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Behavioral Modification Needed: What is the best method to stop yourself from touch your face? Please share πŸ€—πŸ™

β€’52 Replies

We can really save ourselves from contracting the flu by not touching our faces. πŸ€—

52 Replies
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Hb2003 profile image
Hb2003

why is there water on the hands 🀣🀣

β€’ in reply toHb2003

Daz not water mam, it’s hot sauce 🀣🀣🀣🀣

Hb2003 profile image
Hb2003β€’ in reply to

πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈπŸ€£πŸ€£πŸ€£

β€’ in reply toHb2003

It’s germ 🦠 🀣🀣🀣

Hb2003 profile image
Hb2003β€’ in reply to

🀣🀣

β€’ in reply toHb2003

Water on her forehead called sweats πŸ˜“. Anything else? 🀣🀣🀣

Hb2003 profile image
Hb2003β€’ in reply to

🀣❀️ my bad

β€’ in reply toHb2003

Nah, you’re good 🀣🀣❀️

13ga profile image
13gaβ€’ in reply to

issnotπŸ€”

β€’ in reply to13ga

U have to see the food post to understand our jokes 🀣

13ga profile image
13gaβ€’ in reply to

yea - i guess i missed that... but the 'sweat' or 'water' still looks like snot to me!!! :-)

β€’ in reply to13ga

Hiba will slap πŸ‘‹ you after this tomorrow πŸ˜‚

Agora1 profile image
Agora1

For me, it helps to wear surgical gloves when I'm out. It's a constant reminder for me

to not touch my face or brush back my hair. Once I'm finished, I remove the gloves inside out and throw them away in the outside trash (not on the ground) spray my hands and go to my car. I also use large waterproof bag where I place my purse when going to the doctor or

shopping with a cart. My purse stays clean and when I get home, I just need to throw the outer bag in the wash. And don't forget to disinfect your phones and keys.

It may take a few minutes longer but well worth the peace of mind. :) xx

β€’ in reply toAgora1

Wow Agora1 that’s brilliant πŸ‘ Great tips with the trash bags, and the gloves. We do touch not only our faces, our hair also. I never thought of that esp we go to the supermarket n laying our purse in shopping cart or whateves. Yes our phone is the worse and keys also. I do keep a bottle of alcohol spray by the entrance to give a quick spray before bringing stuffs in. Thank you Agora1 πŸ€—πŸ™xxx

Hb2003 profile image
Hb2003β€’ in reply toAgora1

Thank you for the suggestion ❀️

Blueruth profile image
Blueruthβ€’ in reply toAgora1

They have actually ruled out the need for much of that. Thankfully because I was never gonna do it 🀣

Agora1 profile image
Agora1β€’ in reply toBlueruth

I do this for myself Blueruth and no one else.

It makes me more comfortable. :) xx

Blueruth profile image
Blueruthβ€’ in reply toAgora1

That’s fine. I know a lot of people are not aware that the science has progressed. The whole grocery precautions never made sense to me but I am not a biologist.

Agora1 profile image
Agora1β€’ in reply toBlueruth

No, I'm not a biologist either but I was in the emergency medical field.

As long as we follow the essential rules of social distancing, wearing masks

and washing our hands, we're good. I rather be overprotected than throw caution

to the wind. It all comes down to staying safe. :) xx

13ga profile image
13gaβ€’ in reply toBlueruth

hi BR;

yes we do know more now... but in the beginning all precautions made sense - better safe than sorry.

to this day - i still follow the most conservative protocols. many are my own. for example - unless urgent, mail and packages are quarantined in my garage for 24 hrs. mail is only moved from mailbox to garage every few days - if its urgent they can call me.

while latest science indicates minimal risk - i still wipe down my groceries with disinfectant. i have 90 yr old parents i'm the sole shopper for - and i don't want their death on my conscience. i also have a friend with only 70% function of ONE lung; and i help him too. it's NOT alot of extra work to ensure i have done all i can do to protect them. minimal risk STILL == SOME risk.

