Obsessive compulsive disorder whereby one sufferers with thoughts of contamination-related compulsions or obsessions. Contamination, a fear of things that might be dirty or a compulsion to clean.
They will typically be found washing themselves or their environment to an unhealthy degree. Cleaning kitchen floors with a toothbrush and soap. Or they buy a large quantity of individually wrapped hand soaps and after each use throw them away and open a new package.
Such behaviors are commonly driven by a fear of contracting diseases through germs that are on surfaces (Covid is a perfect example).
For this reason, sufferers of these types of obsessive compulsive thoughts may go to specific lengths to avoid:
- Restaurants
- Working alongside coworkers (prefer remote or isolative work)
- Contact with other people (hugging, hand shaking)
- Public restrooms
- Door knobs, handles, or windows
- Hospitals
- Religious gatherings or any public gathering