Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
I have read and read about how HIV cannot survive outside the body-however I have an OCD unnatural fear of blood and AIDS...I will disinfect things like crazy. Here is my dillema today-I was reading the Sunday paper going through the coupons-on the circular for a store, there was a bright red dot on the edge of the circular that had bled through all 6 pages. I was hoping it was a red marker, but the ocd in me won't let it go...and so in my mind it is blood that soaked through all of the circular. My husband had picked up the paper last night. Now I want to know what all he touched, the paper was opened up on the dining room table and I disinfected it, only to feel like everything on the table was "infected", including me...and I have a little one year old son that makes my fears of contracting and passing it on to him worse.
IF this was blood, and it was on the circular that was probably put into the paper box on Saturday night, could when my husband picked it up on Sunday night and when I looked on Monday morning-could it have caused any need for all this disinfection I went through today? Please help put my mind at ease-this kind of thing happens all the time to me.....
Thank you!
Advertisement
Response from Dr. Frascino
Hi,
The HIV-acquisition risk from your "HIV on mail" concerns is completely nonexistent. Your problem is OCD, not HIV. If indeed "this kind of thing happens all the time to (you)," I would strongly suggest you seek psychotherapy (counseling) to help you confront and cope with these completely irrational and totally unwarranted fears surrounding blood and HIV. Of course the other alternative would be to buy stock in the company that makes your disinfectant!
Good luck. Stop worrying. Stop disinfecting. HIV is not your problem. No way. No how. OK?
Dr. Bob
Want to read more questions and answers on this subject? Our experts have answered many similar questions!
Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this
forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible
for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this
forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or
edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their
messages.
Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as
legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a
health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.
E-Mail
Glossary
Response from Dr. Frascino