i have sanitizer AND disinfectant present at all entry points to my home - and extra masks. i don't open the door to anyone without putting a mask on. and if for some reason - someone MUST enter my house - they'd better be wearing a mask!! i demand this of everyone - even my brother - cause i don't know what the heck his kids are doing. i haven't kissed my girlfriend in 6+ months when i found out she pulls down her mask to talk on the phone at work (and she KNOWS how seriously i take this - so we're not on best of terms at the moment, because i see it as disrespectful to me -AND to my parents)!!!!! am i fun to live with - not when someone i'm with behaves in ways that endanger my parents - thru me. but i'm virus free - and i doing my best to stay that way! 33% of people have some long term, possibly life-long after-effects from covid - that can effect most of the systems in the body - and many of them aren't even aware that they've been compromised!!

and for me - this isn't just about covid. i volunteer at an animal shelter - and to protect my pets - i follow covid protocols - AND i have dedicated shoes for the shelter that never go past the garage. i have dedicated pants i wear - that only go past the garage for laundering - and they go directly into washer to be washed immediately.

that's not a lot of inconvenience - and i do that for my PETS.

am i going overboard - you bet. better safe than sorry. i'd rather go overboard than have to live out my life with someone's death (or living w/ decreased quality of life) on my shoulders.

Blueruth profile image
Blueruthβ€’ in reply to13ga

It is your choice for sure. It is just not something I would recommend from a data driven POV. The disclaimer might be β€œI know the data doesn’t support the efficacy of this but it makes me feel better.” As I said I am no casker. But better safe than sorry comes off as idk ... judgy? To someone who is already scared of their business tanking and is questioning whether masks even help. Just like covid we have to deal with them. Choose those battles carefully.

TBH I didn’t ever think a lot of these made sense. I know others who had a hard time buying it too. I even made some of my liberal friends angry. It just didn’t seem logical that a drop would survive 4 or 6 feet through wind to land squarely in your nose. And living in a paper or cloth bag? Didn’t make sense either. Likewise being inside a bar seemed like a dumb idea. Those tents don’t make sense to me. They look like indoor dining to me! I desperately want to fly but those caskers keep ruining it!

13ga profile image
13gaβ€’ in reply toAgora1

i echo agora yet again!!

except i do it additionally for the people i take care of - but in the end - i'm doing THAT for ME - because i want to live my life guilt free!!

goldieoldie profile image
goldieoldieβ€’ in reply toAgora1

Argora you seem quite composed and assured,sounds good,but sometimes when your anxiety is high I lose my calm exterior and sometimes forget things.

Agora1 profile image
Agora1β€’ in reply togoldieoldie

It happens to all of us goldieoldie, in that our guard may be let down for whatever reason. After all, this is a new kind of living for us. Gone is the day where we can run

out to the store without thinking twice (that is except for anxiety fear)

We're human, we do what we possibly can to protect ourselves. Sometimes we may forget for whatever reason, I understand, it has happened to me as well. :) xx

goldieoldie profile image
goldieoldieβ€’ in reply toAgora1

Very true Argora,Today I feel worn out,and my shoulders at the back are tense too ,otherwise Im ok ,but dont know how long I can caeey on in this strange environment-sorry to sound so negative.......hoping your coping and are not too down!

Agora1 profile image
Agora1β€’ in reply togoldieoldie

You are not being negative, you are being truthful in how you feel, as do many others.

I cope because that is what we must do right now to get through this Pandemic.

Coming on this site can help you immensely by knowing you are never alone with your thoughts and fears. We are all together in this. But know that this too shall pass when the time is right. :) xx

goldieoldie profile image
goldieoldieβ€’ in reply toAgora1

Yes,its important to unwind to someone on Hu,and you were the unfortuneate one,Im kidding and feeling less heavy hearted now thank goodness....πŸ˜‡

Blueruth profile image
Blueruth

Just wash your hands. Touching your face is almost impossible to fix. Thankfully they have realized you aren’t likely to get it from surfaces. Not from porous surfaces. If you wear gloves you are not decreasing you risk. In order to get it from a surface you would need to touch it after someone who is contact who blew or sneezed or otherwise got droplets on the surface. Then you have to touch it in time. Then you have to touch your eyes or nose. If you have a mask on that isn’t going to happen. If you wash your hands that isn’t going to happen. What could happen is being too close to someone.

