Rabies fear again - new factor

[MagpieWitch]

So I did write a while ago about my rabies fear from the bat that I didn't see or feel swooping down over my head and scratching me and now I have another rabies fear.

So I went with this friend to a horse ranch outside of town three weeks ago and there were dogs around. I avoided petting any of the animals around and there was only one dog that I pet a little on his head and then we left. The dog didn't seem sick he was walking around I don't remember if he barked when we walked in the ranch and there were other kids around the dog but none seemed to mind being around.

Now I am scared that dog had rabies and I somehow got them. I did just pet it on the head, it didn't lick me or bite me, just scratched his head a little and walked away. On the internet it says you need to come in direct contact with the dog's saliva to get the virus (bite, or dog licking you) and that you can't get it from the fur. But I also had mosquito bites that I was scratching could I get it from that? It says on the internet that the virus dies very quickly outside of the dog saliva so it wouldn't last long on my fingers I guess?

But I am still scared and I can't stop thinking about this so I am asking everyone here that went through this fear of rabies to maybe give me some peace of mind cause I havent slept or eaten anything in four days now. I just need someone to help me relax a bit because this rabies fear ruined my entire summer

[Fishmanpa]

Are you getting help for your anxiety? I ask because again, you've stated an absolutely impossible scenario under which rabies cannot be transmitted.

Positive thoughts

[MagpieWitch]

Yes, I am not on meds currently but I've been in CBT for five years now and I wasn't seeing my therapist for 8 months and now she is on vacation so my anxiety just really peaked.

[Fishmanpa]

Yes, I am not on meds currently but I've been in CBT for five years now and I wasn't seeing my therapist for 8 months and now she is on vacation so my anxiety just really peaked.

With 5 years of CBT therapy and training, what technique or worksheet would you use to combat the irrational thoughts?

Why don't you lay it out here. It would help you and others to see the technique and how to tame the dragon.

Positive thoughts

[TattooArtist]

Please try to talk to your therapist or their vacation replacement soon, or even another trusted person that knows of your fears. This is very irrational, as I'm sure you are aware. Have you made an effort to be around other safe animals? Petting friends dogs, letting them lick your hand, etc? It might help you get over this fear, as then your mind will be forced to confront a scenario you are fearing without negative consequences. Rabies is amazingly rare, and most people get a lot of enjoyment being around pets.

[TooMuchCoffeeMan]

I've currently convinced myself of having rabies as well. I'm my situation, I actually had my arm in a dog's mouth and it actually bit down somewhat, even though it bit me over my sleeve, everyone says that I'll be alright. By reading your story though, I really don't think you have anything to worry about at all. Like Fishman said, there is no possible way that the virus can be transmitted in the way that you described. I completely understand how you feel and I have no doubt that you'll be fine.

[paranoid-viking]

It seems to me that there has been several threads with rabies fear this summer. Rabies is extremely rare and very uncommon in humans; something like 4 people affected in the United States each year; in my country there has been no confirmed case since 1815, 202 years ago. Looks like there are more people worrying about rabies in here than there really are people contracting that disease.

[snowghost57]

Good post king!

---------- Post added at 12:20 ---------- Previous post was at 12:17 ----------

With 5 years of CBT therapy and training, what technique or worksheet would you use to combat the irrational thoughts?

Why don't you lay it out here. It would help you and others to see the technique and how to tame the dragon.

Positive thoughts

I don't want to sound mean but dear you are not working your program if you have been using tools from CBT for 5 years. I have been working on m thoughts with challenged my thinking and I have gotten better in 5 months. I am almost anxiety free, I still have an irrational thought here in there but they are far and few between. This is something we must work on with every thought until it becomes natural. It can be done, I know I did it!

[MagpieWitch]

Good post king!

---------- Post added at 12:20 ---------- Previous post was at 12:17 ----------



I don't want to sound mean but dear you are not working your program if you have been using tools from CBT for 5 years. I have been working on m thoughts with challenged my thinking and I have gotten better in 5 months. I am almost anxiety free, I still have an irrational thought here in there but they are far and few between. This is something we must work on with every thought until it becomes natural. It can be done, I know I did it!

Hey! You are not being mean at all! I absolutely agree with what you said and I think that sometimes people need to straight up say the truth to anxiety sufferers because that brings us back in reality.

The thing I learned is is that healing and fighting anxiety is not a linear process and there are relapses here and there and sometimes. In the last year I was feeling great, I managed to do so many things and only had bad periods of anxiety few times here and there but usually they passed really quickly. In fact the last nine months I've been really anxiety free. Just it came back this time around with a vengeance.

So to everyone reading, healing is not linear and it is sadly a constant uphill battle and there are bad times, but there will be good times again and I am sure of it.

[Fishmanpa]

I'll ask again...

With all the therapy you've had over the last 5 years, what techniques or strategies would you use to combat the irrational thoughts? Perhaps writing it out would help you and others with their struggles.

Positive thoughts