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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!

6458 replies

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

I've been given the all-clear. Phew.

Thank you @Emelia8 and @Eve7 for being with me, @Bow for your thoughts, @Paperdaisy for your kind message and @Former-Member for clicking the support button. I really appreciate all of your support. ❤

I'm home and have had a shower and hairwash...am too distressed by the germs to wash my clothes yet but they'll need 2 washes...can't face handling my germy shoes yet either, but they'll need Glen-20 sprayed inside and out, plus the car will need Glen-20.

Actually my germophobia has now tipped over the point of being able to leave the house 😣

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

That's great news about the all clear @NatureLover and that must have been so hard from the germ aspect. I can relate to that as I've had anxiety flares and issues with that in particular when covid first started and when I was pregnant/postpartum. I'm thankful it has eased for me now. But hey, you did it! You got through it and you should be really proud of yourself. Well done! 😊

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Wonderful news @NatureLover 🎉👍🙏

So good to hear 😊💖 that you are one of the 9 out of 10 who are given the all clear from these call back testing procedures.

Now you can concentrate on getting through your anxiety around your germaphobia.

Really happy and relieved for you @NatureLover about the all clear for breast cancer.

Emelia 🌷🌻

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

That’s great news @NatureLover!!!

Stay home, put your feet up and I’ll boil the billy.

You are a keeper my dear friend!

Love you to the moon and back

❤️💚💛🤸‍♂️💛💚❤️

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hey there @NatureLover, that's amazing news! I'm so happy for you.

I also wanted to share with you that I've been through something really similar re. contamination fear and OCD. For me it manifested quite significantly during a time of stress, and it sounds like you've been going through a period of stress too so it makes sense this would be flaring up for you right now?

What is one thing you might be able to do to support yourself around this? I remember having "safe" clothes, which felt helpful at the time but was not at all because the things that were "safe" just become smaller and smaller. What helped me, and this was truly a process, was learning to be okay with the uncertainty. Is that something you've found too?

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

So glad that you got the all clear @NatureLover !💕

🎀

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover that's so good to hear you are all good! But yeah the germophobe thing is relatable for me too and one of my sons. He had anxiety when he was little and used to have routines every day from the time he was very young. He had 'safe' clothes like @Former-Member and would panic when something he had to wear was not dry. I can remember him in summer wearing winter pyjamas because his summer pjs were 'unsafe'.

Sending you hugs

Hanami

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?




@Paperdaisy wrote:

That's great news about the all clear @NatureLover

...

But hey, you did it! You got through it and you should be really proud of yourself. Well done! 😊


Aww, thank you so much, @Paperdaisy ❤️

I'm sorry you have had the germophobia too...that's great news that it's eased for you now. 👍

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Aww, thank you dear @Emelia8 for your heartfelt and gracious message ❤️

I really appreciate your kind support, which blessed me. 💜

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Aww, thank you, dear @Eve7 ! You are a treasure ❤️

Your message (and the cartwheeling figure!) warmed my heart. 💛

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