Germaphobia/ Mysophobia
Germaphobia, also known as mysophobia, is an irrational fear that overestimates the risk of being exposed to dangerous germs. Many people of all ages suffer from various levels of germaphobia. When a person suffers from a phobia, he develops a fear of a certain type of person, place or thing. In cases of germaphobia, or mysophobia, the person pathologically fears the idea of infection through touching bacteria and contaminants.
One of the most well known germ phobics, who became so obsessed with germs that he could not bath, eat most foods, or drink most beverages. Eventually, he became confined to a single room on his hotel floor.
Germ phobia can range from relatively mild, where one might simply be afraid to use public toilets, for example, without some type of barrier, like a toilet sear cover or even a sheet of toilet paper. It can be so severe that individuals with germ phobia cannot leave their homes and may themselves actually live in filth, as Howard Hughes did, because they cannot touch anything for fear of catching germs.
How to diagnose Germaphobia:
1. Gauge your reaction when you come in contact with possible germs or dirt. You may develop a physical response due to the germaphobia. Patients often complain of nausea, rapid heartbeat and breathlessness when near any possible contaminants.
2. Determine whether you wash excessively. Germaphobes typically spend a good portion of their day washing their body, especially their hands.
3. Note any social abnormalities. Due to the patient's fear of contamination, she may refuse to share any personal items or use any public restrooms. Germaphobes typically don't share food, utensils, toothbrushes or other items. As the condition worsens, the patient may refuse to touch others or use doorknobs.
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I hate sharing food with people. Not that I'm selfish, but I really hate the idea of other people's utensils touching my food. I don't offer my food to people after I'm done because it feels like I'm offering my leftovers to them.
I hold my breath when people on the trains/buses cough or sneeze.
I avoid touching handrails when climbing stairs, on escalators etc. If there's a need to, I'll use the back of my hand. I refuse to let me grandma hold on to the handrails when she cimbs stairs too. I'd rather she hold on to me.
I don't like holding on to doorknobs of toilets, especially after I've washed my hands.
I don't like people using my phone because the idea of the phone surface touching their faces disgusts me.
I have to wash my jacket after someone else uses it.
I think I'm a little of a germaphobe, but not to the extent that I'd stay at home my entire life.
And I really don't like it when my own friends judge me for that.
Germaphobia, also known as mysophobia, is an irrational fear that overestimates the risk of being exposed to dangerous germs. Many people of all ages suffer from various levels of germaphobia. When a person suffers from a phobia, he develops a fear of a certain type of person, place or thing. In cases of germaphobia, or mysophobia, the person pathologically fears the idea of infection through touching bacteria and contaminants.
One of the most well known germ phobics, who became so obsessed with germs that he could not bath, eat most foods, or drink most beverages. Eventually, he became confined to a single room on his hotel floor.
Germ phobia can range from relatively mild, where one might simply be afraid to use public toilets, for example, without some type of barrier, like a toilet sear cover or even a sheet of toilet paper. It can be so severe that individuals with germ phobia cannot leave their homes and may themselves actually live in filth, as Howard Hughes did, because they cannot touch anything for fear of catching germs.
How to diagnose Germaphobia:
1. Gauge your reaction when you come in contact with possible germs or dirt. You may develop a physical response due to the germaphobia. Patients often complain of nausea, rapid heartbeat and breathlessness when near any possible contaminants.
2. Determine whether you wash excessively. Germaphobes typically spend a good portion of their day washing their body, especially their hands.
3. Note any social abnormalities. Due to the patient's fear of contamination, she may refuse to share any personal items or use any public restrooms. Germaphobes typically don't share food, utensils, toothbrushes or other items. As the condition worsens, the patient may refuse to touch others or use doorknobs.
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I hate sharing food with people. Not that I'm selfish, but I really hate the idea of other people's utensils touching my food. I don't offer my food to people after I'm done because it feels like I'm offering my leftovers to them.
I hold my breath when people on the trains/buses cough or sneeze.
I avoid touching handrails when climbing stairs, on escalators etc. If there's a need to, I'll use the back of my hand. I refuse to let me grandma hold on to the handrails when she cimbs stairs too. I'd rather she hold on to me.
I don't like holding on to doorknobs of toilets, especially after I've washed my hands.
I don't like people using my phone because the idea of the phone surface touching their faces disgusts me.
I have to wash my jacket after someone else uses it.
I think I'm a little of a germaphobe, but not to the extent that I'd stay at home my entire life.
And I really don't like it when my own friends judge me for that.
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