Neurotic and Germ-Obsessed

Sick, Sicker, and Sickest

I've had some illness spreading it's dirty work all over my family. All three of my kids are sick, with various degress of sickness. I've been in and out of the doctor's office for weeks. I cringe when I think about how nasty and germ infected these places are. I don't know if they get sicker after going to find out why they are sick to begin with.

I was watching tevo the other day and Oprah had people who had sever OCD when it came to germs. The way to overcome their neurosis was to confront and attack it. I had a hard time watching these people sticking their hands in garbage cans and then licking their palms. There was a group that had to lick toilets. As if this sort of "therapy" would break them of their issues. Needless to say- I gagged through most of the show!

How my my neurotic, germ-obsessed brain works- can you relate?

1. You don't get why I have to shake a snotty person's hand
2. You carry have at least 3 different types of Anti-bacterial's in your purse
   
3. You wait until someone pushes the elevator buttons
4. You put your jacket behind your back when at movie theatres, (Hair can't touch the seat)
5. You consider a mask to be appropriate airplane attire (Before you fly, purchase a portable air filter that you can snap on to the overhead air vent at www.airright.net)
6. Toilet paper on a public toilet- DUH
   
7. You have an exit strategy that resembles a NFL playbook when you hear a sick person within 10 feet of you
   
8. You carry your own pen- You have to sign credit cards receipts, doctor office paperwork, etc.
   
9. You worry when you touch the shopping cart handle laden with E. coli and then sample the deli turkey, your life could literally be in your own hands
10. You look at a door handle and think there's probably a trace of pee on that- Grab the paper towel and if there isn't- toilet paper works. There is never a garbage can by the door, so I usually just throw it on the floor behind myself...when will they catch on?
11. You hesitate to have olives, lemon's, or any other condiments in your drinks because the bartender touched it with the same hands he takes money with. There's probably a trace of pee on them
12. You have spend $1,000 on Tamiflu 3 years ago and it's still sitting waiting for the bird flu to arrive
    
13. You are skilled at detecting fecal threats at restaurant buffets
14. You smear hand sanitizer all over an orange before peeling and eating it
15. Your make your family wear water shoes at public pools
16. You freak out when your kids touch hand rails
17. You clean your silver wear at restaurants and pack plastic wrapped utensils and straws for your children
18. You think of excuses when your kids want to put coins in their piggy banks UGGGGHHH
19. You look forward to winter so you can wear gloves when opening up doors
    
20. I can't even get started about hotels!!!!
    

Oh My G-D after making this list, I just realized I have obsessive-compulsive disorder with extremes of anxiety that involve obsessive attempts at cleanliness and related germ fears.