So sorry to hear you are going through this.I know the feeling and it's not a nice one.a afew years ago my husband took down an asbestos cement shed roof and our shed.At the time we didn't know it was asbestos but then after realised it probably was. My two children came out into the garden during the work and even hugge their dad 2 and 3 yrs.of age at time.Several of the tiles were broken and I suspect aib board was in the shed .everything was* thrown *into the skip which was in our drive for a week wit lh my children having to pass by it each day.Also prior to this the dusty  dirty work trousers that I was due to wash were left for a couple of days in the hall next to washing machine ( easy access route).Then I eventually washed their clothes all together. I didn't think much of it to be honestst until afew years later when we were having building work at our house. After my 3rd child waa born.We had several walls knocked through in house.Then I suddenly thought oh no what about asbestos? as we hadn't done an asbestos check.I called up msny asbestos experts and they were all really busy ( mainly because people over worry about it so it's a good business for them to be in they are probably raking it in with people like me and You lol) Anyway after a sickening wait of a week a lovely guy finally came round .I forgot to mention I think my ocd started when it dawned on me about the walls as we also had new sockets put into our walls and they were awaiting to have the actual covers put on them so they were just gaps if that makes sense...anyway I tsped up all the holes or gaps in the walls thst I thought were asbestos as I had seen a shiny sparkly material in them that I was positive was asbestos  ( especially after googling)After several tests to various areas turned out none of it was asbestos. At a later date I called him back as I thought I had it in my chimney and in my floor etc etc .He came out 3 times bless him as I was so paranoid I even got hI'm to double check where h checked last time.He was lovely and reassuring I even told hm about the shed and he said concrete cement I'd quote bound in so doesn't release fibres easily. Anyway I have had ocd even though I have been told there is no.I look up at walls and things and think what if it was wrong.Or I feel like I have exposed my children or fibres are all over their bed or if I am cleaning I use baby wipes and wet dust everything down just in case .The throw the wipe away in the area and use another else where on case not to contaminte.My paranoia has caused many arguments wity my hus band and even my children are fed up of me telling them about asbestos and what to look out for.Its all I thought about it seemed. The horrible evil feeling .I'm sure you know of that .Thoughts spiralling round and round In your head .I assure you it is irrational. Anyway I decided to try st johns wort high strength tablets for want of anything else better to try.I got them off amazon and they are called you calm high strength st johns wort.To my suprise they really helped with my anxiety. After like day 2 I can honestly say I felt so much better and the ocd feeling had dissappeared I gradually felt less and less paranoid about asbestos.If you try it be cautious as certain medicines or conditions don't mix with it.Just check first.I don't really think you have anything to worry about, though to you it will feel like you have everything to worry about!Old schools have asbestos in .Just imagine how msny children go to school day in day out .my teacher used to pin things up on the ceiling all the time ( (I'm 40 by the way )The same thing was happening in all the classrooms over Britain, imagine how msny staples and drawing pins must have pierced those ceilings over the years ( that's a hell of a lot of little holes)How many children sat daily in those classrooms? I remember everyone hanging out in the girls loos at break time and there were always broken patches here and there in the ceiling. Or even people doing maintenance work!

Lets say you came across some broken aib boards .it is EXTREMELY unlikely that you will develop an asbestos disease. Believe me I have spent many years wasted yeata being paranoid.( Its good to be cautious but not to this extent)I have looked at many studies / statistics.Approximately 5000 people a year die of an asbestos illness. That is nothing in the grand scheme of things .It is 0.10% chance of getting it ( even if you have had years of heavy exposure as of all the people from 1950s/60s etc ) I also think the whole covid thing and the numbers put into perspective for me just how tiny the asbestos figures were in comparison. In addition Men were the main people that got asbestos diseases which proves that it was from working with the material  ( not just having a few holes above you in the ceiling,  or perhaps accidentally breaking a board once or twice)These were people that worked with it in ships or maybe carpenters who daily distrupted it my drilling. etc ....every day exposure over years.While there are cases that happen to a lesser degree bit this sends the statistics down even lower than there tiny 0.10%.About 300 women out of that 5000 or so a year get it but that would indicate that smaller shorter exposures are of little worry.Just about every child that ever went to an old school would have it if that was the case and we would all be dropping like flies from our home diy ( that has become especially massive in lock down )Got years to go yet....but I'm sure that won't be happening. Try to look at the statistics and process it if you can.Take it from me I have looked into it alot. Dont waste your time looking as I've already wasted all mine for you lol.Anyway I hope this helps a bit I also watched programmes on anxiety and I found them really helpful as there are so many people with anxiety in different forms and just helps to make you feel not so alone or that your the only one that feels lke this.I assure you you are not! I hope you will not be so worried now x ps.Epic text ...sorry lol

I have the exact same anxiety you described. I have OCD over this kind of contamination and have had therapy and medication. I thought I was the only one with this type of issue. Reading your positive response really helped me during one of my 'not so good' days. Thank you.

Hi, just found this thread & I suffer from the same anxiety around asbestos. The real problem is the OCD, in my humble opinion. I was just wondering how you are now and hope you are no longer suffering from the unwanted thoughts of contaminating your family x