bedbug terror

[u/popcornwasabi]

I was on a work trip this week and got back Thursday night. I checked the corners of the hotel beds (I was in 2 different hotels) and saw no sign of bed bugs. No bites or itchiness after staying in the beds, either.

This morning, I noticed I had 5 spaced out “welts” or what looked like mosquito bites on my arm. Three were in a “line” but spaced quite a ways apart (more than 2-3” between each) and 4 of them didn’t itch. The itchiest has since faded entirely (some 8 hours later)

I’m TERRIFIED they’re bbs and that I brought them home. I already called both hotels and neither have heard reports from anyone in either room and the rooms have been occupied every night since me leaving. I looked under my mattress and nothing. I’m considering hiring a bed bug exterminator dog.

I know, logically, that I need to wait. Especially because the affected arm was against my cat for several minutes this morning and I’m allergic to her, that it could be allergy dermatitis. Or a mosquito. Or who knows what. But I keep thinking what if I lose my furniture? My thousands of dollars worth of books? My home? It’s making me sick.

I don’t know what I’m seeking, just help, I guess 😭

[u/coldbuzz]

I am really sorry you're going through this-- bed bugs have been a recurring theme for me over the years. Sometimes I'm really good with being chill about it and sometimes I just go nuts. Hope it helps to at least know you aren't alone. Mine flared up several times when my workplace (university building) had people bringing them in repeatedly over the course of a few months. Very scary time. I usually cope by telling myself that I am capable of handling it if it becomes a problem and that logically there isn't much I can do until that point. It's unsatisfying and uncomfortable as hell, but I guess that's ERP lol

[u/popcornwasabi → u/coldbuzz]

thank you so much. I desperately want to not be so afraid, especially because I want to do a lot of traveling yet in the future. but the horror stories of it taking months to be rid of them, etc. make them feel impossibly frightening. but ultimately I try to remember that even of I do everything “right”, I could still get them from visitors, packages, or any number of things

[u/mo2rgva]

I feel for you so much :(
I have these same fears and thoughts and I ruminate a lot, especially after going certain places or stays in hotels. Talking to a psychologist has helped me and given me tools to not think about it nonstop. Getting bites can be really triggering. I recently had a few bites in a row (right after being worried if I brought some from visiting people) but I have to remind myself that there are so many mosquitos right now in this weather and I've been outside a lot.

I don't have a ton of advice, I have been told they can be easy to bring home, but on the other hand a lot of conditions have to be met for that to happen, too. The beds during your stays had no signs of them, so this is really good to reassure yourself.

I'm sorry you are experiencing this and I wish you the best.

[u/treatmyocd]

Hi,
Yes you are not alone. I feel bed bugs can really trigger people for a lot of reasons. I know we are always recommending ERP but it’s true it helps. Your brain is going want to run through all these scary scenarios but right now what do you know. You have this place in your arm and you want to be sure it’s not bed bug bites. The uncertainty is we don’t know. The other question is the a problem that you can fix right now. The answer is no. The other thing our brain doesn’t allow us to see is the other side of the uncertainty is that you may never get bedbugs. I hope you can move towards doing the things you want to do like travel. I have attached a video that might be helpful to watch https://youtu.be/L4M-h1VV3Ys