Touching a Public Door Handle

Author: KW

Created: 19/05/2025

Adult / CYP: Adult

Categories: OCD

Experience Narrative:

You avoid touching public door handles due to fear of contamination and subsequent illness. Touch a handle then sit with the idea that you are contaminated, eat some food. Over time log the subjective units of distress on a chart over time checking in with how disturbed this feels on a scale chosen on the sheet e.g. 100/100 and over 60 mins

Belief to be tested:

"If I touch a public door handle then eating food will mean that I will contract a serious illness."

Alternative Perspective:

"Touching public surfaces is a common daily activity even if I eat something, and serious illness from this is rare."

Safety Behaviours to drop:

Using tissues or sleeves to touch handles. Immediate handwashing or sanitizing after contact. Avoiding public places altogether, avoiding eating holding the food using 'safe fingers'

Client reflections:

TBC log the disturbance

Practitioner reflections:

TBC

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