skibum wrote:
Sometimes I am OCD about germs. I disinfect groceries. But I also know that I can't be paranoid because germs are everywhere and we are in constant contact with them. I just know to wash my hands properly and effectively pretty frequently and before preparing food and eating and after going to the bathroom. I disinfect things more than other people do but I try to just be conscious and mindful but not overly worried.
Try taking a microbiology class. It's the worst possible/best possible thing ever for someone with OCD. For instance, the totoal number cells on our body are about 90% non-human. What makes up the rest? Mostly bacteria. Bacteria are great--we NEED them to survive. We'd suffer through terrible health problems without an effective microbiota in our small intestines.
The biggest problem that comes with being aware of microbiology is learning about pathogenic organism--especially those with dreaded endospores. Endospores are protected shells on the genetic information of a bacteria that makes them literally indestructible. There are agents that can obliterate the bacteria, but the endospores live on for millions upon millions of years; lying dormant until it finds itself in the right conditions and is ready to leave its dormancy. Sanitizer is a great quick fix, but you're taking those endospores home with you, and with it some nice bacilli-based diseases.
Additionally, it's very disturbing to know that bacteria and viruses need a strong emulsifying action with a detergent to be destroyed, so when I'm in a public restroom and constantly see people walk out with washing their hands, or just splash some water on their hands for a couple seconds, I internally panic. Am I going to be shaking hands with someone like that later? Are my hands going to now be covered with bacteria that if cultured would formed would be encapsulated? Ugh. I can't think about this stuff
Basically, I never shake hands unless someone sticks their hand out, and then I go in for the stealth attack and do the one beat hand shake. Then I wash ASAP. By the way, the most effective way to wash one's hands is to use very warm water and wash vigorously singing Yankee Doodle in your head. Once the song is up, rinse of the soap. The reason why, is the song is about 15 seconds long, which is the minimal time required to have sanitary hands.
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I find your lack of faith disturbing.