OCD is a mental disorder that is often wrongly portrayed and misunderstood. It is a serious condition that involves much more than what is commonly depicted as just a fear of germs. Still, the spread of a deadly disease can deeply impact those with OCD. Patients may face intense anxiety about catching the disease and often will face intense anxiety at the thought of spreading the disease to those they love. OCD is more common than you may think, as more than 2% of the population struggles with this condition.
According to the International OCD Foundation, patients should:
Create a basic safety routine based off of recommendations from credible health organizations, which may include:
disinfecting surfaces daily, particularly those frequently used or touched in your home. Focus on the surfaces you think are *truly needed*. Try to spend only a few minutes a day on this.
"Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after being outside or in public, before eating, after going to the bathroom, and after you’ve coughed/sneezed/blown your nose. If soap and water are not available to you, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol." (IOCDF)
Remember that there is no perfect way to protect yourself from COVID-19, but risks can be seriously minimized without obsessive routines.
Speak to a trusted family member, friend, or your therapist about how your OCD symptoms are being affected.
Resources:
NOTE: I am not a mental health professional. The purpose of this blog is to educate and to synthesize and centralize credible mental health resources to make these more accessible for students, focusing on specific mental health issues related to the COVID-19. Please talk to a licensed professional about any symptoms, medications, treatments, or otherwise actions related to mental health.
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