Paranoia of smelling bad - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

Peter19 · 08-30-2007, 12:20 PM

My fear of smelling bad makes me wash myself constantly. I better explain this with examples (it is really weird to write about these things, but yeah):

1. Every time I take a ****, then afterwards I have to wash my legs, because I am certain that it squirted back on my legs.
2. After that, when I notice wet spots on my underwear, I am afraid it's **** although I am quite certain it's water and I try to let it go, but obsessive thoughts are coming into my mind and eventually I have to take a shower and put on new clothes.
3. I have a shower routine - first I wash my upper body and then dry myself, after that lower body and then dry myself - it's all because I am afraid that water will run down between my ***, gets mixed up with **** juices or whatever and then goes down on my legs and then my legs are stinking of ****. (I know that it sounds ridiculous but I can't help it)
4. Every time after a dump it takes my 0,5 - 1 roll of toilet paper to clean myself up.
5. I wash my hands constantly, every time when I think that I have touched something that stinks.
6. I smell my clothes constantly, even underwear, to make sure that they doesn't stink.

What do I want? I want someone to confirm that my behavior is paranoid (something that an average person doesn't worry about these things, something like that). Or get some reading concerning my problem - I haven't found anything about this on the web. Really, I need your thoughts about that, thanks in advance.

hughley · 08-30-2007, 04:16 PM

Hello,

I wouldn't say your behavior is paranoid, you are just a doubter, i.e, an obsessive compulsive. Some of the stuff you listed, I have...I really overdo it on the deodorant, my bathroom habits have made me very unpopular at home, long showers, too much toilet paper, etc. There are many more like us...Have you been diagnosed, getting treatment?

Peter19 · 08-31-2007, 12:08 AM

No, I haven't been to a psychiatrist.

2grlz1boy · 08-31-2007, 08:44 AM

What you are doing is OCD in behavior, the best type of therepy for this is exposure (just my opinion) when you pee dont clean your legs, take a shower normally and dont let yourself change clothes....i know it sounds hard (it is) but like i told another poster OCD id like an addiction, when you start obsessing about it you have to do the compulsion (like a drug) to make things better....but if you can get through a little pain and not do the compulsion it does get better, maybe not that day or even in a week but if you just keep on doing it, it will improve. I know this is hard, be patient and seek some medical advice. Maybe there is a med out there that could help too.

Kathrin74 · 08-31-2007, 11:09 AM

Well I can tell you for sure that it is NOT something that an average person would worry about!
OK, I smell my clothes sometimes if I put them on again and have already worn them, but the things you describe are clearly VERY exaggerated.
I do have OCD so I can RELATE to the thought process... but... it is definitely not normal behavior. It does sound like OCD behavior to me. You obsess about something, and then you ahve to do a compulsive act (in your case, washing yourself or changing your clothes) to feel relief. Then you feel relief for a while until the next obsession strikes. Right?

There are many books on OCD.
It sounds like these obsessions cause distress for you? Can you see a psychiatrist or therapist?

Kathrin