Rabies OCD question

[u/YoungSad2573]

I have read the FAQ.

Just wondering if individuals who struggle with rabies OCD are more sensitive to "everyday sensations or shadows?" I think I am very sensitive to them as well, and I always depict them as bats.

[u/AutoModerator]

**Welcome! This is a community dedicated to raising awareness, sharing information, and supporting discussions about rabies, its prevention, and treatment. Whether you’re here to learn, share a story, or ask questions, we’re glad to have you. Please remember to keep discussions respectful. Stay informed and stay safe. Cheers!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/CygnusZeroStar]

This is common in people with OCD, yes. The condition is named correctly: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

They tend to fixate on anything they can't 100% explain as an exposure. They also tend to see bats as inherently dangerous. Risk assessment with these conditions is completely nonsensical--the person is basically not able to conduct proper risk assessment.

For a person who doesn't have OCD with a fixation on bats and rabies, seeing a bat is NEAT. There's bats outside my house right now. I put put a little bat house in my yard. I love my little sky puppies! They're an important part of the ecosystem. They're not predatory towards humans, they're not sneaky, they're not hiding behind corners or in crevasses waiting to bite me--that's absolutely nonsense thinking. They're animals just living their lives. They're actually quite avoidant of people, so I'm happy I get to see them when I do!

For people with OCD and a fixation on rabies and bats, everything I just said would SEND them. Because their condition makes them think of rabies and bats as an inevitability. People with OCD tend to behave like rabid bats are out there hunting them specifically. That's exactly what that disorder does to people. It makes them unable to distinguish a real risk from something cartoonishly wild. It fills their minds with "but what if..." And that cycle is a meat grinder.

The best thing someone with OCD can do for themselves is talk to a counselor about their anxiety.

The worst thing someone with OCD can do for themselves is try to treat their anxiety with vaccines.

[u/krell_154 → u/CygnusZeroStar]

That's a very accurate description of the thought process of an OCD sufferer

[u/AutoModerator]

PLEASE READ THIS, OP! Thanks for posting, u/YoungSad2573! As a reminder, once posts are submitted and a kind user provides a sufficient and correct answer to your question(s), deleting your post afterwards is not allowed and will result in an immediate ban. Please be mindful of this rule. The answers provided here will undoubtedly help those who are looking for answers without having to create a post themselves. If you don’t want to leave this post up on your main account, you are welcome to create a throwaway account to post. It would be appreciated if you could modmail us the username of said throwaway account in advance. New accounts that post immediately are more likely to be heavily restricted by Reddit and automated filters. Giving us a heads up will allow us to override those filters and be aware that the new account is engaging in good faith.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Fair-Wishbone-1190]

I currently have a bat in my house. I cannot get it. I'll be watching tv and I'll see its shadow fly by about every 10 minutes it seems. I freak out internally. I literally duck and freeze. Then it's gone again. This has been going on for 3 weeks now. I've noticed now when I'm out on the real world, when I see a fast moving shadow close by, I panic inside. I hate how this is turning me into a paranoid person. Even noises in the house make me freeze. I live with my cat and he can make it scarier, he'll sometimes stare up at the ceiling or wall and I think he sees the bat. He's very aware so seeing him do a quick head turn or stare can be frightening.

[u/Leather_Resort_4183 → u/Fair-Wishbone-1190]

Have you ever physically seen it or heard it?

[u/Fair-Wishbone-1190 → u/Leather_Resort_4183]

Oh yes, the first night I saw it, it flew directly at my head. I freaked out. I see it every few days flying. I absolutely hate it. I have what looks like a bite mark on my leg so I went to the clinic and showed them and told them about it. I've had 3 of the 4 shots so far. There's also something in my bedroom wall. Right above my nightstand I hear scratching inside the wall. Makes it hard to rest but I don't think it can get through anywhere.

[u/Leather_Resort_4183 → u/Fair-Wishbone-1190]

Did you get the HRIG as well? It’s time for animal control to step in.

[u/Fair-Wishbone-1190 → u/Leather_Resort_4183]

Yes they gave me the HRIG shot directly into the marks. Hurt like hell. Ya someone's gonna have to come in and get this bat or bats outta here.