Do I have OCD?

[Red]

So it's already kind of a pain in the ass living in a meat consuming household for many reasons that I don't want to get into here, but there's this thing that's been bothering me for the past like 3-4 years now.

Animals products I've eaten all my life (chicken, beef, pork), in terms of taste, I've grown either apathetic to or disgusted by (and I've always been disgusted by anything that is from the ocean, so I've never eaten seafood, so that's one less thing to weigh on me, but it is relevant as you will see). But the issue is, all the plates and utensils and such have all been... we-we'll say 'contaminated,' when they first touched animal product.

My brother always uses the same types of bowls when he eats tuna fish (which is virtually everyday unfortunately), so I always avoid using those bowls since I don't want to eat from those, instead using the larger bowls (still that's a gamble). Honestly, I know they're clean and all that bullshit since they've been in the wash, but I always have that little dread of those little fucking molecules lingering, and I'm getting disgusted just thinking about eating from one of them.

I also use the larger utensils instead of the smaller ones, since those get used less, and I never used plastic containers for food storage since they all have had meat once or twice in them.

Plates are also a concern, but milage with those vary since sometimes I can I use a paper towel instead of a plate, but I don't get that opportunity often. When no one is looking (so as to not attract any attention) I grab one of the plastic party plates and eat from one of those, but I try to be conservative with them.

I bring this up since I remember a few years ago my mom noticed I avoided using the regular bowls, and when she inquired why, she said something along the lines of it being a symptom of OCD (I don't quite remember what she said, but OCD was in there). So do I have OCD?

[Adloud]

I'm not a qualified psychologist, and if you want a medical opinion you probably should contact one.
However, I would bet a lot on the diagnosis being negative. I've recently watched a great lecture by Melanie Joy, in which she talks a bit about vegans being disgusted by meat (it starts at about 9:30, but I highly recommend the whole thing): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqE0gUCp0oI
It might be regarded as strange because it does not go in line with established social norms but is a very natural reaction in itself. Maybe you could have your own set of (or at least a couple) plates and cutlery that no one else would eat from?

[Jebus]

Maybe you could have your own set of (or at least a couple) plates and cutlery that no one else would eat from?

That's what I do when I visit my family. I have my own frying pan, spatula, cutlery, plates everything.

[Red]

Maybe you could have your own set of (or at least a couple) plates and cutlery that no one else would eat from?

That's what I do when I visit my family. I have my own frying pan, spatula, cutlery, plates everything.

That sounds like a great idea on paper, but there are many caveats with it; Where am I going to put them (I don't have space for it)? How can I afford it? Also I don't see it as impossible that my family'd start using my own dining sets when they run out of others (or if they just feel like it).

I could buy more plastic items and store them where we usually store them, but those costs will add up, and it just seems like a slight yet unnecessary strain on the environment.

[Adloud]

That sounds like a great idea on paper, but there are many caveats with it; Where am I going to put them (I don't have space for it)? How can I afford it? Also I don't see it as impossible that my family'd start using my own dining sets when they run out of others (or if they just feel like it).

I could buy more plastic items and store them where we usually store them, but those costs will add up, and it just seems like a slight yet unnecessary strain on the environment.

It all depends on your family's views on veganism. If they understand how you feel together you could try to find a solution to the situation. I think the best thing would be to find some common ground so that you could feel comfortable living together. From my own experience, I find alienating myself makes the problem much worse.

[Red]

It all depends on your family's views on veganism. If they understand how you feel together you could try to find a solution to the situation. I think the best thing would be to find some common ground so that you could feel comfortable living together. From my own experience, I find alienating myself makes the problem much worse.

I don't see that as likely; they'll probably view it as an inconvenience, and there isn't anything to really do about it.

As it is right now, the situation is... tolerable, and I'll be out of here in about a few years.

[EquALLity]

I'm wondering what makes you feel so disgusted by the animal products. Is it because you view them as immoral? If so, it makes sense that you and many other vegans are disgusted by animal products, because people have a similar reaction in their brains to feeling morally and physically disgusted by something. I don't think it's that unreasonable, and I am somewhat disgusted by meat specifically. But at the same time, it could make us come across as a bit judgemental or petty.

As Adloud mentioned, this probably isn't OCD. People joke about their "OCD" , and this has kind of muddled the term. People with OCD are much more extreme than you are being, and they only make up 1% of the population.

[Red]

I'm wondering what makes you feel so disgusted by the animal products.

Well I think it's just hit that point where I'm just disgusted at what it is; I'm repulsed by the idea of putting something in my body that had a brain, blood, bones, eyes, etc., plus I just find the idea of putting another once living thing in my mouth nauseating.

With tuna fish and seafood, I was/am more disgusted by it due to the smell.

As Adloud mentioned, this probably isn't OCD. People joke about their "OCD" , and this has kind of muddled the term. People with OCD are much more extreme than you are being, and they only make up 1% of the population.

Well I do often wash my hands after touching certain things. I probably have the most innocuous form of it.

[EquALLity]

Well I think it's just hit that point where I'm just disgusted at what it is; I'm repulsed by the idea of putting something in my body that had a brain, blood, bones, eyes, etc.,

I'm not really sure what you mean. Are you saying that it doesn't have anything to do with morality?

With tuna fish and seafood, I was/am more disgusted by it due to the smell.

But did you refuse to use any plates that had ever touched seafood?

Well I do often wash my hands after touching certain things. I probably have the most innocuous form of it.

Maybe you can be a little more specific?

While some people are more easily disgusted than others, that's not necessarily reflective of OCD. OCD is an anxiety disorder, and it's about when something leads to intense stress which the person copes with using extreme, ritualized behaviors. They're not just uncomfortable, and the point isn't the disgust itself. They truly feel that they must go to such lengths or something terrible will happen.

[Red]

I'm not really sure what you mean. Are you saying that it doesn't have anything to do with morality?

I'm saying that I've reached the point where I'm too disgusted by meat to even consider eating most types of it (I'm most disgusted by beef, eggs, and seafood).

But did you refuse to use any plates that had ever touched seafood?

Well luckily outside of my brother my family almost never eats seafood, so I'm safe on that front.

Maybe you can be a little more specific?

Can I?

I always wash my hands after touching the cats, before and after I eat, drive, use the bus, etc.

While some people are more easily disgusted than others, that's not necessarily reflective of OCD. OCD is an anxiety disorder, and it's about when something leads to intense stress which the person copes with using extreme, ritualized behaviors. They're not just uncomfortable, and the point isn't the disgust itself. They truly feel that they must go to such lengths or something terrible will happen.

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