Germs

[tkz]

My boyfried has an overwhelming fear of germs. We live in different cities so it was easy for him to "hide" it from me as he says. I didn't realize how bad it was until recently when he had a really bad spell and couldn't even be around me. He has asked me for help and I will do whatever it takes. I have been researching phobias and trying to get as much information as I can. He has suffered with this alone for over 15 years. What do I do??

[dino]

DEAR TKZ
FIRST OFF A HUGE WELCOME TO THE FORUM ,I AM NO EXPERT BUT SOUNDS AS THOUGH HE HAS REALLY BAD OCD ,FOR YOUR BOYFRIEND TO HAVE SUFFERED THIS ALONE FOR 15YEARS IS HEARTBREAKING :(
MY ADVICE TO YOU WOULD FIRST OFF GIVE HIM ALL YOUR LOVE AMD SUPPORT THAT YOU POSSIBLY CAN ALTHOUGH I AM SURE YOUR ALREADY DOING THAT
NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO GET HIM TO HOPEFULLY GO TO HIS DOCTOR WHEREUPON HE WILL HOPEFULLY GET SOME COUNCELLING TO TRY AND OVERCOME HIS FEARS
WISHING YOU BOTH ALL THE BEST
LOVE DINO
XXXXXX
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n317/mar1957ian/welcome/welcomecat.jpg

[tkz]

Thanks so much Dino. I am trying to give everything I can to him. He's doing much better for now, but it's no telling when he'll experience these feelings again. He says next time this happens he will try to talk with me through it, but I'm afraid I won't be able to help him as best as he could be helped on a professional level, I don't want to say the wrong things. Do you have a suggestion as to what kind of doctor he should see?? He seems somewhat open to this, I just need to know where I should start. Thank you very much for your encouraging words. :)

[dino]

DEAR TKZ
I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOUR BOYFRIEND SEEMS TO BE DOING SO MUCH BETTER ,YOU HAVE ASKED WHAT TYPE OF DOCTOR HE SHOULD SEE WELL I AM NOT SURE WHERE YOU ARE FROM BUT OVER HERE IN SCOTLAND WHERE I LIVE WE FIRSTLY HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOIMTMENT WITH OUR DOCTOR WHO THEN IF NEED BE WILL REFFER US TO WHATEVER SPECIALIST HE THINKS MAY HELP US THE MOST
AS I HAVE ALREADY SAID I AM NO EXPERT ON OCD ISSUES BUT I KNOW FROM FRIENDS THAT HAVE SUFFERED THIS USUALLY THEY SEE A PHCHOLOGIST ,HOPES THIS IS OF SOME HELP
LOVE DINO
XXXXXX
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s79/a9z_018/BearHugs21114.gifTO YOU BOTH