Confession Time #2!

(This is subtitled WASH YOUR DAMN HANDS!)

If you know me at all, you know that I am a germaphobe. Interesting side fact, that’s not really a word, and the actual phobia for germs or contamination is Mysophobia . (Ha ha, made you learn!) It’s part of the wonderful world of anxiety for me, although I must say since I started taking medicine for my anxiety a few years ago, the phobia has gotten much better.

Until we started talking about the Coronavirus, pandemic, epidemic, oh my god they’re running out of masks and gloves and we’re all gonna die!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, not super helpful for someone in my shoes. (Shoes. Eww. Not allowed on the carpet in our house. Do you KNOW what you track in on your shoes? YUCK.)

So now I’m trying to decide if I go full-on Doomsday Prepper and start building a clean room in the basement? Buy a few cases of Clorox Wipes? Carry around bleach water and just spray it at people? Probably not the best use of my time, and people tend to complain when you Lysol them.

But here’s what will help: WASH YOUR DAMN HANDS!*

20 seconds, soapy water, wash in between your fingers, get the back of your hands, rinse well, dry. Sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to yourself while you wash and you should be good. And wash them frequently! When you cough or sneeze, use your elbow. Here’s the other good one: wipe down your cell phone. Think about all the places you lay that thing down, and then you touch it and put it up to your face. Eww.

Normal people don’t think about this stuff, I get it. The other day I was in a business with a counter where you pay. I was waiting behind a woman who was using a cane. And while she was standing there, she laid her cane up ON THE COUNTER. The end of the cane. The one that goes down the sidewalk, in the dirt, on the street, and who-knows-where-else with who-knows-what-else on it. I seriously avoided touching that counter when it was my turn. She didn’t (clearly) give it any consideration, but it was all I could do not to tell her she was grossing me out. Ugh. And don’t get me started on bathrooms. I work in a health oriented business, and can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in the restroom at work, hear a flush, and the next sound you hear is the outer door opening and closing. Um, excuse me? Get back in there and WASH YOUR DAMN HANDS! Good grief.

Do I think we need to panic? No. But I do think we need to be careful and be mindful of our hygiene habits and try to educate others. (Ooh I’ve got another one, if you’re sick, stay home). Don’t worry, the Mysophobes among us will do plenty of panicking for the rest of you.

Buy soap! ~ Jen

*I am not a medical professional, but I do exercise common sense. As should you.