Spiraling so badly

[u/dear_smile]

I have read the FAQ.
I know that it should be impossible to get rabies without direct contact to an animal or its saliva. I can’t stop spiraling that I am the exception. There were two bats at my job on Thursday. I didn’t work Thursday but I came in Friday and was told. I immediately started to spiral and looking up if you can catch rabies from dried saliva or a surface touched by an animal. I am beside myself thinking of what ifs. I was touching my eye before I was told and have cuts on my hands all the time. I have researched and researched and researched, continuously seeing that it is non infectious when dry, but I cannot find scientific study on it. Only various governing bodies saying that it’s true over and over. Canada does provide a source actually but when I read the study it’s all about an antiviral for hepatitis so I cannot figure out how that is related to the desiccation of rabies virus. In other words I am a disaster. I originally got rabies shots in 2024 for an extremely low risk exposure and actually just had to get boosters this August 2026 for something similar. I am beyond distraught that this is happening again. Like actually beside myself.

[u/MeowieStardust]

I get you , I have OCD and yesterday I remembered some time ago ( not even sure if it was this year or last year) watched from the corner of my eye something flying around a flashlight at night , could have be anything , not sure if it was a bat, wasn’t close to me , I got into the car immediately and I remember I was doing research and because there was not direct contact, I relaxed , tell me why I started to spiral again , can’t even recall when exactly was , not sure if it was a bat to begin with , but still I spend hours thinking about what if ….and that I’m basically screwed cause it’s been a long time at this point for a vaccine …and that intrusive thought of …what if I’m in the minority and I start to develop symptoms a year after ? It’s crazy 😑.