Handhold please.. serious phobia of scabies

[Midnights99]

My partner of a few months found out that he has scabies. I've had symptoms and didn't realise so now knowing this I definitely have them too. I previously had a bed bug scare that genuinely made me go crazy and suffered so badly mentally. I've always had a severe phobia of contracting scabies or bed bugs etc since. I've not stopped crying since he told me and I just don't know how to cope.

I am putting the cream on tonight and will follow the protocol and clean everything and I have washed clothes and dried on a high heat and basically just going to rotate these clothes then wash towels and bedding on high heat. Just need some advice how to cope mentally?

I've been very anxious lately with other things in life and genuinely don't know how to handle this on top. Work is a major stress so I'm considering asking for a line for work for a week or so to get my head together - is that ridiculous? I know this isn't life threatening and absolutely worse things can happen but I don't know how to mentally cope. I'm really struggling.

That sounds hard.

But you know what the problem is - scabies - and you are taking all the right steps - medicated cream, washing and drying at high temps.

Try to focus on those practical steps and the fact that you are doing everything in your power to get rid of it. Just think about each next step, and don't go further ahead than that.

If you need to (and can) take a day or two off work to make sure you are properly treated and everything at home is cleaned then do that if it will help you.

Have you ever tried breathing exercises or yoga nidra etc to help calm your nervous system down? It sounds like an out of proportion reaction to the problem when it's a known problem with a known solution. I know phobias are by their very nature irrational so you can't help your reaction. But you can try to change how you frame the problem (it's temporary, treatable and I am doing the right things) and the action you are taking to solve it (I am doing everything I can and this will resolve the issue).

Talk to yourself along these lines and tell yourself well done for catching it and taking action. You can solve this and then it might be worth seeing if you could get some hypnotherapy or something to help with your phobia.

Good luck

Thank you, I'm planning to try and get the week off work to try and deal with it and allow time to clean everything daily. I had just mentioned hypnotherapy to my mum as think it might be helpful going forward. Just feel so embarrassed and distressed to be honest, but I am trying to logically calm my thoughts and will try some breathing exercises too.

This is a really helpful protocol to follow. Scabies is awful it was so stressful dealing with it so you have my sympathy. If the cream doesn’t work insist on two rounds of ivermectin. Your partner needs to follow protocols religiously in their own home too,

https://www.rivm.nl/sites/default/files/2023-01/75469_RIVM_014537_Stappenplan%20Schurft%20permetrine_EN_TG.pdf

Thank you I've already got this saved from all my panic googling

It’s not on the sheet but I also recommend spraying your mattress carpets and sofa’s with Indorex as it has permethrin in it.