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Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hi, I have just joined. I have a few mental illnesses, but am especially interested in hearing if there are any diagnosed germophobes or people with hoarding disorder on these forums?

I don't know any germophobes in real life, and would be interested to know how any of you pre-Corona germophobes are doing. Can you find enough sanitiser? If not, what are you using instead? Has your germophobia gone sky-high in this pandemic? Do you find it less or more lonely now that nearly everyone is a self-confessed germophobe?

My germophobia is quite bad - I can't have anyone in my house, and need lots of sanitiser when I go out. E.g. I use it after leaving my house and before I get in the car; again before I touch the steering wheel, again after touching my purse, again before putting my seat belt on, etc. I am struggling to find enough sanitiser. If I run out, I was thinking about diluting some disinfectant and putting it into an old water bottle to take out with me. I had one really bad panic lasting 3 days that was debilitating, due to COVID-19, but after that thankfully my germophobia came back down to normal levels. I guess normal levels are not that great but at least I am used to them!

I am strangely finding it more lonely as a diagnosed germophobe now, and would really like to meet some other germophobes online and hear how you're going. At least I had a friend tell me that I was in a stronger position than him, during this health crisis, as he had trouble remembering to wash his hands, whereas I wash them a hundred times a day already!

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In response to: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Oh @Escaped_Goat I'm sorry to hear about your hard, sad day. Please have a virtual hug 😞

I don't know why some people's lives are so filled with terrible pain and suffering. Life isn't fair. I am really hoping you can find some relief soon.

I am here and listening, and I'm sure other people here are too if you need, so you aren't alone.

In response to: Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Thank you @NatureLover just missing my friend a lot today. Being extra hard on myself.

Tomorrow will be better.

In response to: Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Good morning, @Escaped_Goat , how are you feeling this morning? I hope today will be a better day for you...

Here we have sun today! So I hope I can get some good housework and sorting out done.

In response to: Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover Blue skies here in SA and the birds are singing.

In response to: Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

That's good, @Escaped_Goat . And sounds like those blue skies might be headed my way here in Vic.

I'm guessing you aren't feeling great. Thinking of you.

In response to: Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover I'm trying. I think that's the theme of the day.

I had a video call with my daughter and granddaughter but cried because I miss them. My daughter cried. The little one grabbed the iPad and hugged me and then ran off with me and wouldn't give me back to her mum and screamed when mum took me back. She's just had her first birthday and I missed that... not that she minded. She does miss her grandma though and it's so hard.

I hate feeling like I'm letting everyone down by being down. So today I'm going to really try to feel slightly better than yesterday.

How are things with you? Start of a new week. 😁 So many possibilities for both of us.

In response to: Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?


@Escaped_Goat wrote:

The little one grabbed the iPad and hugged me and then ran off with me and wouldn't give me back to her mum and screamed when mum took me back.


@Escaped_Goat This made me smile! (I hope that's OK?) I know it was sad for you as you miss them...but it was also cute and funny. I know that your granddaughter wouldn't understand why she can't see you face-to-face though...it must be very hard.

It's sunny outside so I feel much better today*. I've rearranged the stuff on some kitchen shelves and fully cleaned one corner of the kitchen where my breadmaker and fruit bowl were covered in stuff haphazardly piled on top. Next step is to make bread! I haven't made any for about 18 months so of course I've lost the instructions. Am just Googling them. I haven't got any sesame seeds or flaxseeds any more so it will just be plain cheap flour and yeast. I might add some dried garlic granules. After that, lunch then more kitchen cleaning. I did my "one thing per day" first up this morning.

*The SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) really rules my life, sadly. Depression, no energy or motivation on every gloomy weather day, even in summer. Luckily the depression is not severe with the SAD - it can be, otherwise.

Good on you for trying when things feel so bad...good luck with it. Sending you a smile just for you. 🙂

In response to: Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover I'm glad it made you smile. That part made me smile too. It wasn't all sad.

Ooh fresh bread... that's a lovely smell. I'm off bread at the moment. Because I'm on reduced activity at the moment my pain is higher so I'm avoiding eating anything that aggravates my pain. Which happens to be all the stuff I want to eat when I feel down 😂 🤣

I hope the sun heads your way.. we get far too much of that here 😂 You're welcome to it. ☀️

In response to: Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Too much sun? T o o m u c h s u n ? ? ? How is that possible? Lol. You're welcome to send the excess to me, please and thanks 😄

I'm glad you got a smile about your granddaughter's adorable actions, @Escaped_Goat .

Oh gosh, you are really being disciplined if you aren't eating bread and all your favourite comfort foods. Am sorry to hear your pain is greater at the moment especially. 😞

I can't actually find any recipes online that go with my brand of breadmaker, so I'm going to have to go through piles of paper from the last 2 years looking for the instructions... I thought I might have filed them in my filing cabinet, but no. Hoarding sucks sometimes.

In response to: Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover What brand bread maker do you have?

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