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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!

6457 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?

Glad you improved @tyme . Hope it's not too chilly where you are. But it was a nice day yesterday., 25 in Melbourne.

No I don't have anyone, that's part of the problem. I'm not due to talk to anyone for 2 1/2 weeks.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Have you ever used SANE Support Line 1800 187 263 and speak to a counsellor @Dimity ?

You deserve to be heard. We want you to feel supported, and I'm sensing things are quite tough at the moment.

Hugs to you.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Thanks @tyme ....

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

How are you @NatureLover ? Thinking of you too.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hi @Dimity , sorry your cat isn't well, and you're still unwell too, by the sound of it? 😥

I'm glad of 3 days at home now and hope that will slow things down a bit and I can catch up.

Off to your thread now to get more of your news...

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Thanks for asking, @tyme . I'm not quite sure how I am, but I'm OK thanks. Still out of routine and scrabbling to catch up with things that need doing at home.

Hope you feel better today 🤞

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Look after yourself @NatureLover . There will always be things to be done around the house.

Do lists work for you?

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

It's not just the house, it's everything @tyme . Like going to the chemist for my many monthly meds and not knowing where my scripts are. Or not being able to find my referral half an hour before my ophthalmologist appt. Things are all out of whack since I got sick.

Yes, lists generally work for me but aren't at the moment.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hugs @NatureLover I know how it feels to lose track, it's miserable.

Sometimes lists help, sometimes stepping back and doing some dreaded tidying of kitchen and desk can help. Some 5 minute stints or counting to a target number of items sometimes works for me when it's overwhelming. To be honest I'm not keeping up either, so I'm using these tactics at the moment. The pomodoro (25 minutes then 5 minutes break) or working for an hour or more can be hard sometimes.

I miss my helper, for social support as much as anything.

Hoping tomorrow is better - and work is kind to you on Monday.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Thanks for your encouragement @Dimity .

Yes, 10 minutes at a time, then stopping,can often work for me.

Sorry that you miss your helper 😥

All I've done so far today is laundry and a walk (before the rain).

What are your priorities at the moment?

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