Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Yes, a 30-year friend @Dimity . I'm up at a better time today.

It's definitely not unreasonable to like gardens. I'm sorry about those nasty neighbours of yours 😢

I ended up doing laundry and gardening yesterday. Couldn't face the house. Going to try and remedy that today. Thank you for thinking of my inspection ❤️

I hope you can catch up on chores and maybe get to some decluttering if you feel up to it today. I hope you have airconditioning?

Hi @tyme ,

I think it was very fortunate you grew out of your OCD as a child. It's fear-based and causes lots of difficulties. I feel for you as that child.

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@tyme wrote:

Content/trigger warning

I appreciate you explaining that germophobia is a form of OCD. Hoarding too, I guess? If you don't mind me asking, how do the two both manifest itself in a person?

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With the Hoarding Disorder, it's not OCD but its own illness. There's 2 parts to it: bringing stuff home and getting rid of stuff. I've been fairly successful with the first part over the years, although fell into it again for over a year recently. I stopped again at the end of last year, apart from bringing excess food home.

The getting rid of stuff is so traumatic /painful that some find it impossible. The objects are much-loved and also they protect us. Every item has a history and that history and its meaning has to be processed before the item can be got rid of. Items don't hurt you, not like people. (Well, they build up and make your life hard to handle, so they do hurt us I guess in the long run.)

With the OCD (germophobia), that is also to protect me. Intrusive thoughts (mine are about germs) are so strong that doing a compulsion sometimes gets rid of them. My compulsion is washing or disinfecting. I also have a bit of counting and checking, but they aren't as strong as the germophobia. You fear that if you don't do the compulsion, something terrible will happen.

Germophobia is exhausting, as I have to work out the history of each thing I touch and then classify it into 4 levels of "dirtiness". Then disinfect and/or clean it accordingly. My Hoarding Disorder and OCD clash, so that items await cleaning or disinfecting and so pile up in the house. Both illnesses are debilitating.

Thank you for asking, and listening 🙂

Thank you for clarifying @NatureLover . It sure sounds tiring and debilitating. I can only imagine how difficult each day is for you.

I admire your strength and your resilience.

I endured just the counting OCD, and that was hard enough. I remember the tears as a child. It was so painful but no one understood. They thought I was just paranoid and laughed it off.

I don't know how I 'grew out of it'. I occasionally have episodes of it, and I have to use a lot of self-talk to help myself. Then again, the 'growing out of it' turned into other more extreme mental health issues....

The vicious cycle, eh?

I'm hearing you @NatureLover

Hello @NatureLover yes I started the air-conditioning. I've hardly used it so I'm still figuring out the best way to run it.

I didn't get far with chores.

Interesting you said re hoarding "Every item has a history and that history and its meaning has to be processed before the item can be got rid of. " I definitely find that with a lot of things. Other things I'm attached to with some sort of idealistic hopes about using them. But I've witnessed extreme hoarding which sadly goes well beyond that - I can't go into details, but it was very unsafe.

I'm finding things a bit difficult at the moment. Please don't be concerned if I miss a day or two.

Best wishes for your work tomorrow and your efforts with the house.

Thank you for listening, @tyme . I gather that as a child, no-one listened to your OCD fears or took you seriously or helped you 😢 I'm sorry. 😢

You said you had the counting OCD, but you also mentioned checking, earlier?

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@tyme wrote:

Then again, the 'growing out of it' turned into other more extreme mental health issues....

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I'm very sorry to hear 😢

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@tyme wrote:

It sure sounds tiring and debilitating. I can only imagine how difficult each day is for you.

I admire your strength and your resilience.

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Thank you so much @tyme

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@Dimity wrote:

I'm finding things a bit difficult at the moment. Please don't be concerned if I miss a day or two.

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I'm sorry to hear, @Dimity 😢 Thanks for letting me know you might be away a bit.

Does the airconditioning reach into your bedroom? It's a portable unit, I seem to remember?

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@Dimity wrote:

I didn't get far with chores.

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Nor did I, and now I'm scared. You must be feeling pretty stressed, as I know you like to keep up with chores and then do a bit extra on top of that. 🫂

The idealistic hopes about using items are hard to shift. I got rid of quite a few items in the last couple of years that I had hoped to use, but there are still others.

Thinking of you as you are struggling, and sending good wishes... 💚

Hoping your day goes well for you @NatureLover and it’s not too hot for you my friend.

💚💚💚

Thank you so much for visiting and for your care, dear @Eve7 ❤️

The weather has cooled now. Will pop over to see your news now...

Sending you good wishes for your inspection preparations @NatureLover .

Thank you so much, @Dimity ...I've got a lot done. Almost cleared all the hoard. No cleaning yet though.

Are you OK? I hope so... 🤞 I hope you aren't in too much pain.