Posted by Doug Saving The Team on April 6, 2004, at 20:15:20
In reply to Limits of exposure therapy « Doug Saving The Team, posted by Dr. Bob on April 6, 2004, at 20:00:08
Snapper,
Yes, that makes sense. The fears have been intertwined to an extent, but really the first fear was that I may have tracked in drugs on my shoes by going to parties. Then with this treatment, being advised to eat off the floor, and I did, I was fearful that as a result of eating off the floor I may have exposed myself to drugs.
So what is the solution here? If my fear is rational that I could track in drugs from a dance club or frat party I went to, then when I touch the bottom of my shoes while tying them, is it ok to then eat something? If that is rational fear, then I suppose I should not eat until I wash my hands?
This is all very frustrating. Let me note that while I cannot see anything in particular on my floor, it is rarely vacuumed, so I certainly could have tracked it in and it could be sitting there.
Also, Snapper, are you an expert in OCD or are you speaking from personal experience?
I am feeling better now, though all today I felt quite strange. What is the probability that I ate illicit drugs as a result of eating off the floor? I go to parties every weekend and my shoes sit there, so I'd guess a chance of 5%, but then again all that anxiety I had may have been just me reacting to realizing how great a fear it is for me and being concerned. If I did ingest something, will this have long term side effects? Will I be back to normal by tomorrow?
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Doug
> P.s. , Doug, I know that this fear of ingesting drugs from the floor and being carried in on peoples feet is an extreme fear for you, but let me ask you this? Do you know which came first the idea of ingesting drugs from parties on the floor and tracked in by peoples feet, or was it merely a fear that you "might want to eat off of the floor-to show yourself that indeed you are not afraid of the possibility that you might want to ingest drugs, you don't want to ingest" . In otherwards, which fear came first. Or have they both been intertwined from the beginning? Make sense?
> let us know
> snapper
poster:Doug Saving The Team
thread:333492
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040402/msgs/333505.html