FORUMS

Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.

  • 47,612Members
  • 1,358,869Posts
  • 1,400,000Visitors
Our stories

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!

6448 replies

6,261 - 6,270 of 6,448

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

I won't get another cat as my nominated next of kin told me he'd have Tiger euthenased immediately if anything happened to me.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

That is shocking, @Dimity 😥 I'm very sorry to hear.

My meeting with my abusive father was OK. I didn't have to walk out. So glad that's over.

Very anxious today about technological problems possibly preventing me from working again. Also have a coffee catch-up with people from my old work that I haven't seen for ages.

I hope you are OK 🤞

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

I don't know why the text went like that in my post above. @Dimity 

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Very sorry to hear you're still having technological problems @NatureLover . Have you narrowed it down to your device, the connection or your worksite?

Congratulations on getting through the meeting with your father.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hi @Dimity , I slept in today and am still in bed at 8.50am. Yesterday morning my computer keyboard had failed and I still couldn't access the work email. So I went out and bought a secondhand keyboard for $33, and went to coffee. I hadn't realised that computer keyboards have a battery that only lasts about 3 years. I got home at 1pm and the work email was working! So my day got better.

I'm still having trouble accessing Facebook on my phone though. I can access it, but the posts are frozen so I can't read more than the first 2 lines. 😣

Today I need to catch up on all the work I missed yesterday and Tuesday.

What do you have planned for this weekend? I hope you feel up to doing your tasks, if that's your plan. And your walking and exercises.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Gosh @NatureLover that's bad luck with different IT problems. Well done on resolving the keyboard issue. Did you catch up on your work today?

Perhaps it was the family problems but I've been floundering again. I've missed exercising 2 days in a row and can't get much done. I did discard some things and bag others to donate. But I don't seem to get more space. Maybe I will eventually.

I hope you can get your weekly housework tasks done tomorrow. It's not easy committing to a new routine, so I admire you for trying.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Haha! I completely forgot yesterday about my weekly tasks on Saturdays! Oh dear. I was focussed on catching up on work (which I did). That's OK, I can do my weekly tasks this morning.

This afternoon I've got to drive an hour away to a housewarming. A friend from my old work has moved away, sadly.

Well done for discarding items and sorting other items into the donating pile.

I hope you feel stronger soon. Your family problems sound debilitating. 😥 Good luck getting back to exercising.

@Dimity

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hello @NatureLover I hope you got through your chores and long drive without too much trouble or anxiety.

You did very well to catch up on all your work yesterday.

I got through some small tasks today and returned to my exercises. It all feels pointless. Reading old letters is quite upsetting but I feel I have to, I can't dispose of it unseen. Gosh things have been difficult. It's several weeks until I see my psychologist again so I'll just take things quietly and try to push through.

I looked at photos from earlier this year and could see that I've made progress in decluttering, but there's still a lot more to do.

Good luck if you attempted a box from the shed today, as one of your weekly tasks.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Hi @Dimity , I got through the long drive, thanks. Didn't work on a box but did the weekly tasks.

I'm glad you can see decluttering progress from your photos.

I agree, I can't throw something out unseen or unread.

Well done on resuming your exercises.

I have the lawyer today to re-do my Will. Very expensive.

Good luck with your day.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

I hope your solicitor does a better job than mine @NatureLover . It's important to get it right.

I'm glad you got through your weekly tasks, that's a plus. As was doing the long drive, I know it's not always easy for you.

Work tomorrow? I hope it goes well.

6,261 - 6,270 of 6,448