Obsessive-Compulsive disorder, fear of HIV infection
Every day I receive dozens (or hundreds) of questions about the AIDS virus, about how to contract the virus, the accuracy of the analysis, and doubts about the negative results of the analysis, and most of them have nothing to do with the AIDS virus, but with another disease, which is obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Usually, I answer all questions in a simple way and easy to understand. But many of many of those asking don’t stop. They continue asking the same question repeatedly several times, but in different words. The way they have been exposed to infection, cannot spread HIV, even though they insist they might be infected with the virus. Some of them doubt the negative result accuracy, or the virus might show later the test will change to negative. They doubt the result for reasons, which are not logic, irrational, and contrary to normal thinking.
How your brains can turn to become your enemies, when you suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder
Why is it hard to convince person with obsessive-compulsive disorder
If you have OCD, which leads to irrational fear and panic, it is very difficult for anyone (doctor or other) to get you out of it. Because obsession causes illusions, irrational fears, and incorrect fantasies, all of which are not real, therefore you cannot use logic to convince the obsessive patient of the error of what he believes.
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
It is a mental health disorder characterized by repetitive actions that seem impossible to stop. It is common in young adults, both male and female, and can last several years or be lifelong. Urgent medical attention may be recommended for some cases. It is curable by a medical professional.
Why is it hard to diagnose obsessive compulsive disorder?
It’s sometimes difficult to diagnose OCD because symptoms can be similar to other mental conditions like anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia or others.
Obsessive-Compulsive disorder Real Story
Here is the story of a researcher and book author, who was obsessed with HIV. “I grew up in the 1980s when there was huge public information about the dangers of HIV,” he says. “A few years later, when I was in college, at the age of 19, I started to worry and fear I might get AIDS, knowing that I hadn’t done anything, (like unprotected sex or otherwise), that would make me vulnerable to HIV infection.
Oddly enough, he knew his reasoning was “ridiculous,” he says in his book, “I am a well-educated person. However, this irrational fear struck me, and I know it is irrational and just foolish thinking, and I am doing thing unwillingly, (compulsive behavior).” What is the explanation? The answer in a short is obsessive-compulsive disorder.
He suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder for several years with the fear of contracting AIDS, in situations where it is almost impossible to get infected with HIV. His condition did not improve despite his visits to many doctors specialized in AIDS and infectious diseases. None of them was able to get him out of the fear that surrounded him. But after visiting a psychiatrist, his condition began to improve. Gradually, he no longer had that severe obsession and intense fear.
How did OCD affect his life?
1- A normal daily situations and actions
OCD is the fourth most common mental illness, and it affects nearly everyone – men, women, children, adults, people of all cultures and degrees, of all faiths and all races. It is a case of the patient turning into a very miserable person.
He says: I scraped my heels while swimming in a public swimming pool, then became obsessed with the possibility of blood on the stairs that injured me. And then I had a strong desire to check if I was infected with the AIDS virus. On top of that, I used a paper towel (tisho) and pressed it against the bleeding wound. Then my anxiety and fear grew that the paper towel might have blood on it. Thus, I was trapped in a closed circle of fear and anxiety, the possibility of Al-Aduri with the AIDS virus. Another example of my suffering due to obsessive-compulsive disorder, I had a small wound in my thumb one day, and I became more closely looking at the hand and fingers of those I shake hands with, I want to see if they have any wounds. I know this is a ridiculous thought however I have no doubts, they might have a wound that bleeds and it might even reach the cut on my hand.
2- Calling the AIDS help hotline repeatedly
“Often I would call the AIDS hotline and then hang up before anyone answered, I hated myself for doing it over and over,” he says. If someone answers, and I recognize his voice, i.e., someone who has spoken to me before, then I say to myself, “It is better to impersonate someone else so as not to discriminate against me.” From the many and repeated calls from the same people, and their inability to convince the caller that he is fine, they used to say out of boredom, “You have been answered repeatedly, and we cannot help you now.” Obsessive-compulsive disorder makes you feel that you are in a humiliating and embarrassing situation, but you cannot stop asking and searching for reassurance and peace of mind.
3- How did obsessive-compulsive disorder affect his sexual life?
The only people I told [about my OCD] were girlfriends. Because [sex] was a problem for me. You can have safe sex, but frankly, [asking about someone’s sexual health] is a logical question, and the OCD mind is not rational.
So I was worried about rubbing my knee along the roof when I was playing soccer. I was also worried about that – and I was still able to play football. You just get used to a level of constant anxiety. The concern is almost irrelevant.
So I can’t tell you that I was more concerned about HIV infection than sex because I was so worried about picking it up from everything else that it mixed up in the background.
Symptoms of OCD / fear of AIDS
Persons with OCD / fear of AIDS act in different ways, including the following:
- Obsessions – Irrational and foolish thinking that consumes the person’s attention. These obsessions are unwanted and over-powering. Example: A person believes that he will be exposed to HIV infection just by shaking hands with another person, or the nurse injected him with used syringe.
- Obsessions turn into ritual behaviors that a person cannot function normally in everyday life. An example of this would be someone who undergoes for HIV testing many times, while testing is not required at all.
- Checking repeatedly: Obsessive thoughts related to exposure to HIV infection drive the person to check and re-check things, such as whether plates. spoons or towels are well cleaned.
- Washing: Fear of contamination drive a person to wash hands and things repeatedly.
- Repetitive Actions: This symptom may take the form of asking the same question over and over again or repeating HIV tests many times.
Treatment of OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder usually needs medical assistance and treatment. While treatment may not cure the condition, it will help control the symptoms. There are two types of treatment: psychotherapy and medications. Combination of both will be more effective.
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