too much fear of bacteria is a typical problem of anxiousness in the United States. It can considerably change virtually every element of a person’s life. A person should never endure in silence and also seek a certified specialist immediately to conquer this high degree of anxiety.