From the bottom of my heart I apologize for spamming your inbox. Everything odd or related to hangnails that you have received in the past few weeks comes from me. I suffer from extreme paranoia and anxiety. I just need a response. Please answer this for me and I will never, ever bother you again. Please. I am mentally ill and I need help. I am at your mercy.

6.5 years ago while in High School All male outdoor football gym class (all 14-18 years old) in NYC, I got blood on the palm side of my index and middle fingers. Covered roughly half of the area. I ran to the bathroom and washed it off. I did NOT HAVE FRESH, RECENT, ACTIVELY BLEEDING, DEEP CUTS ANYWHERE. I washed my hands and never thought about this incident once in 6.7 years. Now my paranoia is acting up and I am going crazy. Here are my 2 most dreaded scenarios.

1) The blood was on my left hand. When I washed it off, I am afraid that it might have washed over NON BLEEDING HANGNAILS. IS THERE ANY RISK IN THIS?

2) AFTER I WASHED OFF THE BLOOD ON MY LEFT FINGERS, I AM AFRAID THAT THERE WAS SOME LEFT ON IT. I put soap on my hand and washed it. I am afraid that I might have washed the blood into a NON BLEEDING HANGNAIL ON MY RIGHT HAND. IS THERE ANY RISK IN THIS?

I don't bite my fingers. I get hangnails out of dryness. PLEASE ANSWER THIS AND I WILL BE OUT OF YOUR LIFE FOREVER. I AM AN EVIL PERSON. I KNOW. END MY MISERY PLEASE. THIS COMES STRAIGHT FROM MY BLACK HEART.

Hello,

I was wondering when and if you would fess up. It's really not all that difficult for me to identify these bogus questions submitted by anxious wrecks in multiple thinly veiled disguises. I generally just skip over them, as the information is obviously neither honest nor accurate, which in turn could make my assessment less than accurate (or helpful). I always wonder why someone would need to lie when they are writing into an anonymous Web site asking for information.

Responding briefly to your concerns:

No.

No.

If indeed you "suffer from extreme paranoia and anxiety," I would suggest you seek the help of a psychiatrist to help you with those very real medical problems. Treatment with anti-anxiety medications and counseling (psychotherapy) can be very helpful. Certainly more helpful than spamming my inbox with dishonest information.

Apology accepted. I do hope you'll now get the help you obviously need.

Dr. Bob