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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?

Hi @NatureLover, thank you for messaging! I have a good friend who's also a neighbour who I coffees with each day, which is a help having someone to talk to, as well as my best friend who usually checks in with me each day, which also is a big help. It can be hard sometimes though when I'm struggling with emotions, etc; that neither of them are available to talk to at the time. I'm currently waiting to get approved by NDIS, which will help. That may be a while though. God does help me a lot reading His word, it may help at times having someone to talk to. 😊

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@JoJo173 I'm glad you have good support from friends. Do you have any professional support, like a GP or psychologist?

Yes, I've heard that getting accepted to the NDIS is a lengthy process. I've been recommended to apply but can't because of the germophobia. Good luck with your process..

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hi @NatureLover. It’s a part of my NDIS plan I think. I do have a doctor who I see to get prescriptions & things. Did see a psychiatrist last year & the year before & stopped seeing him this year, cause I felt he didn’t want to listen to me. I speak to my counsellor once a fortnight or every 3 weeks, but if I could speak to her or another more often, would be good. It is nice to be able to speak freely on a forum like this with people like yourself who understand.☺️

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

OK, that's good if it's part of your NDIS plan to have some psychological support. And also good that you have a current counsellor to talk to. I guess all counselors are stretched pretty thin at the moment.

Yes, I agree about being able to share things here...it's good to get things out and to feel heard. 🙂

@JoJo173

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover We have pictures!

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@Escaped_Goat we do! How exciting! What flower is yours?

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover A dying rose. 😂

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Oh @Escaped_Goat that's so sad! I know you've put a laughing emoji, so hopefully you're not too sad...

I've thrown out my one item for today and found my winter gloves, but other than that all I've done is make a cheese sauce for macaroni cheese tonight. How is your day going? I can't get used to having my nice new profile picture up!

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover I'm fond of dying roses. But I guess I chose it because I'm kind of in the dying rose phase of my life... bit dry and crinkly but I still smell nice and have a use!

It's nice having a picture instead of generic blue person.

I have done nothing I wanted. I had a grilled cheese sandwich. Macaroni cheese sounds good for dinner but I'm probably going with an omelette. I did pull all my pantry jars off the open shelves and put them back in height order rather than grouped by type of jar. We will see how long that lasts before I decide to alphabetise them or something. 😂

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@Escaped_Goat that made me laugh, putting all your jars in height order. It may last till you can't locate something quickly!

Do you hang your washing out a certain way each time? For instance, I hang all my socks in pairs and facing the same way. And if I drop a clean dry item on the floor, I have to re-wash it.

Another day nearly down in your wait to resume exercising. I hope you don't feel bad at not getting done what you wanted...it seems we have time at the moment to get those things done later.

Do you have roses in your garden? I'm glad you still smell nice lol. And of course you still have a use 🙂

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