Germs; they’re everywhere. Everyone knows what they are, and when you think of germs, your mind automatically goes to negative thoughts. Although this is a widely popular stereotype, not all germs are bad, some are even life-saving. There is a condition that causes this idea to become unrecognizable. Germaphobes are people with an extreme fear of germs. They believe all germs are terrible, and are completely obsessed with cleanliness. But because of this idea, is there a possibility that these people may be doing something harmful to themselves? It is true that looking out for germs slightly, by washing your hands often is always good for you, but when it becomes an obsession, that is when things begin to go south.
It has been proven impossible to rid someone of all germs, and yet some germaphobes continue to attempt this impossible task. A survey was taken at Northeast High School, and most of the students answered they were not germaphobes, as predicted. Of those people who said they were not germaphobes, the majority also said they felt they were ill about an average amount. The students who answered they were germaphobes tended to answer that they were ill over an average amount. Erin Brodwin from Business Insider says being an average germaphobe isn’t exactly unhealthy for you, but it is inconsequential. As she puts it, germs are everywhere regardless of what you avoid. Some normal practices of an average germaphobe include holding your breath when someone around you coughs or sneezes, carrying hand sanitizer with you everywhere, lining public toilet seats with liners, or using paper towels to grab door handles.
You may think these habits make a healthier person, but in the end, they are completely useless. It is proven that sneeze particles travel at 200 miles per hour, and cough particles at 50. Holding your breath isn’t going to be quick enough. It is estimated that about three pounds of an average person’s body weight is just bacteria, and there is nothing you can do to get rid of it. If a young person is exposed to common germs, there is a good chance they won’t get very sick throughout the rest of their life. This is because the body builds up an immunity to these germs, so when they are exposed again, it won’t affect them. At the end of the day, everyone has germs whether they are a germaphobe or not.