Autism and hygiene (germaphobia)

[PopGoesTheProsecco]

So sorry for lack of knowledge, my daughter (16) is only recently diagnosed and I've got a lot to learn (quickly) about neurodiversity.

Is germaphobia quite a common thing in neurodiverse people?

My daughter has always been a bit sensitive to germs (if anyone coughed or sneezed near her dinner she'd refuse to eat it). But recently she's taken to showering after she's been outside as she considers outside 'dirty'.

She currently showers three times a day (usually for around 10 minutes a time - am dreading the water bill 😂) and more if she goes outside. She showers when she gets up (and washes her hair so her curls are the way she likes them) then after she comes home from school and then again before she goes to bed (more showers if she goes out between coming home from school and going to bed.

I'm just looking for some advice really. Do I just 'roll with it' and let her shower as much as she wants or try to explain that 'outside' isn't necessarily dirty.

I believe it’s quite common for people with autism to also have OCD.
DS can’t tie his shoelaces without washing his hands, feels unclean touching door handles etc. but we do try to reassure him that it isn’t dirty/unclean/doesn’t need washing.

I have quite severe OCD. No amount of knowing things aren’t dirty will make me feel less contaminated if I touch them.

You can try explaining but, if this is quite a new thing, it may be best to seek some sort of help or CBT before it becomes all consuming. The longer it goes on the more deep rooted it can become and, as I’ve found, difficult to cure.

Thanks @OCDLife. Yes I think maybe we do need to address it then before it becomes something more.