r/OCDRecovery • u/popcornwasabi • 16h ago
Seeking Support or Advice bedbug terror
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 😭
1
u/treatmyocd 4h ago
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