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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?

Sorry to hear your psychiatrist doesn't help with your pressing matters, @Dimity 😣

That's a worry about your cat. Especially at the weekend, in case he needs a vet?

Well done on doing chores for an hour.

Would it help to write down your goals / to-do list and then report back once crossed off? (Maybe you already do this; it's just that you mentioned you lose track.) I'm happy to work along with you this weekend, if that might help? We could each report back 🙂

I'm home all weekend thankfully, so I have no excuse!

I'm hoping to work Mondays and Thursdays and similar hours, like before. One problem is that I gave away my old laptop to someone who could use it, about a year ago. I use a desktop at home. So in order to work at the library, I'd need to buy a new laptop. I think I'll work at home for a while first, and see how the job goes before spending the money.

I hope you feel a bit stronger today... I'll keep an eye on my email notifications in case you want to tidy with me. 🙂

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Thanks @NatureLover .

I understand re the laptop.

I often do use a written list but sit down to check my phone then get lost in doomscrolling.

I'm feeling stressed and unwell atm but will shower then start chores. I'll try for an hour at the outset. Then see what I can do next

Good luck today.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

I hope I haven't stressed you, my dear friend? @Dimity That's the last thing I'd want to do!

An hour sounds like a good aim. But as you are unwell, I hope you will rest too.

I've done laundry and general tidying but not the bags on the kitchen floor yet. Just stopping for lunch now.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

No dear @NatureLover not stressed by you at all. Still a bit off kilter after yesterday's telehealth, and worrying as usual about family.

I've done my first hour. I'll have lunch too then continue. Still catching up on housework.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Oh, phew. But I'm sorry the Telehealth appt with your psychiatrist stressed you. 😥

And it would be hard not to worry about your family.

Well done on achieving an hour!

@Dimity

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Second hour done @NatureLover . Plus some screentime... I need milk so will head to the shops, which will be my walk for the day.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

I'll try for a third hour @NatureLover but I don't have a clear idea what to do. Probably 10 minutes or so per room to break the drought. Earlier was just routine housework.

Hope you're going OK.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Wow, you're on a roll! Well done 🙂

Did you walk to the shops?

10 minutes in each room sounds like an excellent idea.

I've finished getting the house neat...well, I still have a bag on the kitchen floor that I don't know what to do with. It contains all my notes from my old job, in a folder. There's nowhere in the house to put it, and I'm not sure yet if I'll need it in my new role. So it can stay there for now.

Good luck with your third hour!

@Dimity

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

My third hour was sort of pottering @NatureLover , looking at stuff I'd normally ignore. Which was the point really. I needed to start somewhere "new".

I know what you mean re the folder of notes. Some of my decluttering has been letting go of notes I'd kept from old jobs. But mine were out of sight. I hope yours won't be an unpleasant reminder you see every day. Do you have a starting date for the new job? Or are you waiting on the other possibilities?

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Well done on achieving 3 hours, and starting somewhere new! @Dimity 👏

You helped me too today, so we've had a successful day 🙂

My folder of notes won't be an unpleasant reminder, as most of my nearly 20 years there were happy. But I will continue to think of somewhere I could put it.

I'm still waiting on one other possibility, but it's looking increasingly unlikely. I start on Monday 7th. Can't wait to get started.

Hope you can sleep well tonight 🤞

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