Washing your hands often....

[Claraviolet]

I kinda always knew that, I have a bit of OCD. I like to keep my things clean and I like doing important things in an order. I really don't want to forget stuff that would leave to problems. I do write stuff on my hands to keep myself from forgetting them.


Anyway, I kinda wash hands often. I don't really imagine germs on them or anything and I don't wear gloves either. It's just that...I guess it's hard to explain after all. I just want them to be clean. I guess that doesn't make much sense. Anyway, recently, I have been doing this a bit too often and I can't seem to stop myself. Does anybody else here got this issue?


If so, do you take measures to prevent yourself form washing your hands often?

 

[fuzyon]

Used to do this too in the past, nowadays I don't really think about it and only wash my hands when needed. The issue comes down to your brain thinking that you're full of germs and impulsively making you wash your hands regularly, I guess you could start preventing yourself by trying to lower your wash frequency, little by little.

 

[Claraviolet]

Used to do this too in the past, nowadays I don't really think about it and only wash my hands when needed. The issue comes down to your brain thinking that you're full of germs and impulsively making you wash your hands regularly, I guess you could start preventing yourself by trying to lower your wash frequency, little by little.

Thank you but even now, I don't think it's because of germs. May be it has something to do with the environment and such. I have relocated recently and I couldn't really get used to the new place even if my life depended on it.


I have been trying to talk myself into that the new place is actually quite clean and all but looks like I failed terribly.  Anyway, thank you fuzyon. I will try to limit washing hands to 15 times or so, then I will reduce the number again. I hope I can do it though.

 

[Alexandoy]

I don't know if this is connected to my anxiety or what. When I go to the bathroom to urinate, I always wash my hands and also my face. With my hands, I use soap but with my face, it is only water. And then I would wipe my hands and face with my handkerchief. Some people have already noticed that habit and I couldn't give them any reason why I do that. In fact, that washing (of my face) seemed automatic and I am not really aware of it. And I admit that it is part of my hygiene although I may be overdoing it. Here is the clue. When I am solving a problem at work or at home, I tend to go to the bathroom to urinate and wash my face. Maybe there is a connection somehow. 

 

[Natasha0717]

I wash my hands (at least) 50 times a day. It's just good sense! Especially around this time of year, or when you come into contact with kids (BIGGEST GERM-CARRIERS IN THE WORLD) - sorry, but it's true. I do my very best to avoid them. My biggest fear is catching the stomach flu/virus. And kids are notorious for spreading that one around. And if I know somebody was recently sick in the house, I wear a scarf around my neck and use that to touch door handles, etc. Or just a plain ole' kleenex will do, too...if you're afraid to touch things that you know have been contaminated with germs. And then I still wash my hands. During the winter months, my hands are known for getting dry, cracked, sometimes they even bleed and I need to bandage them up for a while. I don't care. I hate germs. Especially stomach virus germs.

 

[janemariesayed]

Did you have something bad happen to you in your early years? If something happened that has made you feel unclean in some way, then symptoms like this can happen. How long is it between washes do you feel that your hands need washing?

It may just be because you write on your hands and you are conscious of them looking dirty. I wouldn't worry about it too much, you are not harming anyone else, or yourself by just keeping clean. If it bothers you too much, have you thought about getting a mini hand sanitizer and keeping close to you? It might relax your mind a little and help you to stop washing them so often. Washing our hands can dry out the skin so it's always a good idea to apply hand cream after washing. Some hand sanitizers have aloe vera added so they help to keep your hands soft at the same time as killing 99% of germs.

 

[Zeesi]

Thank you but even now, I don't think it's because of germs. May be it has something to do with the environment and such. I have relocated recently and I couldn't really get used to the new place even if my life depended on it.


I have been trying to talk myself into that the new place is actually quite clean and all but looks like I failed terribly. Anyway, thank you fuzyon. I will try to limit washing hands to 15 times or so, then I will reduce the number again. I hope I can do it though.

I hope you don't mind my asking, but I'm very curious; what makes you feel like you can't get used to your new place?

As far as your hand washing goes, like @janemariesayed wrote, maybe because you write on your hands, that makes you feel that they are not ever clean enough. Like most people that write all the time, having notepads in every room, and with you at all times, is essential.

