Hi my name is Aaron.
The story that I’m about to tell is a true story. I wish I made it up but it is real. It is the story of how I got a phobia to germs. It got to me. I constantly wash my hands and I don’t know anyone else that has this phobia. It gets me so nervous that I have to take medicine for it. I try to hide it, and when I shake somebody’s hand I basically just try to hold it in, and when they are not looking or don’t care, I wash my hands with lots of soap. I wouldn't call myself a clean freak, because I have a messy room. The germs are the only thing that gets me worried. I wouldn't like everyone to know, but I wish people knew that I am very sensitive. With just one touch that I never saw coming, I jump like I got scared.

This is a struggle because I can’t just play tag with my brothers, or play with my Rubik’s Cube without cleaning it. It is a big struggle. One time I even shook my mom’s hands, and I felt like I was burning. Then I knew I had a problem. My mom knew I had nervous issues but we never knew why. Until one day I was washing my hands like 20 times, even my arms. I’m fourteen and I don’t know if I will outgrow this problem, but if I don’t it will be really hard for me. My family has tried to help me by telling me, “Oh, don’t worry, the germs won’t hurt you,” but I sometimes know that they will. My phobia started just a year ago, when allergy season came and I started thinking about germs when people were sneezing. I was so scared that I told my whole family to wash their hands.

I just felt like the dust that caused the allergies and germs were almost alike. They thought I was just being annoying, and I was not. I really felt like I couldn't eat because of germs. I thought about it for a long time and I think it was because I got really sick on New Year’s two years ago, and soon, just one year later, I was scared. FLIES are my worst enemy. I can’t tolerate them and they are always dirty and full of germs. I can’t live with them. One of the reasons why I love winter is because you don’t see them that often. I hope that one of these days I will overcome my phobia, but for now I must learn to face it.