Hello.
I'm combating contamination fears and ocd. I'm on a waiting list for cbt but I need information too.
My fears are regarding blood borne disease.
I'm reaching out to become informed before starting therapy. This fear is currently destroying my life. All my free time is spent worrying. I'm constantly hyper-aware of what I touch and washing hands all too frequently.
I do not mean to offend, quite the contrary, I need to be set on the right path here.
I've been researching hepatitis C for some time now, with varying results. I've found research that the virus can remain infectious on surfaces in dried blood for 16 hours to 4 days. I've also found studies saying 3 weeks. And also studies saying 6 weeks.
I have eczema on my hands and they are always covered with inflamed skin and minor cuts. I've found numerous studies and information texts saying the virus can enter the bloodstream through broken skin.
Now, I fear there could be dried blood on public surfaces, say for example doorknobs and elevator buttons. I fear that I'll come into contact with hep c on my broken skin and contract the disease.
Sometimes I actually come into contact with stains that could be red. Ironically i am colorblind which makes it hard to destinguish blood from dirt etc.
This makes me quarantine clothing that I've for example have been wearing on public transport for weeks at a time. I'm afraid I pick up something from somewhere, and then when I touch it I can contract the disease, again, through my broken hands. For the same reason I won't dare touch my shoes or the floor/ground.
As you understand this is debilitating and humiliating. I'm humbly reaching out to learn if this way of indirect exposure is reasonable. In my mind, the chain of transmission is actually reasonable because of the survivability of the virus and the broken skin on my hands. Active virus + risk factor = transmission.
Can hepatitis c infect from inanimate surfaces with blood on them?
I'm genuinely and enormously thankful for advice.