Dear VII,

I can't say I relate to your post as I have never felt in the way you do, but I do understand and hear you very loud and clear asking for help.

First of all, are you or have you in the past seen a professional about this? You say that it came on from one day to another and you don't know why... I think if you would know why, you probably wouldn't ask for help today. You said that your hand washing is compulsive... A psychologist or psychotherapist would most definitely be able to help you make sense of it all.

You are definitely not a nutcase. Did you know that OCD disorders are as common as people having asthma? You are not on your own. My guess is that your family doesn't know how to deal with this... They might have never come accross Mysophobia, and don't know how else to react but defensive. Is there any way you could see your doctor about this?

As for the physical reaction to you having to wash your hands... Would it be able for you to swap normal soap to something which protects your skin at the same time as washing it? I am thinking in the line of some cream for example which I have to use for my hands and body. I have so called hand and foot excema and am using a wash cream instead of soap. It is still doing the job of cleaning my hands hygienically but it moistens my skin at the same time.

By the way, I have an aunt who had exactly the same as you, and even so she is still very particular about hygiene and cleaning, she has gotten to a point to where it doesn't interfere with normal life... It can get better .