OCD and worms

[spectacled]

Hello everyone

wasn’t sure where to post this for the best. To set the scene, I have ocd and worms have been a big theme for me. I had quite a bad episode about 10 years ago now and have worked hard to stop the fear of getting, or having, worms taking over my life. Now have a five and almost two year old.

for the past week I’ve had itching which I thought was likely thrush but a couple of days ago I found something that looked like a threadworm in my underwear after scratching. Problem is, I know my ocd brain will tell me it’s threadworms even if it’s just a bit of toilet paper or even an actual thread! Is there any kind of test anyone knows of? I am reluctant to medicate my children without it being totally necessary and I know that treating us all and all the strict hygiene measure will send me into quite a dark place which I don’t to be in. Scared to do this all just in case because I know I can’t think rationally about it.

Honestly? Just go to the pharmacy and get the tablets. Then wash your bedding. Job done.
I have ocd myself, in a different form to you-but there’s some things you just can’t let ocd get in the way of.

As you know, threadworms are not remotely dangerous, they’re just really really annoying and common in households with young children, or anyone that works with young children. Most of us have had them at one time or another, I’ve had them myself 3 or 4 times since primary school.

Thank you for replying. Sorry to hear you also have ocd. It can be difficult to live with at times. Various themes affect me and each time I’m in the midst of one I think it’s absolutely the worst one. I hope you are okay.

is medication and washing the sheet once really all it takes? Is this what has worked for you? I know they’re not dangerous to our physical health usually but I do find it mentally quite distressing and I’m not sure I’d be able to switch off the worrying. Especially with two finger suckers and nail biters! Arghhhh.

I fully sympathise with those feelings, trust me. But yes, that’s really all it takes. To be honest, the last time we had them when my DD was young, I didn’t even wash the bedding, because it had all been changed the day before-but I got us all the tablets and that was it. They’re very very easy to get rid of. And so incredibly common. Most people you know will have had dealings with them at one point or another.
If you need to worry (because I almost find it therapeutic sometimes, but I ‘take control’ by doing specific actions a certain amount of times) then let yourself worry. Don’t bottle it up, but don’t let it consume you either. If you have a habit that helps calm your mind then do it