Can it get better?

[StaceyW94]

I've had my phobia since as long as I can remember and have noticed it get increasingly worse as time goes on. However it seems that since this summer my phobia vastly increased really rapidly. Right now I don't see how it can get better and right now it's really getting me down and I just need to talk to somebody but no one else understands. That's why I've come here because everyone on this website who I've encountered have been so lovely and don't make me feel stupid or pathetic like others can because you all know how it feels.
This summer my granddad passed away and while it didn't seem to affect my phobia much, that's the time I can recall when it started to get much worse. Before then my phobia would only affect me if I had a proper reason for it to a.k.a if I saw someone v*, if I knew there was a virus going or if I felt n* but now I am constantly on edge every single day and it's always on my mind. I've started to avoid foods, I always have to have hand sanitiser (stuff I buy online thats been tested to kill virus'), won't touch my mouth and now I'm starting to become agrophobic and it's really starting to control my life and I really see no way out.
Another reason why I may have gotten worse is because most of my friends went off to study this year and whilst I still keep in contact with most of them, there are times when I'm just so lonely and just need some company which is quite difficult at the moment. I also only have one person in my life who kind of understands my phobia. I have no problem telling people I'm scared of v*, that way they'll know why I can't be around if anyone does. However most only think I simply don't like it or get grossed out by it and though it's quite frustrating, I understand why they think this. To them it must seem unrealistic to be properly scared of it.
I went to see a doctor a few days ago, and he was very nice and sympathetic towards me, he said he would contact a counseller for me, but that would take about a month or so. At this moment in time, I don't know how I'm going to cope in that time. Everyone in my work and in my college is getting sick and whilst I'm doing all the right things to prevent me catching it, I'm terrified I'll slip up.
I got a bit ahead of myself and starting rambling even though I only had one proper question, sorry :P. What I really want to know is, can it get better? Even if it can't be completely cured, is it possible to get to a point where it doesn't control your life? At this point I can't really see a time when I'm not going to be controlled and the thought is getting me really down and I don't know if I can live like this for much longer.
I'm sorry for going on and on. If you read/reply, thank you I really appreciate it Hope everyone has a good day x

[AoD]

It can get better, much better. I don't know if it can be cured completely, but it is quite possible to get back to a fully functional level (eating out, not obsessing about it unless someone close is sick, etc). You're probably just feeling the after effects of the stress and grief from having a loss in your family, that kind of trauma can make us emets more susceptible to our phobia. But it will pass.