How do I stop my phobia of diseases?!
Question: How do I stop my phobia of diseases!?
I didn't use to be like this!. Now,it has gotten so bad that I literally try to steer clear of any topic that involves diseases!.
I used chap stick a while back from my mom's boyfriend!. Now I think it has given me some kind of disease,or STD!.
I know this is somewhat irrational,yet I really can't shake the fear!.
I have an appointment with a psychiatrist in a few weeks,but in the meantime this is driving me absolutely crazy!.
Within a period of two months,I have gone from a normal,typical teenager who had no problem talking about a disease,to someone who is so paranoid I no longer want tot ake a shower in fear of seeing something on my body that doesn't look right!.
I see the tiniest bump on me,and I freak out!. I have already been tested for a list of diseases,to ease my mind!. They said everything was fine!.
I'm a 17 year old virgin,who has never done anything sexual in my life!. I have not even kissed a boy!. Why do I fear catching an STD!?
This is ruining my life,and I have even thought about ending it over this!. Normally I never think about suicide and would neer do something like this,but I am so terrified how my life might end up and thinking I have a disease!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
I used chap stick a while back from my mom's boyfriend!. Now I think it has given me some kind of disease,or STD!.
I know this is somewhat irrational,yet I really can't shake the fear!.
I have an appointment with a psychiatrist in a few weeks,but in the meantime this is driving me absolutely crazy!.
Within a period of two months,I have gone from a normal,typical teenager who had no problem talking about a disease,to someone who is so paranoid I no longer want tot ake a shower in fear of seeing something on my body that doesn't look right!.
I see the tiniest bump on me,and I freak out!. I have already been tested for a list of diseases,to ease my mind!. They said everything was fine!.
I'm a 17 year old virgin,who has never done anything sexual in my life!. I have not even kissed a boy!. Why do I fear catching an STD!?
This is ruining my life,and I have even thought about ending it over this!. Normally I never think about suicide and would neer do something like this,but I am so terrified how my life might end up and thinking I have a disease!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Sounds to me like you have a vulnerability issue!. And maybe fear of deprivation!.
If you were to look into your past I would almost bet that there is some kind of fear that you were submitted to or that you felt growing up about the dangers in the world!. Perhaps someone treated you as delicate or implied the world was unsafe!?
Ask yourself have you ever had these feelings before!? Maybe when you were very young!? Are there any connections!?
Also STD's are highly socially stigmatized and therefore IF you were to get one (which I think it virtually impossible without having sex!.!.!.!.so don't worry!.!.!.!.though I know you will) it may bring up feelings of deprivation and being unloved!. Perhaps someone shamed you allot when you were younger or you were deprived of acceptance/love!. So these things terrify you!. In other words!. To get an STD to is to never have the life you so desperately want or that you will not be loved or accepted and looked down upon!. Or some variation!.
Feelings are not rational!. But behind your fears are thoughts!. "What if" scenarios!. And that is what is triggering the emotion!. I would recommend 2 things:
1!. Go to a Cognitive (Schema) therapist as well if you can!. They specialize specifically in phobias and exercises to challenge the triggering thoughts!. And gaining further understanding of what has lead you to these fears!.
2!. Sit down and close your eyes!. Watch the thoughts you are having and feel the emotions!. Don't resist but don't engage!. OBSERVE!. It's not good or bad!. It just is!. Accept the fear!. Don't resist!. The resistance creates panic and another layer of suffering on top of what you are already experiencing!. Say to yourself "This is how I'm feeling right now and I accept that" "I am afraid this will happen or that will happen" "I feel like crying" "I'm afraid no one will love me for who I am"!.!.!.whatever it is!.!.!.!.!. watch it!. See it as an observer!. If you start crying than say!.!.!.!."I am now crying!.!.!.!.that is what is happening and I accept that"!. But keep watching!. Don't lose the observer!. And don't resist!.This helps defuse the power it has over you and brings clarity to what you are thinking!.
Don't resist!.!.!.dont say!.!.!.!. This shouldn't be happening!. I shouldn't feel this way!. I shouldn't be in pain like this!. All of this is causing more pain!. Pain is okay!. Pain if part of life!. Accept it is happening!. Don't run from it!. Defuse it by not resisting!. This keeps you present!. And in the present moment!. Nothing is wrong!. I mean ask yourself!. If I did not have the ability to create a thought in my head!. If I only lived for each second!. Would I be experiencing any fear right now!? No!. Why!? Because right now!. In this moment!. Nothing is wrong with your life!. It's the future that you're afraid of!. Right!? But the future hasn't happened yet!. It's a fantasy!.
The truth is that many people have STD's!. And they are having great lives!. Most are just annoyances and the ones that are more intense are actually highly treatable now!. So to want to end your life over it!.!.!.!.is very painful but also a punishment to yourself that is worse than any result that an STD could give you!. I know rationally you know this but the fear is so great that it's very difficult!.
