OCD - do I need to do something about it?

[Jammee]

I haven't been diagnosed with OCD but know I have it.

I have to change my clothes if I have gone out and sat on a chair as I feel that dirt will be engrained in my clothes they will be dirty. I make DH change his clothes when he gets home if he has sat or been somewhere 'dirty' too.

I change DD's clothes after baby classes (and mine) as she touches communal toys and we sit on the floor (I change my socks because I have had to remove my shoes).

I change DD's clothes after someone other than myself or DH has held her. If people come to my house I cover the sofas with throws so my sofas don't get dirty.

I have to wash my hands after touching the packaging of food or household products (i.e. I get the butter out of the fridge and have to wash my hands before I can touch the toast to butter it). I have to wash my hands after opening the post.

I cannot sit on a toilet outside of my own home (until I was pregnant I hadn't sat on a toilet in over 10 years, even in my own home). If people come round I will only use our en-suite until the other bathroom has been cleaned.

My mum is filthy (literally; I think she only showers a few times a year) so I won't have her in my house or go to her house. If I ever have her in my car I have to anti-bac wipe the seat, seat belt, door handles etc. afterwards.

DH puts up with it but hates it and I know that it limits our lifestyle and is inconvenient. I don't want my DD (whose still a baby) to be like me but at the same time I don't want to suddenly be OK with being dirty because the thought of that disgusts me!

Does anyone else have experience of OCD like this and what to do about it once you have a child?

If I did speak to someone would social services then stick their noses into our lives because of DD and me being labeled "mentally ill?"

Hi Jammee. I don't know the answers to your questions but I do think you probably know you need to seek some help. I've recently started along a similar sort of path. Don't have OCD whereby I can't touch things or be touched etc but am currently waiting on a referral to a psychologist as I do have other OCD tendencies and anxiety, depression etc.
Took a lot for me to seek help, just went to the doctors and actually told him what was going on. Twice to get whole story out! Started citalopram this week.
Didn't want your post to go unanswered and am sure others will be along who have much more practical advice and knowledge than me!
I have 3 dc's. I don't feel like social services are going to come knocking on the door at all.