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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?

@Escaped_Goat I can't function without breakfast, but I can imagine with your jet fuel it's not really needed, lol.

A few small tasks sounds good for today. I have 6 things on my list and one of them is the chemist and another is a surprise double-booking for tomorrow to sort out. Two medical appointments at the same time, and I didn't realise till I got the reminder for the second one this morning. That sort of thing usually throws me, but am OK...am trying to get through on the phone to the second appointment to reschedule it; haven't been able to get through yet. I feel bad for the second appointment person that I wasn't more organised.

Do you have 'going out' clothes and 'at home' clothes? What I mean is, I have 'going out' clothes for anywhere other then a walk. So even if I'm just going to the local shops, I can't go in my 'at home' clothes, because of germs that I might bring back. I don't necessarily wash my going out clothes after a trip to the shops, although if there's a Covid-19 outbreak here I might. I'll wear my going out clothes maybe 2 or 3 times before I wash them, and I have a certain place I keep them where they're not touching my 'at home' clothes. But say I have 3 medical appointments in a week, I will wash my going out clothes every day after the appointment, which means a lot of drying clothes on airers. Does any of this sound strange? 😄

Enjoy your walk - I've been out in the sun already and it's great. 🙂

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover 😂 yes.. I've always found my coffee sufficient for the first four or so hours.

Sounds like your day is going smoothly so far.. no Kermit flailing arms moments or anything.

I went for a really long walk... about two hours and I conquered the really steep hill. It's the equivalent of walking up 6 floors but instead of stairs it's just a short steep street.. 450m in length. Here are my awards I gave myself 😂🏆🥇

I do have going out clothes and staying home clothes! And I have a clothes rack I keep them on when I get home and they will get a few wears before they are washed unless I wear them somewhere germy 😂

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

That's good for me to hear you have 2 types of clothes. Do you allow them to touch on the rail?

Well done on your huge walk! 🙂

My day has come to a screaming halt as the next thing on my list is to go out to the chemist and I am stuck. I've been trying for the last couple of hours... I've even made a shopping list and put a treat on there to tempt myself to go out (sweet biscuits). I will try again after I send this. Here goes...

@Escaped_Goat

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover The rail is only for the going out clothes while they are in circulation.

Sorry to hear you're stuck... hope you get unstuck soon. You can do this!
I got myself a treat..

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

What is that, @Escaped_Goat ? Some kind of super-strength tea? 😄 Or is it ice cream?

Yes, the going out clothes have to be kept separate! 😄

I managed to go out eventually, by telling myself I could go to the supermarket first. Which makes sense anyway, as that way the items will be cleaner. And then I got my reward in the chemist: I saw a lovely girl (lady) who worked there years ago and left to have two babies. She's only working one or two days a week now so I hardly ever see her, but she was always so lovely to me when my psych meds were rationed to 7 tablets per week (because of the suicide risk back then, about 15 years ago). She used to talk to me for ages about my life and her family etc. and I always left with a buzz. So that was really lovely to see her, and we caught up on everything and I was completely distracted from feeling unsafe. (By unsafe I don't mean suicidal; I mean that I only tend to feel safe at home, from germs and other fears of bad things happening - it's the agoraphobia.)

How has your list gone today? Are you tired after your long walk?

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover Bubble tea vegan ice cream! It's sooo good! I had to use all my will power not to eat it all at once.

I'm glad you made it out and got rewarded for doing so! 😃

I did my list. I didn't do my afternoon exercises though. I'm going to do some stretches before bed. I have no idea about dinner... maybe mac and cheese.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Bubble tea vegan ice cream! Wow! I can't imagine how that would taste. Does it taste like tea? Plus I've never seen it before, and I'm on some vegan FB pages too.


@Escaped_Goat wrote:

I'm glad you made it out and got rewarded for doing so! 😃


Thanks. @Escaped_Goat .

Well done on doing your list. I did all but one thing. Now I need to start psyching up to go out tomorrow to my medical appointment. It's about 45 minutes away so will take some effort to get out.

I am tossing up between tinned fruit for dinner or making a pasta with veggies. Macaroni cheese sounds good....

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover It does taste like tea. It's not cheap but I figure treats are allowed to be on the expensive side because they aren't something you buy often.

Good luck with your appointment tomorrow. Hope it's fairly early in the day.

I have to find another goal for my walks now.

I think I'll have a chore free day tomorrow. There's nothing pressing to be done that I can see and I have some fun projects I'd like to start.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@Escaped_Goat wrote:

I think I'll have a chore free day tomorrow. There's nothing pressing to be done that I can see and I have some fun projects I'd like to start.


That sounds good, @Escaped_Goat . And a self-care day?

I can't imagine what tea ice cream tastes like.

My appointment is around midday which is ideal as it gives me time in the morning to psyche up and go for a walk etc.

Am cooking veggies with pasta for dinner as it's too cold for tinned fruit. It's going to be zero degrees overnight.

Enjoy your evening (if possible - evenings aren't the best I know)...

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@NatureLover Frost warning here. Brrr! Definitely planning some self care tomorrow... even if all it amounts to is resting.

Hope you have a good night! Don't forget to turn off the light!

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