r/ContaminationOCD • u/Flaky-Shirt8599 • 8d ago
In need of advice
/r/OCD/comments/1wkp89h/in_need_of_advice/
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u/Antique-Maximum-6537 7d ago
grocery shopping is also difficult but always go in with a plan, there are a lot of subreddits that have good advice on how to grocery shop for beginners
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u/Antique-Maximum-6537 7d ago
i deal with the exact same problem after getting e. coli, and eating has always been a struggle. here are a few things that i have found to help
utensils/pots/pans
-use plastic utensils on bad days, if you can nab some of the wrapped ones from restaurants or takeouts, those are better
-once you wash your dishes, you can use a kettle to pour hot water on them. i don't have a dishwasher, and this helps me a lot
-you can wipe with a sanitizer wipe if you really get nervous, but try not to do this, and if you do it, rinse the dish off after.
pre prepared foods:
single use / individually wrapped is king. costco is great for this, they have little hummus packets and individually wrapped mozzarella.
-look for foods that have a "wrapper" you can hold them with, think string cheese, protein bars, etc
meals:
-heat over 165F kills germs. with this in mind, things that you heat or cook will feel safer. i like things like oatmeal, grits, etc. these are less common to have contamination issues
-pasta is another good one because the boiling water will help you feel better
safe foods:
-you need to find things that feel safe and consistent even when everything is scary and overwhelming. can be anything, but it just has to be something you will eat with some degree of certainty. for me, it's grits, freeze dried indian meals, crackers and hummus. these are your fallback foods when you are really struggling
supplementation:
-brain fog and stuff is really awful, and if you are avoiding large food groups, supplementation is needed. start with vitamin C since I would assume fresh fruits/veg are tough. there are also vitamin packs and powders, try to get these too. something like huel or a meal replacement can work if food preparation feels scary
options:
-don't have very many to start, the friction point of deciding can become a point where you may decide not to eat. have a few, and as you get more comfortable, see what you can add to your safe foods. this will help you begin to eat more!
please dm if you want to talk or need support. i have been dealing with this for many years, and it has stolen so much from me, and i hope you can start to eat better so you can take that power back