I wash my hands all the time too. I love to cook, drink coffee etc. and every time I go into my kitchen, I have to wash my hands first. I'd say 99% of the time when all I'm doing is opening my refrigerator door, I wash my hands. Of course, I wash my hands every time I'm about to leave out of the restroom, but while in there, I might wash my hands 3 and 4 times, depending on what I'm doing. I might decide the tub isn't clean enough, so I'll give it a quick scrub, and I have to wash my hands after that. Same with the sink, and the floor, and the mirror.

During the day, I wash my hands whenever I touch certain things, like books, or blankets, or whatever. I keep my skin moisturized so it isn't dry because of all the washing. There are all sorts of reasons I have to wash my hands throughout the day. If I don't wash my hands frequently, I don't feel right.

 

[SparklyStarfish]

I wash my hands alot too, in certain ways and too a certain number of times, 13 pumps of soap each time. I get yelled at for how much soap I go through :/ but I cant stop

 

[Myers]

Yes, I wash my hands quite more often than normal. Before and after eating, after touching others and pretty much after I touch anything not inside my house

I wouldn't say I feel an urge to, its just something I want to do

 

[AngelaMc]

I kinda always knew that, I have a bit of OCD. I like to keep my things clean and I like doing important things in an order. I really don't want to forget stuff that would leave to problems. I do write stuff on my hands to keep myself from forgetting them.


Anyway, I kinda wash hands often. I don't really imagine germs on them or anything and I don't wear gloves either. It's just that...I guess it's hard to explain after all. I just want them to be clean. I guess that doesn't make much sense. Anyway, recently, I have been doing this a bit too often and I can't seem to stop myself. Does anybody else here got this issue?


If so, do you take measures to prevent yourself form washing your hands often?

Yes I have the same issue. My hand washing used to be worse, I would wash them several times a day, even when they were not dirty. Now I seem to due it less often, like I outgrew it or something. My hands were so bad at one point they were dry, cracked and bleeding.

 

[Decentlady]

Did you have something bad happen to you in your early years? If something happened that has made you feel unclean in some way, then symptoms like this can happen. How long is it between washes do you feel that your hands need washing?

It may just be because you write on your hands and you are conscious of them looking dirty. I wouldn't worry about it too much, you are not harming anyone else, or yourself by just keeping clean. If it bothers you too much, have you thought about getting a mini hand sanitizer and keeping close to you? It might relax your mind a little and help you to stop washing them so often. Washing our hands can dry out the skin so it's always a good idea to apply hand cream after washing. Some hand sanitizers have aloe vera added so they help to keep your hands soft at the same time as killing 99% of germs.

I think this post has pretty much covered the essential things that could be happening to your subconscious mind. I too wash hands at least 20 times a day but that's due to my profession.

As with most problems connected to the brain, it is good to find out e source of the problem. Your past experience that had probably feeling dirty as the only link could be leading to your current behaviour.

 

[Hope Matthew1128]

It's a very good thing to consistently wash hands after every trip from the toilet, after every touch of bacteria-laiden objects, and after use of things that made your hands dirty and contagious. You are doing other people and yourself a wonderful favor by washing your hands.

 

[Movietime169]

Practicing good hygiene is important, but when it starts to become obsessive like you're mentioning, then it's a problem. Germs are everywhere and in order to improve, you'll have to stop washing your hands so much and learn to just let the obsessive thoughts go in and out.

 

[Concernedgal]

Hello movietime. How r u? I see that you are new here. What is your mental ailment? Mine is bipolar disorder. And it's annoying. Anyway. .. welcome. I hope this place helps u as much as it had me.

Concernedgal.

 

[Movietime169]

Hi Concernedgal, OCD is a topic of interest from past experiences and just interest in the research behind it.

 

[XmasCarol52]

I kinda always knew that, I have a bit of OCD. I like to keep my things clean and I like doing important things in an order. I really don't want to forget stuff that would leave to problems. I do write stuff on my hands to keep myself from forgetting them.


Anyway, I kinda wash hands often. I don't really imagine germs on them or anything and I don't wear gloves either. It's just that...I guess it's hard to explain after all. I just want them to be clean. I guess that doesn't make much sense. Anyway, recently, I have been doing this a bit too often and I can't seem to stop myself. Does anybody else here got this issue?


If so, do you take measures to prevent yourself form washing your hands often?

I have a friend who has ocd she has to clean her house a certain way.My niece has it to,I heard that she is really bad.Thank goodness I dont have that .I have enough to worry about.I really dont know much about it.HOwever if it makes you feel more at ease to wash your hands dont see anything wrong with that.