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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?

Time in the sun sounds good for body and soul @NatureLover.

I've been using Daylio for quite a while. Just lately I was looking for something specifically for goal setting and charting progress but nothing suited. I can add notes and photos to Daylio so I'll try that from day to day but I wish I could see progress towards a target.

I've been shuffling some stuff... some I want to keep for now, which doesn't help with space but reduces the decision-making, so I can get it out of the livingroom into the spare room.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Ah, I can see I was confused about your activity tracker @Dimity .

Well done for moving some stuff to keep into the spare room. That will help you feel a bit better about the living room?

I had a good day at work yesterday which helped me to feel like I achieved things.

I'm hoping that today I can tackle the small kitchen bench. I also want to tackle trying to find a handyman. Either of those would be an achievement today. I'm feeling good so far as I was up at 5.15 and out walking at 6. It was beautiful outside. (Mind you, I fell asleep on the bed with all the lights on at about 8pm last night)

I guess you might feel that you miss your helpers more on a Tuesday? 🫂

Sending hugs and thoughts 💚

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

You must have been very tired @NatureLover ... a busy day at work after a trying few weeks. The early morning can be lovely but I very rarely see it. I've been sleeping late again and a bit cranky with the cat waking me, poor thing.

I miss my helpers very much, not just Tuesdays.

Tomorrow I'll get back to my chores and to-do list. Today I was working on a local issue I'm lobbying on.

I have a couple more daffodil varieties out and the native frangipani is blooming early.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

You have a native frangipani! This far south! How lovely @Dimity 🙂

We did have some daffodils in this communal garden, but they are not out this year...do you think daffodil bulbs perish after a few years in the soil?

It sounds like you also need the sleep 🫂

I'm sorry to hear that you're missing your helpers and that this is having a big effect, by the sounds of it. Good luck deciding whether to start up again with a helper...

I've achieved zero things apart from laundry...oh dear! I'll try again today. Other than that all I need to do is pick up 6 books that I'd reserved from the library.

Well done for going in to bat for a local issue. I hope you're successful.

Your mesages warm my heart, thank you.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

hello and hugs @NatureLover , @Dimity

the native frangipani is blooming early, what colours have you got @Dimity

well done for doing the laundry yesterday

hope you slept ok

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hello @Shaz51 @NatureLover

My native frangipani tree (Hymenosporum) opens cream then turns buttery yellow. It drops a lot of leaves when the nights are cold but also when the weather is dry... as well as dropping a blanket of flowers so it's high maintenance.

Glad you enjoy reading @NatureLover . In the past I bought books but rarely read them. I'd love to read but haven't had the focus... it would be nice to get back to it, and join a book discussion group...

May we all be satisfied with our day today!!! Best wishes.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Your frangipani sounds lovely, if high maintenance, @Dimity .

I find reading is my main way of escapism...but I agree, sometimes if my MH is bad, I can't concentrate on the words. I find that if I don't start cleaning / tidying in the morning, the urge slips away from me...once I break for lunch and start reading over lunch, well that's it for the day somehow. I'm not very disciplined unless there's an inspection coming up.

There was no sun yesterday, which didn't help, and today is work. I don't demand any tidying / cleaning from myself on work days, as they are exhausting.


@Dimity wrote:

May we all be satisfied with our day today!!! Best wishes.


You too 💚

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover the frangipani is lovely, especially the scent on a warm night.

Yes it's nice to escape into a book... or alternatively to connect with ideas. I need the light to be just right and haven't gifted myself the time but really should.

I'm barely getting by and am very slow. I got a call from a health service and was given a psychology appointment in 5 weeks. It's in an unfamiliar suburb with no direct transport. There'll be a change of buses, else cab, or perhaps community outreach. Butterflies.

Tomorrow? I have a to-do list I've barely touched for a couple of days.

Good luck with your kitchen bench, if you get that far.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Oh wow, frangipani scent on a warm night sounds really magical, @Dimity 🙂

I know you've had trouble getting a strong enough light globe for your reading nook 😢

I'm sorry to hear you're barely getting by. 🫂 I really hope you feel stronger and more hopeful very soon. The psychology appt sounds good, although not the commute there and back.

I know I said that I don't do sorting or cleaning on a work day, but yesterday morning after I'd been on the forums I ran out of Promite for breakfast, and knew I had some in my grocery bags on the floor somewhere. So I started looking and sorting out the bags as I went...and I cleared up 80% of them! I also washed and dried them, and advertised for a handyman! (No response yet)

There is sunshine outside as I write this (it's 8.30am so I'm later on the forums than usual as I went out walking this morning). So I feel good 🌞 Whether that will translate into tackling the kitchen bench - we will see!

Good luck today with your To Do list... 🤞

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Oh well done on the bags, the handyman and the walk @NatureLover . Hope you get a good response.

I got a couple of things half done... but it was progress... and got replies on some other stuff to say they were being followed up. It was cold here although the sun was out. Caught up with my psychiatrist. So a few things to think about.

Tomorrow I hope to go to a flower show.

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