Germophobia Vs. Healthy Precautions Against Germs

Germophobia, also known as mysophobia, verminophobia, and bacillophobia, is a pathological fear of germs and bacteria. Individuals with germophobia feel compelled to excessively wash their hands and obsessively take precautions against contamination. Germophobia is most commonly associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and individuals with this anxiety disorder have a compulsion to carry out specific routines. However, patients with germophobia do not necessarily have OCD. While germophobia is an example of germs putting limitations on activities, it is important to take healthy precautions against germs without going to extreme measures. There is, however, a fine line between germophobia and following good hygiene practices. How does one determine whether simple cleanliness or germophobia is at play? Learn about the differences now.

Getting Vaccinations And Check Ups

Getting vaccinations and regular check-ups is an example of taking healthy precautions against germs. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), vaccines are always tested to ensure they are as safe and effective as possible for children to receive when recommended, for adults to receive when needed for boosters or specific purposes. When a child visits the doctor for a check-up, the physician will recommend the appropriate immunizations based on the schedule published by the CDC. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meets three times a year to discuss vaccine recommendations. The recommendations are based on the following: how safe and effective the vaccine is at any given age; the severity of the disease the vaccine prevents; how many individuals get the disease when there is no vaccine; and how effective the vaccine is. In addition to administering vaccines, getting routine check-ups is a healthy precaution against illness. This is not an example of germophobia, provided the check-ups don't become constant.

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Appropriate Hygiene Practices During Cold And Flu Season

Individuals who follow good hygiene practices get sick less than those who don't. It is especially important to use appropriate hygiene practices during cold and flu season. This means individuals must wash their hands with soap and hot water and cover their cough with the crook of their elbow. Hand sanitizer can be used when soap and water aren't readily available, but soap and water are the preferred method, and they are the best defense against illness. Hands should be washed before and after preparing food; after using the toilet; before and after taking care of a cut or wound; after blowing the nose, coughing, or sneezing; after working with animals; after handling trash; before and after taking care of someone who is sick; and after changing a diaper. Individuals should avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth unless they have washed their hands first.

While these have so far shown examples of healthy precautions against germs, it's time to learn about when germophobia is coming into play.

Distress Caused Outweighs The Benefits

Avoiding public restrooms, wearing a mask and gloves to avoid contamination, washing hands so often that the skin cracks and bleeds, and cleaning the house obsessively: When it comes to taking healthy precautions against germs, if the distress caused outweighs the benefits, it is a sign germophobia is likely at play. An individual experiencing distress, both physical as well as mental, due to an obsession with cleanliness should seek professional counsel. The good news is this type of phobia is easy to treat. Exposure therapy (to provide a controlled and safe exposure to germs), psychotherapy (to address underlying causes), and medications are a few examples of treatment for germophobia.

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Germs Putting Limitations On Activities

Germs putting limitations on an individual's activities is a sure sign of germophobia. Refusing to leave the house to avoid encountering germs is one such example, as well as being unable to work, attend school, family gatherings, and other events because the fear of germs is so overwhelming. Germs and bacteria are everywhere; they are unavoidable. But taking healthy precautions, such as hand washing, can help prevent the contraction of illness. It can help to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer when going out in public, in case there isn't soap and hot water nearby. It is impossible to completely avoid coming into contact with bacteria, but when the fear of germs puts serious limitations on activities, it could be beneficial to seek a diagnosis and, potentially, treatment for germophobia.

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Compulsion To Carry Out Specific Routines

As stated, not everyone who is a germaphobe has obsessive-compulsive disorder. But when it comes to germophobia, a compulsion to carry out specific routines can indicate the presence of this condition. Examples of such routines include extreme hand washing and showering, not allowing certain foods in the house for fear of food poisoning, handling certain items with gloves, and spending hours every day bleaching the house. Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder might have strained relationships due to it. They often cannot go out into public because of these routines, and even relationships at home can be impacted. When an individual's quality of life has been diminished due to germophobia, it is time to seek help from a mental health professional because the problem might run deeper than simply germophobia.