Aibu to ask how much you wash your hands everyday

[notevensure12]

Not even sure if this is the right place for this but here goes - I've had ocd mainly fixated on contamination for the last decade. Had countless treatments and I've completely lost sight of what other people would actually consider to even be "normal" at this point.

I'm washing my hands around 4-5 times an hour, with piping hot water until it feels like they're clean enough. I can't touch dirty laundry, bins, rubbish, clean up, without having a load of handwashing rituals that follow it.

So - what's normal?

I wash my hands after using the toilet, if I’ve touched something that has made my hands visibly dirty or if I’ve touched raw meat while I’m cooking. The last two don’t happen everyday so most days the number of times I wash my hands is the same number of times I go to the toilet. Are you getting any treatment at the minute for your OCD?

Always after the loo but other than that I try to avoid it. My hands feel like they've been cold for months and they're cold they're painful. Both at work and at home, the tap has to run for a fair while to get warm water so every time I wash them the water is cold, its unbearable.

@HighInfidelity I have had cbt several times and never managed to implement the techniques long term. I'm currently pregnant but debating going back on medication when I'm no longer pregnant to see if it helps, as I feel completely out of control.

It sounds like it’s definitely worth looking into. I hope you’re able to see some improvements soon, it sounds really difficult for you at the minute.

Before food prep, after using the toilet, after pad changes for my little one and before and after feeding/giving them meds via their gastrostomy so there are some hours in which I don't wash them at all and other hours where I might wash them 3 or 4 times.

Normal would be after toilet; before, during and after food preparation; after gardening.

I wouldn't wash my hands after touching things as you are doing.

I'm probably a bit like you, OP. I wash my hands after emptying bins, before preparing food, after touching raw meat or fish, after putting dirty laundry in the washing machine, and of course after the loo. I don't really have rituals about the washing, though I know I am excessive about my hand hygiene. If I have touched something I think is really unclean I will 'feel' the uncleanness of my hand until I can wash it.

Probably around every 2-3 hours. I wash after using the bathroom, before and after handling food, when I come in from outside, after cleaning, if I've touched a bin.

I wash my hands frequently and I notice when other people don’t wash their when they should. I’m not obsessive but I wash them:
after the loo ( of course 😀)
Before,during and after prepping food
when I come home from shopping or being out
when I come in from the garage where I keep my freezer and other household stuff
when I’m out I keep a clean tissue handy which I wrap around door handles, especially when I’ve visited a public loo (the number of people who don’t wash their hands makes me 🤮
before eating
before making a pre dinner G&T
after putting out rubbbish
occasionally , if I’m just reading or watching tv I’ll get up to wash my hands simply because I’ve not washed them for two or three hours.

• both my parents were in healthcare and they said regular hand washing was the prime deterrent to germs. It stuck 😁

PS I meant to add that I really sympathise with you, OP. Especially the piping hot water. 🌺

After using the toilet, a few times while preparing food, after feeding the dog.

This is about what I do. I always wash my hands when I come in from outside. It feels wrong if I don't.

After food, dog walk, before and after making food. So maybe 10-12 times a day?

After toilet, that should have said.

Normally after the loo, before cooking, when I've handled raw meat during cooking, when I come in especially as I've normally used public transport, after emptying the bins outside and after gardening. Also when my hands have stuff on them like paint, hair products and food.

It does sound like maybe you are over washing.
I wash mine only when needed. Eg when I've been to the loo, before and during cooking as required, before eating, when I wash my face in the morning and so on, plus if they've got dirty for whatever reason.

I wash my hands after using the loo, before/during food prep and after taking the bin out. Probably 10 or 12 times a day in total.

Could you wear gloves for some activities like doing laundry or cleaning?

I can't touch dirty laundry, bins, rubbish, clean up, without having a load of handwashing rituals that follow it

I wash my hands quickly after all these too, not sure it is ritual though?

I try to stack chores to reduce the times I wash my hands eg I will put on the laundry and then deal with the bin, then wash hands.

Am I not normal?

After using loo, before eating or food prep, after feeding cat or changing litter tray, after emptying bins, after gardening or any messy task. So probably about 15-20 times a day (and I definitely don't have OCD!).

If I've got them visibly dirty somehow, touched raw meat or after using the toilet. That's probably it. So probably about 5 times a day.

If I have touched something I think is really unclean I will 'feel' the uncleanness of my hand until I can wash it.

Yes exactly.

Every time I use the loo In the day time (I don’t at night), before and during food prep, before eating, when I get in from being outside/gardening/participating in a hobby.

Maybe 15 times a day.

After the loo only I reckon. Or if they got muddy/dirty. Maybe I'd wash them after I've put the bins out but who knows.

Which means that for at least 20 years I have happily eaten something at my desk with my hands after using two forms of public London transport and I'm not dead yet.

After the toilet, touching pets, taking rubbish/recycling out or after touching sticky or dirty things. Also before cooking. Warm water, liquid soap and a clean hand towel. Then good to go.

I am incredibly jealous of your bladder.