• Fear of catching or spreading viruses and infections
• Fear of touching public surfaces, door handles, or shared objects
• Fear of contamination from others’ coughs, sneezes, or proximity

• Fear of blood, saliva, sweat, mucus, urine, feces
• Fear of cross-contamination from bathrooms, laundry, or shared spaces

• Fear of chemicals, mold, toxins, cleaning products
• Fear of food contamination

• Fear that touching one object makes everything else contaminated
• Fear that one small action will create a chain reaction of danger

Compulsive Cleaning & Washing

• Excessive handwashing
• Showering after minor contact
• Rewashing clean items “just in case”
• Scrubbing until skin becomes irritated

• Avoiding public bathrooms, gyms, restaurants, or social events
• Avoiding touching doorknobs, phones, money, packages
• Avoiding returning items to stores or letting others borrow belongings

• Repeatedly checking if something is “clean enough”
• Asking partners or family members whether something is safe
• Searching online for contamination risks

• Using excessive gloves, wipes, sanitizers
• Quarantining objects
• Setting up elaborate cleaning systems

It is not:

• Being neat or organized
• Preferring things clean
• Medical concern based on realistic risk
• A personality trait (“germaphobe”)

Contamination OCD is a disorder of misinterpreted threat, maintained by compulsions—not a lifestyle choice.

Contamination OCD may be present if:

• You clean or wash far more than others around you
• You feel intense distress touching public surfaces or everyday objects
• You avoid social events due to contamination concerns
• You reorganize your life around preventing exposure
• You feel responsible for causing illness or harm to others
• You can’t stop ruminating about whether something is “safe”

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard treatment for OCD and is the most effective approach for contamination fears.

ERP focuses on:

• Gradually facing feared situations or objects
• Reducing avoidance and decreasing ritual behaviors
• Learning to tolerate uncertainty and discomfort
• Allowing intrusive fears to pass without reacting
   

Examples of ERP for Contamination OCD may include:

• Touching doorknobs without washing
• Preparing food without excessive cleaning rituals
• Sitting on public benches or using public restrooms
• Handling laundry normally
• Bringing “contaminated” items into regular use
• Reducing sanitizing routines

ERP is structured, collaborative, and designed to reduce the impact of compulsions over time.