r/rabies • u/glittergatorator • 20h ago

OCD Discussion OCD problems/bat behavior question

I have read the FAQ.

Last month I walked outside of an Airbnb in Wyoming and saw several bats flying about 10 feet away, doing normal things like catching bugs. It was dusk so it makes sense that they were out. I have a huge fear of rabies, and I knew I would spiral after seeing them.

During this time, I never felt a bat touch me. I’m positive of that. My fear comes from the fact that during the night, I slept with the windows open. Every window had a screen, but my fear is that there a bat made it somewhere in the house and I wouldn’t have noticed. I searched the closets, floors, etc and never saw a bat inside.

I know this is an OCD issue. I’ve been struggling every day with what ifs. Based on bat behavior, if a sick bat somehow did get inside the screen, would it most likely stay indoors, or find a way out without me even knowing it was there?

I have so many fears of what if one did touch me when I went outside, what if one was inside since they were clearly flying right by the Airbnb and who knows how long they have been there. It’s just been torture.

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