Show Notes
Contamination OCD is so much more than liking things clean. In this episode of Just Checking, OCD specialists Jess and Laura unpack what contamination OCD really is, how it differs from everyday cleanliness, and why it can leave people feeling like nowhere is ever truly safe.
We explore the different types of contamination fear, the lasting impact of the pandemic, the role of shame, and the hidden secondary consequences that affect daily life and relationships. We also tackle the big worry for many people: what does therapy actually look like? From where ERP (exposure and response prevention) starts to how family accommodation can keep OCD going, we walk through recovery step by step. Plus, Jess shares how she used ERP with her seven-year-old, Laura makes an admission, and we discuss neurodivergence and chronic illness in contamination OCD.
Brain Spam brings Laura's spicy intrusive thought and Jess' unfortunate mum fail. We finish with a listener question, our Weekly Win and this week's Exposure Lab challenge.
Whether you live with OCD, love someone who does, or support clients as a clinician, this episode will help you understand contamination OCD with warmth, honesty and a bit of humour.
Podcast by: Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist and Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist Edited by Christian Nickson
Resource from the Show: Asbestos fear blog: Asbestos OCD: Understanding the Challenges and Rewards of Treatment – Southampton CBT Therapy Services Time Stamps: 00:37 Episode overview 02:30 Why contamination OCD now 06:40 Brain Spam 14:20 Contamination OCD vs wanting to be clean 20:20 The impact of the pandemic 27:00 Anxiety equation impact on fear 29:05 Types of contamination fear 32:35 Never feeling safe 34:05 Contributory factors to this theme 35:50 The practical impact of this OCD theme 37:40 Shame and contamination fears 38:20 Secondary consequences 41:20 Fears of what therapy can look like 45:50 Where does therapy start? 48:00 How do things look through therapy? 52:28 Family accommodation 56:05 Why OCD therapists love this 58:00 Jess used ERP with her 7 year old 58:55 Laura's admission 1:00:00 Over-correcting 1:02:00 Did you get ill? 1:03:40 Neurodivergence and chronic illness in contamination OCD 1:07:18 Listener Question 1:09:20 Weekly Win 1:10:40 Exposure Lab 1:11:10 Goodbyes
Get in Touch: Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us: Email us at [email protected] Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd
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Content Warnings: We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.
Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.
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