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Original poster

Toothbrush anxiety

52 replies

ChargedUp · 29/05/2020 20:44

I have been struggling with Corona anxiety, as I'm sure most people have.

Many thoughts have whizzed through my brain, many of which are irrational but I can't stop them.

Anyway, my latest thing is about my toothbrush. It's kept in a steripod but the steripod came off and pinged behind a unit. I left my brush sitting on a unit (under a new tv) until I found the steripod. Then I rinsed the steripod with anticac soap and my finger. But then I worried that I'd contaminated the pod, and then I started to think that by leaving my brush sitting that somehow the virus might magically drop off the tv and onto the brush or that it might get onto the brush in another way.

I know that sounds crazy and writing it down makes it sound even crazier. I'm sitting here looking at the brush thinking I can't use it until its cleaned. I have some Milton fluid and read that brushes can be sterilised. Has anyone done this before? Is it safe?

OP posts:
lljkk · 30/05/2020 19:29

I don't believe most people do have mega anxiety about 'Rona, OP.

Original poster
ChargedUp · 30/05/2020 19:48

@lljkk

I don't believe most people do have mega anxiety about 'Rona, OP.
Maybe it is just me.
OP posts:
Inkpaperstars · 30/05/2020 21:23

Well there are certainly a lot of people who are anxious and/or taking precautions who were not so bothered before. How are you feeling OP?

LunaNorth · 30/05/2020 21:27

You poor lass. Your anxiety is off the scale. Get medical help - I did, and it’s the best thing I ever did for myself.

StillWeRise · 30/05/2020 21:54

Hi Op as others have said you are suffering from health anxiety, and I'm sure there has been a massive increase in this due to the pandemic. You need to understand that it's the anxiety that is the issue, not the covid. All you need to do about the covid is what we are all being told to do, handwash, 2m, etc
As you say it's hard to see a GP at the moment and they would probably refer you for CBT, which also is impossible at the moment
However there is also a scheme called books on prescription
reading-well.org.uk/books/books-on-prescription/mental-health#self-help
these books are evidence based and approved by medical experts
normally you could go to your public library and borrow them, but you could probably get them from amazon. Paper/card is very low risk- when it arrives at your house, leave it on the door mat for 3 days and it will be completely safe.
or, possibly, your public library will have an electronic copy you can download
I really encourage you to tackle this, anxiety can be completely debilitating, but you don't have to put up with it

MyMagicStars · 30/05/2020 22:04

My DD4 had a somewhat similar experience with anxiety around food allergies, refusing to eat anywhere except home, and literally building foods one by one into her diet. The fear of contamination on plates, cups, people touching things was very distressing for her. She had CBT and food therapy with trying her biggest fears, like crisps and eventually pre-packed sandwiches. In both cases, there’s an understandable anxiety of a tangible consequence- anaphylaxis/getting COVID, and the balance of keeping safe versus over protection.
You will get through this. I have a healthy, beautiful DD who 4 years on has graduated uni and enjoys eating out at restaurants. It was a long process, and a few days of horrific anxiety seemed to mark the start- literally stopping eating entirely- but then things did improve. If you’d like to talk, please PM me.

stitchmaker85 · 30/05/2020 22:06

OP, it's quite interesting to read that your level of anxiety over coronavirus is fine with having takeaways but yet you're getting quite worked up over the toothbrush thing. I'd say the risk of contracting it from a takeaway is far more than the toothbrush incident but maybe that's just me.
In any case, I've been diagnosed with OCD in the past and whilst it's managed at the moment (I'm actually coping surprisingly well given the circumstances, perhaps because I refuse to let myself spiral out of control again as I know what I'll end up like) - I can certainly resonate with what your mind is telling you.
Please seek help as it can be managed very well under the right treatment

chocolatviennois · 30/05/2020 22:08

If your toothbrush dropped on a dirty place eg the floor I would simply start a new brush (unless a more expensive electric one which you could sterilise as you suggest). Other than that I would keep using it. It sounds as though you are suffering from anxiety and CBT would really help with that. Phone your doc asap and get referred. Re: corona think back to the original government advice and simply follow that but try not to add all the extra criteria your mind has added! Each day try and cut down one unnecessary thing you are doing. From what I have read the worst cases of corona are often caused by a high viral load...being indoors where someone with it has breathed over you for a period of time or being unlucky enough to be coughed over by someone with corona. Therefore if you wash your hands thoroughly when you return to the house you can then relax and not worry.

BogRollBOGOF · 30/05/2020 22:33

This level of anxiety is not normal or healthy and needs support so that it isn't interfering with your life. It sounds very much like OCD.

Logically you know that items like your toothbrush or clothes are not contaminated, but that reason is being drowned out by Obsession and Compulsion.

Most people are taking a few additional measures such as washing hands when getting in and little else is needed for the majority of people who are not in high risk environments.

Contacting your GP is a good first port of call. Many are doing phone or video consultations which should be appropriate in this instance.