β€’ in reply toBlueruth

Hi Blueruth, thank you for your advice on this. It is true the contracted route is through someone’s droplets. Virus can stay on the surface for 72 hours and let’s say we actually touch the surface that contaminated with droplets. People who have watery eyes tend to rub their eyes and I think if we wear a pair of gloves, it’s unlikely for us to rub our eyes with gloves on. Plus water and soap are not always available around. Would that be some good use of wearing gloves, please correct me if I’m wrong?πŸ™

Blueruth profile image
Blueruthβ€’ in reply to

That is for non porous surfaces. And again they believe the likelihood is incredibly low even for those surfaces if you are smart. Hand sanitizer is no longer in short supply so you can have it with you. It is available in every store I visit. Staying home as possible, washing and wearing a mask when out are much more important than over worrying about surfaces when you are out. It is your *proximity* to people who are contagious, the amount of time and whether you are in an enclosed area that is important. If it makes you feel better do it but it isn’t the most important thing. When I shop I throw my bags in the wash but it is easy. It technically isn’t necessary.

β€’ in reply toBlueruth

It’s commonly known that touching surfaces is not the main way for the virus to spread. However, it is knowledgeable to know it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object in public places such as shopping carts and point of sale keypads having the virus on it unless it is wiped down with sanitizer after each usage. We are already very aware of 6feet distancing. This is not about being paranoid of touching surfaces. This post is mainly for finding tips for people with the habit of touching their faces frequently at any point without sanitizing their hands in between esp during this pandemic.

Blueruth profile image
Blueruthβ€’ in reply to

If you wear a mask properly you encourage not touching your face. As I said touching your face is pretty automatic. You don’t even realize it most of the time like giving gas. (A lot more than people realize) It isn’t my first line of defense simply because it doesn’t give you the biggest bang for the buck. Basically wearing a mask would be my tip.

I am in no way a casker but I do find it difficult to debate caskers when they say it is overblown and they bring up businesses failing with no aid in sight.

13ga profile image
13gaβ€’ in reply toBlueruth

just 1 more FYI...

studies have shown, and the CDC concurs... droplets can hang in the air for HOURS... so while the virus may not live long on some surfaces - it's possible for droplets to be deposited on those surfaces frequently. and if your hand goes from that newly deposited surface to your face - that's transmission waiting to happen.

Blueruth profile image
Blueruthβ€’ in reply to13ga

They follow that up with poorly ventilated indoor area. Supermarkets are generally well ventilated and they wipe key surfaces (the one I go to). If you are wearing a mask you touch the outside of your mask. If everyone wears a mask on an airplane it is fairly safe because the air is constantly cycling. Problem is not everyone does so here I sit grounded :(

Blueruth profile image
Blueruthβ€’ in reply to13ga

1 more observation.

My state didn’t have a holiday spike. While everyone is shutting down we are opening in small doses. I believe the primary reason is the governor comes from tech and he gets data so he is working with scientists. Doesn’t get emotional or political about it. The few hots spots are in the rural and tourist areas. He does allow counties to open more if their numbers are low. That reduces conflict and helps the economy. My point being that following the data works. If you have someone or are someone at risk certainly be safer but low risk can choose.