I have felt this way myself in my life!. I suffered over fear of death, my heart!.!.!.!.all kinds of crazy stuff!. It's tough!. But once you realize it's not real!. And you stop identifying with the thoughts you will free yourself from them!. So observe every chance you get!. Don't judge!. Never judge!. Just watch and accept!. This will keep you present and train you to not identify with your mind/feelings!. Trust me!. It can help!.
Stay well!.!.!.!.!.and remember the Universe loves you no matter how you are!Www@Answer-Health@Com
If you were to look into your past I would almost bet that there is some kind of fear that you were submitted to or that you felt growing up about the dangers in the world!. Perhaps someone treated you as delicate or implied the world was unsafe!?
Ask yourself have you ever had these feelings before!? Maybe when you were very young!? Are there any connections!?
Also STD's are highly socially stigmatized and therefore IF you were to get one (which I think it virtually impossible without having sex!.!.!.!.so don't worry!.!.!.!.though I know you will) it may bring up feelings of deprivation and being unloved!. Perhaps someone shamed you allot when you were younger or you were deprived of acceptance/love!. So these things terrify you!. In other words!. To get an STD to is to never have the life you so desperately want or that you will not be loved or accepted and looked down upon!. Or some variation!.
Feelings are not rational!. But behind your fears are thoughts!. "What if" scenarios!. And that is what is triggering the emotion!. I would recommend 2 things:
1!. Go to a Cognitive (Schema) therapist as well if you can!. They specialize specifically in phobias and exercises to challenge the triggering thoughts!. And gaining further understanding of what has lead you to these fears!.
2!. Sit down and close your eyes!. Watch the thoughts you are having and feel the emotions!. Don't resist but don't engage!. OBSERVE!. It's not good or bad!. It just is!. Accept the fear!. Don't resist!. The resistance creates panic and another layer of suffering on top of what you are already experiencing!. Say to yourself "This is how I'm feeling right now and I accept that" "I am afraid this will happen or that will happen" "I feel like crying" "I'm afraid no one will love me for who I am"!.!.!.whatever it is!.!.!.!.!. watch it!. See it as an observer!. If you start crying than say!.!.!.!."I am now crying!.!.!.!.that is what is happening and I accept that"!. But keep watching!. Don't lose the observer!. And don't resist!.This helps defuse the power it has over you and brings clarity to what you are thinking!.
Don't resist!.!.!.dont say!.!.!.!. This shouldn't be happening!. I shouldn't feel this way!. I shouldn't be in pain like this!. All of this is causing more pain!. Pain is okay!. Pain if part of life!. Accept it is happening!. Don't run from it!. Defuse it by not resisting!. This keeps you present!. And in the present moment!. Nothing is wrong!. I mean ask yourself!. If I did not have the ability to create a thought in my head!. If I only lived for each second!. Would I be experiencing any fear right now!? No!. Why!? Because right now!. In this moment!. Nothing is wrong with your life!. It's the future that you're afraid of!. Right!? But the future hasn't happened yet!. It's a fantasy!.
The truth is that many people have STD's!. And they are having great lives!. Most are just annoyances and the ones that are more intense are actually highly treatable now!. So to want to end your life over it!.!.!.!.is very painful but also a punishment to yourself that is worse than any result that an STD could give you!. I know rationally you know this but the fear is so great that it's very difficult!.
I have felt this way myself in my life!. I suffered over fear of death, my heart!.!.!.!.all kinds of crazy stuff!. It's tough!. But once you realize it's not real!. And you stop identifying with the thoughts you will free yourself from them!. So observe every chance you get!. Don't judge!. Never judge!. Just watch and accept!. This will keep you present and train you to not identify with your mind/feelings!. Trust me!. It can help!.
Stay well!.!.!.!.!.and remember the Universe loves you no matter how you are!Www@Answer-Health@Com
get tested but you could be a borderline hypochronidac but its ok!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
go have a physical done if you haven't had one!. it will make you feel betterWww@Answer-Health@Com
You are the only one that has total control over your thoughts!. Others can try to influence those, but you ultimately control your thoughts!. When you feel an irrational thought coming on, take a breath and ask yourself why you are thinking what you are!? What is the basis for it!?
Second, most diseases are not life threatening!. If you get a bump, so what!? Maybe it is just a pimple under the skin!. Even STD's can be cured, and they would most likely not be transmitted by chap stick!. Consider one more thing!.!.!.If you are worried about getting something from your mothers boyfriend, wouldn't your mother already be sick!?
Just take a deep breath, and think things through before you allow yourself to fall apart!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
Second, most diseases are not life threatening!. If you get a bump, so what!? Maybe it is just a pimple under the skin!. Even STD's can be cured, and they would most likely not be transmitted by chap stick!. Consider one more thing!.!.!.If you are worried about getting something from your mothers boyfriend, wouldn't your mother already be sick!?
Just take a deep breath, and think things through before you allow yourself to fall apart!. Www@Answer-Health@Com