Original poster
ChargedUp · 03/06/2020 15:57

Thanks to all who replied and understood where my mind is at. It's not easy to find people who understand when you're struggling with it yourself. As somone said, it was an extreme reaction to a minor thing. It was an extremely extreme. When I initially posted, I hadn't brushed in a number of days. I used an interdental brush with a little paste to brush the front top and bottom. I only brushed properly on Monday when I got to work where I knew I had a brush locked away. Mouth doesn't taste quite great yet but I have the new brush at home and am now brushing.

I'm actually quite stunned by how I have reacted to this. I'm extremely embarrassed.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChargedUp · 03/06/2020 20:50

7 days.... 7 days without really brushing my teeth. Bloody hell.

OP posts:
isabellerossignol · 03/06/2020 20:56

There's no need to be embarrassed. Health anxiety is real and it's debilitating.

katkit · 03/06/2020 22:10

I do f think you need to worry about your toothbrush, you can put toothbrushes in a cup of boiling water, to sterilise them. I do this sometimes.

GoatyGoatyMingeMinge · 04/06/2020 01:00

I do f think you need to worry about your toothbrush

You really don't in this situation. I reckon the original poster had more chance of dying from some complication arising from a gum infection caused by not brushing for a week than from covid19 contracted from that toothbrush Grin

Original poster
ChargedUp · 04/06/2020 11:39

@GoatyGoatyMingeMinge

I do f think you need to worry about your toothbrush

You really don't in this situation. I reckon the original poster had more chance of dying from some complication arising from a gum infection caused by not brushing for a week than from covid19 contracted from that toothbrush Grin

I know Blush And my mouth still doesn't taste great, tho it never really does.

I don't think I could even admit this level of anxiety to a doctor.

OP posts:
PinkBlossom4 · 04/06/2020 11:55

Firstly I Milton my toothbrush occasionally if I drop it or something so Milton will be fine, I use a quarter of a Milton tablet in a cup of water .
I completely understand you though. It’s extremely difficult to cope with this level of OCD and anxiety. Great advice from @startriangle that’s exactly what it is. Try to get some help from GP who may refer you for some talk therapy

chocolatviennois · 04/06/2020 11:55

Chargedup - there was an article in the press yesterday saying transmission of covid far more likely from being in a room with someone breathing covid over you than touching an infected surface. So you must not worry about cleaning everything too much in your house. You do not need to tell a GP the detail of your thoughts. You just need to say that you think you are suffering from anxiety and need cbt to get over it...when you then speak to a cbt person you can tell them in confidence the level of your worry and they will be able to give you coping strategies.

Original poster
ChargedUp · 04/06/2020 12:55

Thing is, I'm OK now that I have another toothbrush. I've moved on to being concerned about the not great taste in my mouth. It's just one thing after another.

OP posts:
uncomfortablydumb53 · 04/06/2020 13:10

I'm so sorry you're suffering such anxiety
It's debilitating and your thoughts interfere with daily life( I've been there)
Don't be embarrassed to admit how you're feeling Please give your GP a call when you can
On a practical level Milton fluid or tablets will disinfect your toothbrush and help to reassure you

WonderTweek · 04/06/2020 13:12

I think you can refer yourself to CBT on the NHS if you're in England. I struggle with anxiety quite a bit and used the NHS online self referral system earlier this year. It gave me a survey to fill and I was then given a telephone appointment with one of the mental health team's therapist. The telephone appointment determines what kind of treatment is suitable and I believe it could be talking therapies, online resources, workshops etc (although I'm guessing at the moment it's all online or on the phone). Maybe you could try it if you feel you're not able to speak to a GP?

I hope the anxiety settles soon. Flowers I know what it's like. It sucks.

Original poster
ChargedUp · 04/06/2020 21:48

Could the taste be Corona tho?

OP posts:
Drivingdownthe101 · 04/06/2020 21:49

The taste will be because you didn’t brush your teeth for 7 days, I imagine.

Original poster
ChargedUp · 04/06/2020 21:56

@Drivingdownthe101

The taste will be because you didn’t brush your teeth for 7 days, I imagine.
Still tho?
OP posts:
chocolatviennois · 04/06/2020 23:04

If you had cv you would have other symptoms i think. Could it be acid reflux caused by worry? If you focus on a particular area of your body or thing you will feel it more. Try and keep busy get your daily exercise and book in for online cbt.

RyanBergarasTeeth · 04/06/2020 23:19

Op you need to call the gp and get help for this. Its not normal anxiety its strayed into what definitely sounds like OCD and OCD can get worse. Right now your focus is on the toothbrush and hands but soon it can change to everything and render you a prisoner.

Trust me. Its hard and you sound crazy i know because i have been there. I have OCD. I have been through the washing my hands until they bled. Not drying them on a towel as the towel was contaminated. Not touching my clothes unless i was changing which would be 5 plus times a day then bathing constantly and cleaning the house. I would vomit up food because i couldnt remember if i had decontaminated it or not before eating. Honestly it fucks up your life and you need to get a grip on it quickly before it gets harder to live with. On the plus side you can get to grips with it with help.

Your toothbrush does not have covid19. Your tv is not infected with covid. You can eat with your hands. All of it will be ok.