[silver_queen]

Is being afraid of germs a kind of anxiety? Lately everywhere I go i think about the germs I could catch from other people. When I walk behind somebody outside I think about the germs I could be breathing in from them, same thing for when I am sitting next to somebody in class. I think about the germs from where people do stuff like touching door handles. I guess I wonder where excessive worry about catching an illness ends and anxiety begins.

[jmo531]

I think that this could be a little OCD. I know for me, I excessively worry about certain things (certain numbers) that freak me out. I avoid them at all costs. Your obsessing about the germs is most likely causing the anxiety. I do this as well.
I also have a medication obsesstion where I fear contamination. Your not alone. I would discuss this with your T. Maybe they could shed some light for you.
I'm sorry I wasn't much help.

take care

[wisewoman]

Hey Silver, i read you are going to speak with a PDOC, it's good to bring this up as it sounds like a little OCD and the ssri medications are known to help. Just a thought sweetie.

[moly1]

hi silver
i get the same way as you in crowed places i dont like breathing in when someone coughs or sneezes. i don't freak out or anything just don't like the thought of those little germs flying around me

[GreyGoose]

This is sooooooo normal for anxiety. Someone could pass gas on the other side of the state and I'd be freaking out for weeks thinking I might have gotten a disease from them. With respect to your question, I've often wondered the same thing about the fine line that separates anxiety-related fear of disease versus actually having the disease itself.