Obsessive Cleaning - Please help!

[Code05]

Hi everyone!

This morning I had a breakdown, the feeling of a ‘dirty’ house got the best of me. If I see a small piece of dust, toothpaste on the sink, footprint on the floor or even a smear on the kitchen sink I get an urge to fully clean by entire house. This morning, I tried to let it go. My husband was wanting to go out and as I was doing my hair I noticed how desperately the basin in the ensuite needed a wipe. Then I noticed the dust on the window sill, the basket of dirty washing. As I walked to the kitchen I noticed the coffee cup on the sink I’d just cleaned, then the floor the needed a vacuum. I tried to let it go, but I had a hot flush, my hands started shaking, legs feeling weak and my mind racing. I said to my husband that I couldn’t go, I needed to clean the house. Not just wanted to.. needed to. I can’t relax or enjoy life until I know my house is clean. I could tell he was annoyed, he can’t see what I see. He tells me the house is spotless and continues to leave. But I can’t, I can’t be calm and happy until the house is clean. And not just tidy, clean, not one bit of dust. Everyone comments on how clean our home is. I think this contributes to my need to uphold this reputation.

please, any advice or help on this would be greatly appreciated. I haven’t seen a professional about this or received any kind of diagnosis.

[Petal22]

Hi Code05,

Wellcome to our forums!

Im so sorry you are going through this.

I understand it’s very exhausting.

I have a lived experience of OCD obsessive compulsive disorder it’s a anxiety disorder, I’ve now recovered from this condition thanks to the professional help I received.

I was stuck in a vicious cycle of OCD….. it was unrelenting at times.

OCD can really affect a person’s life.

Im not a doctor and I can’t diagnose but I strongly encourage you to see your gp and do a mental health plan together this will enable you to see a psychologist, please see a clinical psychologist they can diagnose a normal psychologist can’t.

If it is OCD it is very treatable.

I did a therapy it was an intervention into the OCD…… it taught me what was keeping me in my OCD cycle and then how to disengage from it.

You really can get on top of this you just need to be taught how.

[Summer Rose]

Hi Code05

Welcome to the bb forum and congratulations on having the courage to share what's happening for you.

It must be terribly time consuming and challenging to maintain a house that's not just clean but free of a speck of dust. I can certainly understand how and why this is getting in the way of your everyday life and I think it was a good idea for you to reach out.

My daughter has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and sometimes feels the same as you. But she experiences intrusive thoughts that disturb her and this drives the obsessive cleaning, checking, counting. etc. Because when she completed the compulsions, she feels temporarily better.

Now, I'm not saying that you have OCD (I'm not a doctor), just that the behaviour you have described is familiar to me. I definitely think it would benefit you to get a professional assessment.

I'd like to encourage you to make an appointment to see your GP. Please make it a double, so that you can have time to explain everything. As Petal says, the GP will prepare a Mental Health Care Plan and direction on your next steps.

I know it's a big step to admit there's an issue. Even bigger to see a GP. But it's really important because life can get better.

Kind thoughts to you

[geoff]

Hello Code, I am not a doctor so I can't diagnose you, but from what you have told us it seems that OCD is controlling how you think, and some of us on this site know exactly what it means to have this illness.

Can I suggest you do an online test, so if you google 'OCD test online' it will give indicate whether or not you may have this illness, but seeing your doctor will give you a definite answer which is what you need to begin the help that's required.

Let us know how you get on.

Geoff.

[Fairmaiden64]

Hi there!

I have this extreme perfectionism OCD that I have never heard anyone else have before. I can remember doing these types of things when I was 4 years old (eg lining things up exactly right, cleaning venetians all the way around the strings etc). My OCD has fully controlled me my entire life. I can't see anyone or go anywhere because of the amount of time it takes. I certainly would never have anyone over as the place would not be perfect enough. So, of course I have no friends. I have no family either due to a very abusive childhood. My only brother is an alcoholic and also has extreme OCD. My condition can cause me to rage when things won't go just right. I am actually looking at OCPD now, due to the amount of correlating signs and symptoms with this personality disorder. My frustration is palpable. Today, I was supposed to clean the dining room. This would take anyone about half an hour to an hour, but will take me a full day. I am very angry today because it is so overcast and I need the sunlight (which incidently I also hate), to see, because I can always the dust particles floating in this and I need to get to them, so today will be considered to be half a clean. I want you to know that you are not alone. I don't have any money for doctors, psychologists etc because I am on Centrelink, which is 99.9% rent right now. I do hope you understand that even though it feels like you are the only one this way, that is not the case. Have a great day

[Fairmaiden64]

oh you are sooooo me

[ButterflyCharm]

May I know what therapy that you used? And how did you overcome it?

[Fairmaiden64]

I never have. It controls my entire life.