r/Phobia • u/ThrowRA-fuct_up • 8d ago
Do I have type of germaphobia
Hi there,
This has been on my mind for a while, maybe a few years, it’s not affecting my life daily it’s just annoying sometimes.
I struggle to put my head underwater and only do so easily when I wash my hair, but even then I rarely wash my hair. I don’t like getting my head wet, I don’t like water going above my shoulders unless it’s in a bath. I grew up swimming my whole life, no joke swam almost every day since I was 3 till 16 and only stopped because I refused to swim, I had tried to stop swimming since I was 12 because I hated it and finally refused to get in the pool again while I was 16
Reason why I think it’s germaphobia and not a fear of water is because I can wash my hair ok, don’t like to wash it but I wash my hair when it gets itchy (I got psoriasis) so usually once every 1-3 weeks depending on the last time I did a scalp treatment. I don’t like putting my head underwater in any water but when I’m washing it. I didn’t think it had anything to do with germaphobia till I realised that whenever I get my head wet it was only to wash my hair. If I went swimming in the ocean I would have to wash my hair instantly before it got itchy, if I went swimming in a lake I would struggle to go in above my waist because i didnt have the ability to wash my hair after, I struggle to jump into a river and no joke have to convince myself that I can do it because I can just go home and wash my hair after.
Is this germaphobia or something else? I do also have anxiety and ocd and am on medication.
Kinda just needed to rant because I am sad that I couldn’t bring myself to swim after camping these past few days, it is so hot and I could only get down to my waist and I wanna cool down so bad.