Edited because it doesn’t answer the question and totally not helpful. πŸ˜‚πŸ€—

β€’ in reply to

Thank you RoxieDawn01 for your advice. Hiba and I were thinking of this post if someone absolutely can’t stop themselves from touching their faces then what possible advice we can give them. β€οΈπŸŒΈπŸ™

β€’ in reply to

Obsessively touching the face will come down to behavior modification. What that is, I don’t know. The gloves are good idea, my hands sweat in them and not fun to pick stuff up with. I should edit out my response, totally not helpful. πŸŒΊπŸ’œ

β€’ in reply to

Oh no worries RoxieDawn01, all advice is useful. Maybe I should edit the title so it can be clearer as behavior modification πŸ€—πŸŒΈβ€οΈ

13ga profile image
13ga

i do everything that Agora1 does.

it's really not hard to not touch your face....

wear a freaking mask!!!! - preferably a mask with form fitting features to minimize air gaps. AND most importantly - COVER YOUR FREAKIN NOSE!!!! if you don't cover the nose - what's the point of wearing the mask at all!?!?

i also wear latex gloves, and remove exactly as agora describes just before entry to car - inside out - into trash. i keep sanitizer in the car - and immediately wipe my hands before touching anything in the car.

i also wear lab goggles to protect my eyes from droplets.

there's not alot left exposed to touch - and having latex gloves reminds me not to also.

i keep disinfecting wipes to wipe down the goggles as i remove them; and then i wipe down the bottoms of my shoes before setting my feet back in the car.

.

yes - i look like a complete dork in a hazmat suit - and i started doing this last feb, when i was the only 1 doing it! but do you want to look like a dork - or do you want to suffer life-long after-effects from a virus or worse ???

i'll take the dork, please - with a nice bottle of 70%+ isopropyl alcohol on the side; thank you very much.

.

sorry if my tone sounds stern - i take this seriously, and it ticks me off that so many think this is a joke. this is why this country has the worst statistics in the world! because too many put personal convenience above the common good AND their own good.

i don't think it's asking alot for people to wear a mask - PROPERLY - when in public. but statistics prove me wrong - it IS asking alot apparently.

.

wear a mask; wash your hands; and stay at least 6 fracking feet away from ME!!

Agora1 profile image
Agora1β€’ in reply to13ga

Hi 13ga, I was glad to hear that you also think of the bottoms of your shoes.

It takes but a moment for me to spray my shoes with Lysol

β€’ in reply toAgora1

Hi Agora1, as you know we Asian always take off our shoes and never wear them inside the house. It’s a cultural thing, one less step to worry about 🀣🀣

Agora1 profile image
Agora1β€’ in reply to

:) xx

13ga profile image
13gaβ€’ in reply toAgora1

agora!!!

what can i say... seems like every time you say something - i like ya more!!!!

.

we seem to think alot alike - so what not to like !!! ;-) :-) :-)

i actually like the spray idea - easier than using the wipes...

good tip! tx

Agora1 profile image
Agora1β€’ in reply to13ga

It is quick and efficient lol

β€’ in reply to13ga

That’s very insightful Rob. Wearing goggles definitely one way to help from touching your eyes. Wearing mask properly definitely help us from touching the mouth and nose. Thank you for your advice πŸ€—πŸŒΈπŸ™

Just a little google searching. Mindfulness and taking inventory of our face touching in the day, replacing that with like sitting on our hands, etc. Hope you get some answers, maybe this will help a weee bit. πŸ€—

health.com/condition/infect...

β€’ in reply to

Thank you RoxieDawn01. This is totally valuable information. You are one awesome researcher πŸ€—β€οΈπŸŒΈπŸ™

β€’ in reply to

Thank ya mam, I try to accomdate when I can. πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ’œπŸ’œπŸ’œ

β€’ in reply to

Well mam, at this point, any accommodation is well taken by moi. πŸ€£πŸ€£πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ€—πŸ€—

Sillysausage234 profile image
Sillysausage234β€’ in reply to

Go-go google girl 01 πŸ˜€.

4 Tips for Not Touching Your Face, Since It's So Hard to Stop:

1. Be mindful of just how much you touch your face throughout the day.

2. Identify your own personal face-touching triggers.

3. Find other behaviors to do when you want to touch your face.

4. Keep in mind that not touching your face is only one way to protect yourself.

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