living with a germaphobe

Read full article. ", Family members can play an important role in carrying out response prevention treatment prescribed by a therapist. The phobia can . (1998). People with a tendency to hoard things may be afraid that something bad will happen if they throw even the smallest thing away. Being clean and alw. Obsessions include thoughts or urges that never go away. If you experience black-and-white thinking, techniques and mental health professionals are available to help you cope with your symptoms. I turn to see where my reality has sunk. Germaphobia is treated with therapy, medication, and self-help measures. Every office has its neat freak. Before I can finish listing my pros and cons, the click of the automatic flusher forces a reaction. The symptoms of germaphobia are the same as the symptoms of other specific phobias. "It's only a $5 ring," I think, weighing my options. Muris P, et al. It's important to note that an obsession with cleanliness, contamination, and/or germs is also a common OCD symptom. If the routines and rituals you feel compelled to carry out to avoid contamination leave you feeling ashamed or mentally unwell, your fears may have crossed the line into a more serious phobia. A wave of calm falls over me, hushing my panicked mind. We'll go over common symptoms, potential causes, and the most effective treatment, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Cleaning is a common compulsion among people who have OCD. They are scared of germs, but in the real sense, it is a disorder. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e9\/Be-Mature-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Be-Mature-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e9\/Be-Mature-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Be-Mature-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"