Thats interesting. I know another person who is like that. And I saw a movie too. Any ways of dealing with it?

Is it just that you like all your stuff to be neatly organised, or is there some germ-phobia?

Well, I like everything to be organized - that's a given. I guess I am kind of a germaphobe when it comes to the kitchen counters and things like that. I don't want to risk germs in the kitchen. That's pretty much the only room where I really worry about germs, though. Public is a different story. I try not to touch anything in public. I don't wear gloves or anything - I just avoid contact with things that other people touch all the time. (Like shopping carts, door handles...etc.)

That must affect your sex life, right?

Actually, no... not at all. When it comes to sex I have no problem getting down and dirty.

i used to be conscious of it, but not obsessive. then came george carlin.
"how does your immune system practice for the big fight without something to practice on? my immune system is like a militia. when we were kids, we swam in raw sewage".

you know what i say? keep yer damn toothbrush in the bathroom, who gives a rip?

Another one just arose about five months ago,or so.Being nervous around large groups of people.Boy, I just got all the good ones.Im currently trying to overcome it,by throwing myself out there in public,and talking to people.But sometimes, I just dont care.

that's xenophobia isn't it?
can't blame you on that one. if people try to understand or really get involved in my life, it makes me back away.

I have no idea,but I also tend to push people away.Or not get involved at all.I better start living,fast.

I've got a problem with social anxiety, myself. I've been diagnosed with Agorophobia, but shrinks generally just like to pin a label on their patients so that they can categorize them.

You are right on that.

ha,my sister is like that,too.Personally, I dont mind people like that.But every time she does something like that around me, I just say something like:

You know,nothing is 100 percent clean.Right now,there are probaly millions of germs on,and in your body,and hair.

Last time she pulled her shirt collar up over her mouth and nose when we exited the movie "SAW".You know,when the movies over,everyone crowds,and hordes out altogether.

Oh! I do that too..it's kind of weird, really.

...that one's me too.

Those might be the only two. Probably not.

I have a sort of social anxiety. Before when I was in Birmingham by myself I had a panic attack. Its started getting the better of me at the moment. Keep getting really anxious, bit of a pain in the ass! lol never mind.

It sucks pushing others away.I guess It stems from being so used to everything being so hectic.I cannot grasp the idea of having something good happen to me,or having someone good come into my life.*shrugs*

whoa I thought agoraphobia has deeper and more complex roots, not a "social anxiety" thing, perhaps i should read more about it

Hah, I didint leave my house for two and a half days.*shrugs* oh well,my problem.

I get bouts of agoraphobia. I didn't leave the house for a month at one point. I have a problem with going places by myself, because i'm sure people stare. I used to clean the bedroom and change the bedclothes every day. Urm, eating disorders.

I just want to sleep alot these days.

Sorry people, I've seen some misunderstanding in this thread of xenophobia and I am cursed with this compulsion to correct people.
Xenophobia is a fear of people of other nations and cultures. Not just people.

OCD is best broken by experience.
For example, I too used to scream my head off about open doors, but then the living room door frame fell apart, and not having the money at the time to repair it, I tried hanging sheets up over the gap, but it just kept making holes in the wood.
I still like doors shut, but after living like that for a few weeks I calmed down.
There's a patient I once worked with who was a clean freak, and we had to introduce dirt into her life as she was making all the other residents lives miserable. She got over it. As she was already institutionalised it was also easy to break her hand washing habit by denying her access to water (many taps in bathrooms in homes are lockable anyway, as a lot of patients will drink water to excess, to the point of killing themselves). After a fortnight of only being allowed to wash her hands after the toilet and before meals, she lost the urge.

OCD is really, really common.
Most people at some time in their lives will go through some kind of mental issue.
It makes sense really, we all get minor and major things wrong with our bodies, and so why not the same with out minds?