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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?

Tiger is happy to be home. He was very pleased to see me at the cattery.

No just 10 minutes total walk @NatureLover .

The panics were over my low vision and being unable to see. It comes and goes

.The garden is green but needs work. Someone kindly took me under their wing and looked after things - an ex in law I count as family.

I have a mountain of paperwork to go through - not a strong point as you know. Hopefully my eyesight will improve and it will get easier.

It drizzled here but no real rain. I'm limited to a small watering can so watering is slow. That reminds me, the grapefruit looks thirsty.

Best wishes for work tomorrow. Did you get enough rest over the weekend?

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Concerned about your eyesight, @Dimity . Is it your eyesight that fluctuates, or your panic about it?

And if your eyesight, why does it fluctuate?

I'm glad your garden is still alive. We had extreme heat while you were in hospital.

I hope Tiger is OK.

I got plenty of rest over the weekend, thanks. I did do one hour's gardening (I'm behind on gardening jobs).

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

My anxiety is bothering me @NatureLover and so is my eyesight. It's horrendous sometimes but I don't want to go into care.

I'm barely ticking over re getting stuff done. Hopefully things will improve.

An hour's gardening is good - more than I can usually manage. I'll have to get used to the new watering regime. So far I've only watered every second day as each day I can only get through half. It will be hot the next few days but not extreme.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Ohh hugs @Dimity , hope things improve for you my friend with your eyes xx

Hello @NatureLover

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

eRe: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Your eyesight does sound alarming, @Dimity 😭

And I'm sorry your anxiety is so bad too. 😥

Surely you need to rest a bit more than usual for the next 3 months after your surgery? To ensure your recovery?

I think watering only half the garden each day is fine. Sometimes I go 3 days between waterings, if I don't have the energy...the garden seems fine luckily.

The library ladies gave me 12 books yesterday! Not library books - I think they were donated. I will return them once finished, and they can pass them on to some other voracious reader. Although they will have to sit on my floor for a while as there's nowhere to put them.

It's a beautiful morning and I'll go out watering next.

Hope your day (and your eyesight) is better than yesterday...

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

Re: eRe: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

How nice to have 12 new books @NatureLover . I have a soft spot for libraries and librarians but these days only go to print out files.

You're right, I'm supposed to rest a lot still over the next month or two. I guess it's a chance to get back to reading if my eyes behave. And I'll be under increased pressure to declutter.

I keep waking overnight and feeling unwell but hopefully that will settle. I'm getting more than enough sleep overall.

Best wishes for your day today and happy reading!

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

Re: eRe: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

I'm wondering if you can use the 3 month recovery period to declutter papers @Dimity ? That way you can do it sitting down, and exert yourself less?

You're around early today. I'm glad you're getting good sleep. Sorry to hear you're feeling sick in the night though. Do you think it's a side effect of your increased meds? Or maybe anxiety?

I've done the watering and am resting while the washing machine does the work for me. It'll be a laundry day today as it will all dry in the heat.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

It should be a good day to get the

washing dry @NatureLover.

Yes increased meds plus anxiety plus chesty cough but wake in fright feeling I can't move. Perhaps associated with being confined to a trolley bed with lines and bags for so long.

Looks like I might have a couple of visitors over the next few days - unheard of for me.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Are the visitors good visitors, @Dimity ? Checking on how you're doing? Or are they stressful visitors?

That sounds scary, waking feeling scared and not being able to move 😯

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Saw an old friend today and seeing a chosen family member tomorrow @NatureLover .

I haven't heard back from council help yet.

Things look messy and shabby. I decluttered a fair bit yesterday but you wouldn't notice. I'll try to plug on. Decluttering papers is a good idea.

Hope your workday went well.

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