If you read about a young Canadian having a nervous breakdown and/or walking around in a bubble - you'll know who it is.

I also have social anxiety (don't like crowds) and I don't like the heat.

But you only live once, screw it.

Really!? It's hot, its crowded, its dirty, and you smell some god aweful odors coming from the storms drains. And don't forget to watch out for rats bigger than a small dog. Get a nice hotel, watch songkran from afar and order ensuite services for all your needs.

Watch out for them rats!

Good to see that the libido of the OP still outmatches his germophobia. Warm bodies carry lots of germs, tap water doesn't come anywhere close.

I have naturally oily skin, so I'm a breeding ground. When I'm in LOS, I use hand sanitizer on my hands, butt and feet after every shower, and on my hands and butt after taking a dump. I put a few drops of saline solution in my eyes and a hydrogen peroxide solution in my ears. Every time after a shower or eventually I get some infection.

I would also clean any cut with a disinfectant immediately. I don't do any of that in the US, but Thailand is already hot and sticky, and I'm a petri dish.

I don't think I'm paranoid. I actually get those infections if I don't disinfect.

I always get dysentery at least once so I go loaded with Imodium and see a pharmacist for an antibiotic.

Sounds like hell with the door shut for you .

God knows how the OP can enjoy Thailand with all his concerns .

Good luck and try to relax it's your money your spending

If you read about a young Canadian having a nervous breakdown and/or walking around in a bubble - you'll know who it is.

I also have social anxiety (don't like crowds) and I don't like the heat.

But you only live once, screw it.

Really!? It's hot, its crowded, its dirty, and you smell some god aweful odors coming from the storms drains. And don't forget to watch out for rats bigger than a small dog. Get a nice hotel, watch songkran from afar and order ensuite services for all your needs.

I am aware Thailand is all these things, and nope as mentioned I'll be taking part in Songkran. I know the fears are irrational and I'm looking to improve myself.

Not sure why you'd pick specifically Songkran to come, especially if in addition to OCD you have social anxiety???

Come at a less mobbed and crazy time of year. And before you do, get on treatment. OCD responds well to medication. Social anxiety responds to short-term therapy and there are also some non-addictive meds that may help. Even if treatment doesn't 100% alleviate your symptoms it will shrink them way down to more manageable level.

No need to to suffer like this.

Do this before coming here as people with untreated problems like this often get much worse under the stress of a foreign setting. If that happens (for example a severe panic attack, or even a paranoid episode), you will learn the hard way that pysch problems are a distinctly weak spot in the Thai medical system.

I'm a bit of a germaphobe.

Whatever happens, don't go to Germany.

Trollpost.

You do not have OCD. I can tell by the manner in which you write.

Stay home, problem solved.

Not sure why you'd pick specifically Songkran to come, especially if in addition to OCD you have social anxiety???

I chose Songkran because I love to have fun. I'm bringing a GoPro and attaching it to my watergun. I'm really looking forward to it. And if I hate it, I'll hide away in my room. I arrive a couple weeks before Songkran anyway, so a lot of my jitters should be gone by then.

My problem isn't major - both the OCD and social anxiety are minor. I've never had a panic attack.

That being said though, it's not something I take lightly and I am indeed very nervous. But I can always come home if I'm miserable. I'm young and healthy otherwise - it's time to face my fears.

If you read about a young Canadian having a nervous breakdown and/or walking around in a bubble - you'll know who it is.

I also have social anxiety (don't like crowds) and I don't like the heat.

But you only live once, screw it.

It sounds like swimming in the sea will be off the must do list,for you!

If you read about a young Canadian having a nervous breakdown and/or walking around in a bubble - you'll know who it is.

I also have social anxiety (don't like crowds) and I don't like the heat.

But you only live once, screw it.

It sounds like swimming in the sea will be off the must do list,for you!

The guy will be fine once he discovers the soapies that Chiang Mai has a reputation for. He'll be cleaner than clean.

Water is fine for everything except drinking. Be careful when participating in songkran not to get water in your mouth. Never know where its come from. When in doubt, drink more beer. Does nothing re: contaminated water, but help you forget your worries...temporarily.

my mate came over for songkran last year and then went home ,got an ear ache , and was put in hospital for 5 days because bad infection . was told because of dirty water had gone into ear .

Poor bugger.... weak ear leaks.

Some are threatened with jail time for that.

If you read about a young Canadian having a nervous breakdown and/or walking around in a bubble - you'll know who it is.

I also have social anxiety (don't like crowds) and I don't like the heat.

But you only live once, screw it.

It sounds like swimming in the sea will be off the must do list,for you!

The guy will be fine once he discovers the soapies that Chiang Mai has a reputation for. He'll be cleaner than clean.

After a good sudsy, the op may never leave the bath again:wub:

If you read about a young Canadian having a nervous breakdown and/or walking around in a bubble - you'll know who it is.

I also have social anxiety (don't like crowds) and I don't like the heat.

But you only live once, screw it.

It sounds like swimming in the sea will be off the must do list,for you!

The guy will be fine once he discovers the soapies that Chiang Mai has a reputation for. He'll be cleaner than clean.

After a good sudsy, the op may never leave the bath again:wub:

What's the value of a Thai bath??Sorry if I spelled it correctly....

Troll me thinks but good laugh.

I'm bringing a GoPro and attaching it to my watergun.

Oh dear I've all of a sudden become a photophobe

Update - this may help

Haha I forgot I created this topic! I think an update is in order just in case anyone is interested.

I had an amazing time in Thailand. Among many experiences I had so much fun at Songkran, and had a day as an elephant trainer. I mention those two because as a germaphobe with social anxiety, those two were the hardest. I was in Chiang Mai for Songkran, and when that murky, gross river water was thrown at me, I simply had to turn off the part of my brain that was screaming in agony. Also with the elephants, I was petting and hugging my elephant before I noticed my hands were completely brown. The Thai trainer then let me know that my elephant had been sleeping and rolling around in his own crap the previous night. Probably my worst nightmare. I'm a guy who will triple bag his hand before picking up my tiny dog's poop.

But, again, I don't know how I did it but I turned off that part of my brain for these experiences. I didn't freak out, and I kept going.

I'm still a germaphobe and have social anxiety. But, I've learned that once in awhile getting far out of my comfort zone is well worth it. Songkran and my day with the elephants especially were some of the best experiences of my young life so far.

I'm now moving to Bangkok next month after living a sheltered life for all of my 25 years so far, stuck behind a computer.

Here are some Youtube videos if you're interested - the first one in particular is very relevant as a bucket full of lovely looking water is dumped over my head, then my social anxiety kicking in as I have a conversation with a few Thai guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-qwcAu0Wng

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVRiVH30tLY

I like return stories.

Tip for next time ... talk to the Girls ...

Great that you came back.

Is it a fear of death by bug?.... or just a phobia like people being afraid of mice, for example?