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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?

Hope you got your cards written and posted @NatureLover

Another cold day.

The optometrist visit was disquieting as always. But they said the measurements were OK. They did mention damage from too many surgeries.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Damage from too many surgeries?! That's horrific, @Dimity ! 😥

I still haven't written or posted my cards. They're late now. I seem to have a block about them. 😣

It's way too cold to get up out of bed.

Today I have about an hour's work to do, then tomorrow is a big work day too. I'm enjoying all the work but the house is a mess.

Not sure which day your visitor is and whether it's your family member, but I hope it goes well 🤞

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Yes blocks are real but inconvenient @NatureLover . i currently have a block on cleaning and tidying for tomorrow's visitor, and paying a couple of bills. . I'll have to do what I can tomorrow morning. Says she who is useless in the morning.

I fronted up to my gp today, after routine bloods. Nothing badly wrong but some things to watch. And was counselled again about my weight. I mentioned depression to the practice nurse but not the gp, who was running an hour late.

Hope you weren't impacted by the Telstra outage, I wasn't.

Good luck to us both for success tomorrow.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hi @Dimity , I managed to go out and post my 2 cards yesterday, finally. And do errands.

Your GP was an hour late?! And I don't like people commenting on my weight either!

Yes, was definitely interrupted by Telstra work yesterday 😣

Busy (extra) day of work today.

Good luck with last minute tidying and your visitor today 🤞

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Gosh @NatureLover I hope you didn't have too much to catch up on. Good on you for getting those cards posted and errands done.

I wasn't offended re the weight critique, just mortified I'd gained even more.

I had a lovely day with my visitors, but it left a lot to think about.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Thanks, @Dimity .

So pleased to hear you had a lovely time with your visitors!

A regular work day today, then a friend's husband's funeral at 3pm. I'm going to support her.

Did your visitors ease your depression a bit?

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

My condolences @NatureLover .

. The first few weeks in particular will be hard for her.

I really enjoyed the visit but went into a dark wormhole afterwards.

I'll see my psychologist next week. I'll have to find my very old homework and try to do it this time. I've heaped things on the large coffee table again so it will be difficult to find.

I need to get back to decluttering. I'm deeply troubled by some of the memories it brings up, and facing my past and present inadequacies is confronting. I don't know what to do about it. But it absolutely has to be done. Today I inspected about 10 boxes and was pleased to see some books I'd lost.

I had a look at my forums profile, which needs some maintenance. But things aren't working. I've been contacting the tech help a lot, and I'm not looking forward to bothering them again.

Good luck for the weekend, especially if you feel up to tidying.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hi @Dimity , I'm sorry you fell in a wormhole after your visitors 😥

Also that your memories are so traumatic when sorting through stuff 🫂

I think that our forum profiles still aren't working properly yet?

I desperately need to tidy but today I have a long lunch on! Maybe tomorrow.

I'm having technology problems again and couldn't open the work email yesterday, so couldn't do any work. I hate to be unreliable. I spent over 2 hours googling and tried some fixes that didn't work. All very alarming.

At least I woke up at 5 this morning which is more like my usual self, not 8am like lately!

Good luck today with your tasks and finding that homework...

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Those computer problems sound very frustrating @NatureLover . I hope you can work out what's happening by Monday so you don't miss more work.

Did you enjoy your long lunch?

I planted out some pots today, reducing the clutter around the front porch a little. I walked earlier than usual in case of rain but we got very little.

I must try to find that therapy homework I printed out. The file format hadn't opened properly on my tablet.

Glad you're pleased at waking early. You seem much better this winter.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hope you feel your house is under control @NatureLover and you're not still fretting about the smoke alarm inspection.

My place... well... I cleaned some of the kitchen tonight and am still procrastinating about finding the therapy homework. I'm barely getting anything done in a day.

Good luck with accessing your work accounts tomorrow.

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