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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?

@Eve7 👍👍👍👍

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?


@Eve7 wrote:

Good Morning @NatureLover I hope your day goes well 💛😊


Thanks, dear @Eve7 ...been a busy morning out but hopefully a relaxing afternoon.

Been thinking of you and hoping your SI and SH thoughts are less troubling today 💛

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

I am glad you can relax this afternoon @NatureLover . I am battling sh

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Here for you if you need @Eve7 - you can beat them!

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Thanks @Jynx but I’ve stuffed up again

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

@Eve7 Sorry to hear it

Sounds like things are really hard for you right now, I hope you're able to be kind to yourself in this moment - try not to be too hard on yourself or equate this with a personal failure. SH is really, truly hard to battle, because it has such intense effects on our neurochemistry. Have you got someone you can talk to right now?

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

I don’t want to bother anyone @Jynx I am so ashamed.

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Oh @Eve7 ... I am so so sorry that you are in a state where you needed to SH. @Jynx has given some very sensible, understanding and caring advice. This does not make you a failure, and nor should it cause you to feel ashamed.

So first things first ... do you need medical assistance? If so ... make sure you get it. I know you're a nurse by profession, so I'm confident you will know whether you need any additional help or not.

Secondly ... once your immediate safety is ascertained .... what can you do to occupy your mind, your hands and anything else that needs to be quieted right now? Last time, your psych (I think) suggested you bake some brownies. I wasnt around then to share in the loot ... perhaps you could bake some more?

If you need someone to sit and keep you company ... well, I can do that too.

Emelia 💖🌼🌺

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

I absolutely promise you that talking to someone about this isn't bothering them. Whether it's calling a helpline or calling a friend, you deserve to have support. I'm sure there's loud, demanding pieces of your mind that are telling you right now that you've failed, you're a burden, you should be alone...
Imagine if someone you cared about said those things... I think you would tell them they're very wrong.

We are sitting with you - and I really like the suggestion from @Emelia8 of baking brownies! Stay busy whilst the intensity of emotion is overwhelming, and then be sure to rest. You are deserving of care and support - I'm saying that directly to the parts of you that don't believe it right now: You are deserving of care and support

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

Re: Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Please dont retreat from us @Eve7 ... if you need someone here to talk to .. please tag me. I am here for you if you need to talk, or just to sit. In fact I could really use the company myself right now. 🧡💜

@Jynx ... you are such a caring person ... always there when members need to know they are not alone .. and always knowing just what to say. Thank you. 🌸💖🙏

Emelia

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