FORUMS

Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.

  • 47,612Members
  • 1,358,869Posts
  • 1,400,000Visitors
Our stories

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!

6449 replies

371 - 380 of 6,449

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Ooh yes, I reckon add basil and cheese!

We have a little bit of sun here but not enough to warm things up. I'm freezing.

Woollies this morning had run out of the trolley wipes. I must say it makes me feel less 'odd' that a lot of other people now want to use the trolley wipes too. The staff member suggested I use paper towel with the liquid hand sanitiser, which I did. I also managed to find a packet of antiseptic wipes on the shelves to buy - there were quite a few, although not as many as before they became popular.

Glad your day so far has been good. @Escaped_Goat

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover One wall of my living space is sliding glass door so in winter if the sun shines on it the warmth is lovely but not permanent.

Things seem to have calmed right down here the shops have sooooooo much sanitizers and wipes and nobody is buying. Woolworths is wiping the trolley for you as you go to grab one... Coles still has diy. The oldies.. and yes I know I'm almost there but they are gathering again in clusters in the car parks and shop aisles. Other than that most people are keeping a civil distance... unlike yesterday. I was horrified at the city shops but my daughter said it's been like that the entire time so I'm surprised we've not had more cases. No social distancing whatsoever... and I like social distancing from strangers pandemic or not! We didn't go into any stores because the lines were insane... nothing is that important that I would line up behind 30 plus other shoppers. That was the shortest line we saw. Living in a small town we don't get lines at stores. The noise level walking into the shopping centre was horrendous too... there were quite possibly as many people in the centre as there are in the entire town here 😂 😂 Shock to the system.

Loaves are rising in whatever dishes I could find that looked roughly the right size 😂 I divided it by 4 which seems like a lot of bread per serve so maybe I should have gone for smaller dishes. 🤔

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Oh wow, you're making 4 cobb loaves?


@Escaped_Goat wrote:

@NatureLover One wall of my living space is sliding glass door so in winter if the sun shines on it the warmth is lovely but not permanent.


This sounds lovely.

I'm amazed you have so much sanitiser available there 😮 Mind you, I didn't even think to ask behind the staff desk at Woollies, I just assumed they wouldn't have any. Didn't check the shelves either. Will have to start checking shelves now you've mentioned it.

Am a bit shocked at lines of 30 people or more in Adelaide...

Am not wanting any lunch...hmmm. Very strange. I love food.

@Escaped_Goat

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover My bread for the week 😂

I had a big breakfast so I'm not hungry yet but I'm excited for the bread later.. it smells good.

I have packed my sewing machine away and thinking what crafty thing to bring out next. I have all sorts of stuff to potter around with.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

I should be hungry as it's nearly 4pm here. I will need to eat something for my blood sugars after this. I expect you'll be eating your cobb loaves when they're ready...well, not all of them obviously, lol.

That's good you've got lots to keep you occupied. I have too. In fact my library books are going to be overdue if I'm not careful. They are not fining people though.

@Escaped_Goat

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover @Escaped_Goat just wanted to say hi

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hi @Former-Member , am happy to see you! How are you doing? I think you might have been having a tough time recently... 😞

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover hey, thanks. Nice to see you too.

And yeah I am having a tough time. Dealing with SI & SH thoughts but I haven't acted, I'm safe. I guess I'll be ok. See my Psychiatrist Wednesday and a social worker over the phone tomorrow, scared about both especially tomorrow (never seen a social worker before).

How are 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 thinking of eating soon. Had breakfast at 9am and not eaten since so the smell of this bread is doing it's work.

The sun is behind the neighbors roof now so now more warmth.

One of the people in the neighbourhood has a wood fire... I have no idea what he burns but it's not nice. Today it kind of smells like rotting fish.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hi @Former-Member hope you're doing a bit better today.

371 - 380 of 6,449