6yo with germphobia?

[littlebid]

My 6yo has developed a lot of anxiety around hand-washing and cleanliness, I suspect as a reaction to current circumstances. Has anyone experienced similar?

We realised when her hands became chapped and sore from overwashing, and she told us how often she’s doing it. She had a meltdown last week when she felt she hasn’t washed her hands “properly” before eating and she convinced herself that she’d made herself physically sick. Perhaps linked is a growing concern she seems to have about eating healthily, asking me often is certain foods are healthy or not. She just seems so sad and worried, and it’s getting worse.

We’ve tried to encourage her to talk about her worries without minimising her fears or telling her to stop. I’ve also talked to her teacher (she’s been in school through this lockdown) and I know she’s had a few quiet words with her (“about how some germs are good for your amusement system” :-))

Is there anything else we should be doing? I’m so scared of getting this wrong and this being something that troubles her long term.