Asbestos OCD- Proud of myself

[wildflower93]

After spending the weekend in Wales as it was getting done by my plasterer, I have successfully had the artex in my house reskimmed, removed and overboarded in areas.

I’ve been putting it off for years despite the three areas (landing, hall and son’s room) that have been plastered testing NEGATIVE by professional companies.

You may have noticed me posting about my outlandish fears in the past but I just wanted to post to say how proud I am of myself for getting it done.

I am shaking over bits of dust leftover, bits of plaster that have fallen down into corners. I want to throw everything away and I want to move out the house. My brain convinces me it’s asbestos anyway and they were wrong. My brain thinks what if what if what if. But , I’m sitting with it.

I’m staying home with my son and partner with bits of debris in corners. I’ve cleaned some up with my bare hands. It feels terrifying but also healing in a way.

and if we die from asbestos-related illness in 20 years time, I will be able to say I TOLD YOU SO x

Well done for sitting with the horrible discomfort. And for getting your hands in there! That is the road to your OCD improving. I know from experience how hard it is

Thank you. It is so bleeding hard. My brain has convinced me that it will kill us but I can’t continue to debate facts or try to reason with the little voice inside my head. I need to accept the horrible uncertainty. I’m panicking making my son tea after getting my hands dirty so my partner will be cooking tonight, that exposure will be taking it too far 😆

Massive, massive WELL DONE @wildflower93 I hope you feel really proud, and quite rightly so too. That was a hard thing, and you did it.

Well done! I have OCD and had an asbestos phase 2 years ago. It was awful and the worst obsession yet. Took about 6 months to work through it. One of my kid’s art kits was then recalled this year as contaminated with asbestos - after a big wobble I managed to sensibly work through it after a week or two. It’s awful, I feel for you.

SAME! We’ve had three toys recalled now. I think I’ve spent close to £500 replacing items like a loon. We had to get the ceilings replastered because they were such a mess and putting buyers off selling. We decided to just do it as a condition of sale.

It is the worst theme I’ve ever had because my other themes only impact myself - this one could harm my son’s health and that terrifies me.

It is crazy how my brain can simultaneously tell me that it tested negative and everything is fine whilst also a little voice tells me that everything is dangerous and everything must be thrown and I must leave immediately.

I hope you are getting some mental health support OP and well done.

We've recently renovated and had a 'professional' come to do testing. His words 'If I test too many areas, then we are bound to find it!' 😬
We had it all removed and I'm so glad too. Having seen a relative die of mesothelioma, I'd have done the same OP and got rid of it. Even though yours was negative.

Oh my god, that’s terrifying, don’t tell me that 😆

My hall only had one sample taken hahah

Congratulations OP! Fellow OCD (contamination) sufferer here, and asbestos is one of my fears. I am currently having CBT, so appreciate how hard it is to face those thoughts.