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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?

Sending you a cheerio @NatureLover .

And welcoming @Lostsoul30 .

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Welcome, @Lostsoul30 ! Great to meet you 🙂

I am the same, having to clean everything any visitor might have touched after they've visited.

Hi @Dimity 🙂

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover @Dimity Thank you so much for your welcomes 🙂 great to meet you all!

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@Lostsoul30 I have the awkward situation where people want to hug me, they're being kind. But I flinch due to possible germs. Do you ever have that?

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hi @Dimity , guess what - I'm on bar 4 of the new soap-free cleansing bars, and I haven't been itchy once!

The problem is that they dissolve quickly and are expensive. The first three lasted 9 days, 6 days and 6 days on the bathroom basin. I'm tossing up whether to buy more. I bought them on special and I don't think the cost is sustainable long term.

Maybe I could just buy them when they're on special, and use them only when I'm itchy? Not sure.

This morning I built a new set of shelves from the Reject Shop - 4 shelves. I squeezed them in behind the front door, which opens into the kitchen. I hope they will solve the problem of having nowhere to store groceries. Now there is nowhere else in my house for any skerrick of furniture or shelving.

All this rain is getting me down...it feels like it's been raining for months, not weeks. However I feel more hopeful this morning as there's some improvement in my respiratory illness finally. Am crossing fingers I can go back to work on Monday. I wil still have the asthma cough, as that lasts weeks after a cold / flu. But hopefully my boss will let me come in if I wear a mask.

Hope you don't mind me chatting...been feeling isolated, stuck at home for so long.

Good luck today with whatever tasks you set yourself 🤞

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hello @NatureLover I'm so glad you're feeling better. Well done on setting up tge shelves. Maybe if you can see what you have you might not overstock as much?

If you google the soap bars I wonder if you'll find them cheaper elsewhere. It's annoying when soap disintegrates fast. Maybe the brand also comes in a pump bottle? I hope you can find some way to continue with it. Might be worth looking for a draining soap dish???

I should stir my stumps and get back onto some chores and tidying. I just took a break. It's raining a bit here. I can understand your feeling about the weather but we've had sunny breaks too.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Nice to chat in real time @Dimity !

That's a good idea about googling the soap-free bars to see where they might be cheaper, thanks. I did also buy a soap-free wash for the shower, but haven't tried that yet. It's not a pump pack though.

All that's on my new shelves so far is some cranberry juice that's too big to fit elsewhere. Juice and soy milk usually just sit on the bench or in bags on the floor, so I'm excited to have somewhere to put them.

Maybe it's my S.A.D. that's telling me this winter has been extra wet, dark cold and long.

Well done for the chores and tidying 👍

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

It's certainly been a lot colder this year @NatureLover but I'm not sure it's wetter. I read the cold snaps are due to the polar vortex breaking down with global warming.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover omg! Yes.. they come in for that hug or kiss on the cheek and by the time I find an excuse or try to get away I'm being hugged..

Actually for days after I'm always saying I feel unwell and I might of caught something from them.. it's so horrible because it holds you back from being in normal social situations.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Best wishes if you go to work tomorrow @NatureLover . It was nice to catch up yesterday.

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