Manhattan Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Schedule an appointment
  • Home
  • Teletherapy
  • Affiliated Therapists
  • Problems Treated
    • Anxiety
    • Panic Attacks
    • Insomnia
    • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
    • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
      • POCD: Pedophilic OCD
      • HOCD – “Gay OCD”
      • Harm OCD
      • Hit and Run OCD
      • Existential OCD
    • Depression
    • Social Anxiety
    • Trichotillomania
    • Dermatillomania (Skin Picking)
  • Resources
    • What is CBT?
    • How to Get Started with CBT
    • What Is Mindfulness?
    • Free PTSD evaluations for frontline medical workers
    • Worksheets
    • Out-of-state Resources
  • Training
    • The MCCBT externship
    • The MCCBT Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • Mental Health Blog
  • Contact us
Home » Mental Health Blog » Anxiety » OCD » Fear of Contamination: How Big of a Problem Is It For You?

Fear of Contamination: How Big of a Problem Is It For You?

April 7, 2009 by Dr. Paul Greene

Contamination fear - Manhattan Center for CBT

Are you a germophobe? People have phobias of all sorts of things — heights, insects, blood, needles, dogs, you name it. However, people with a fear of germs typically do not have a phobia. Often, this is the contamination subtype of OCD.

This will often manifest in tendencies to avoid people, places, or things that are thought to be contaminated. Sometimes the concern is about a specific disease like HIV or hepatitis, or just general “germs.” Other times the contamination can be more vaguely defined. In its extreme forms, this type of OCD can result in people feeling that their homes are too contaminated to continue living in.

Is Fear of Contamination a Problem?

How do you know if your concerns are a big problem, or just a quirk? Here are some tips — you should consider seeking help if:

  • the fear of contamination can “spread” from one thing to another and then another;
  • attempts to rid yourself or your surroundings of contamination have caused you to be late to work, school, or other engagements;
  • germ, disease, or other related fears have affected your sex life or your romantic relationships;
  • efforts to prevent or avoid contamination have significantly lengthened your daily routines;
  • time spent washing, disinfecting, or otherwise cleaning has become excessive, or is thought to be excessive by others.

Don’t let fear of contamination run your life. Help is available, and by changing some habits and improving your tolerance for discomfort, you can see great gains. It’s not easy but it can be done! People who complete ERP therapy are able to see exactly these kinds of improvements.

Contact Us

Subscribe to the Manhattan Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy blog!

Related posts from manhattanCBT.com:

Filed Under: OCD Tagged With: anxiety, ocd, psychotherapy

Manhattan Center for CBT

Search

Key resources

  • Anxiety: Everything you need to know
  • Mindfulness -- A beginner's guide
  • A comprehensive guide to PTSD
  • How to Find a Therapist
  • OCD Overview
  • Insomnia resource page
  • Panic Attacks -- Get informed
  • Social Anxiety guide
  • Trichotillomania information
  • Depression -- Ultimate guide
  • Stay up to date with ManhattanCBT

    Enter your email to subscribe and receive new posts via email.

    Categories

    • Addiction
    • American mental healthcare
    • Anxiety
    • Cancer
    • Career
    • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
    • Coronavirus
    • DBT
    • Depression
    • Eating disorders
    • Evidence-based treatment
    • Featured
    • Insomnia
    • Kids and teens
    • Mindfulness and meditation
    • OCD
    • Panic attacks
    • PTSD
    • Social Anxiety

    Affiliated Therapist Writings

    • Amoha Bajaj-Mahajan, Ph.D.
      • Shy and Dating? Helpful Tips from a Psychologist
      • How to Understand and Overcome Your Anxiety at Work
    • Anna Womack, Ph.D.
      • Self-Care Tips for the Coronavirus Outbreak
      • Unhappy at Work? 3 Options for Job Satisfaction
    • Carly Geller, Psy.D.
      • Cognitive Distortions and What to Do About Them
      • Why You Have Intense Emotions, and How to Cope
    • Rachel Chang, Psy.D.
      • How to Be Awesome at Self-Soothing and Self-Care
      • Accepting Things As They Are: Why and How to Do It
    • Jennifer Chen, Psy.D.
      • Mindfulness of Emotions: How Can It Help You?
      • How to Survive Holiday Stress
    • Justin Arocho, Ph.D.
      • Assertive vs. Aggressive: What’s the Difference?
      • Do I Have Insomnia?
    • Kristen Piering, Psy.D.
      • Coronavirus: Tips for Parents During Social Distancing
      • “Will I Get Sick Too?” — Talking to Your Children and Teens about Coronavirus
    • Melissa Aiello, Ph.D.
      • Why Do I Hate My Job?
      • How to Overcome the Vicious Cycle of Depression and Avoidance
    • Dr. Paul Greene
      • Your Easy Guide to the DBT’s GIVE Skills
      • Change Is Inevitable

    Contact Information

    Manhattan Center for
    Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
    276 Fifth Avenue, Suite #905
    New York, NY 10001 (map)
    1-646-863-4225
    https://manhattancbt.com

    Copyright © 2020 Manhattan Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy/Psychology, PLLC, d.b.a. the Manhattan Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy & Paul B. Greene, Ph.D. except where otherwise noted.

    Recent Tweets

    Tweets by @anxietyocd

    Recent Posts

    • Assertive vs. Aggressive: What’s the Difference?
    • Your Easy Guide to the DBT’s GIVE Skills
    • Do I Have Insomnia?
    • Change Is Inevitable
    • What Is Panic Disorder With and Without Agoraphobia?
    • Is PTSD Permanent? It Doesn’t Have To Be
    • OCD
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Social Anxiety
    • Insomnia
    • Trichotillomania
    • Mindfulness
    • Panic Attacks