obssessive compulsive and wondering...

[falcon9]

you could totally turn your OCD into a money
maker by cleaning other peoples' homes 

That's actually a pretty good and pragmatic idea.

[ferriwinkle]

My wife has OCD and she focuses on germs. She washes her hands so much that they dry out and crack (because she is worried about getting sick)--i think that we are personally keeping a few hand cream manufacturers in business! She also thinks that a pair of pants she once wore when she had the flu will make her sick--this type of thing is normal for us

[sherryinutah]

I have OCD and clean all the time.  My husband says I clean way too much.  So I have to ask, what is "normal"?  How often do you guys clean your toilets, sinks, etc?  Thanks!

I also went through a phase when I was married when I was fanatical about "picking up" and cleaning.  My husband told me to stop because he was uncomfortable.  He wanted to be able to
"live" at home.

My tendency to become obsessed with something can change to something different.  Now I'm fanatical about being on my computer and my home...probably...isn't clean enough.

I was reading the a book called The Prescription For Nutritional Healing that an inositol and choline deficiency can lead to OCDs' and other minor mental health issues.  You can get more inositol and choline in a product called Lecithin.

 

[natashaspy]

nothing wrong with a clean house.  real ocd is like my sister...everything has to be facing the same way in her fridge and cabinets.  you can call her and tell her you think a can is turned wrong and she'll actually go LOOK to make sure they're straight lol

[ferriwinkle]

nothing wrong with a clean house.  real ocd is like my sister...everything has to be facing the same way in her fridge and cabinets.  you can call her and tell her you think a can is turned wrong and she'll actually go LOOK to make sure they're straight lol

You're right, there is nothing wrong with a clean house. The problem arises when the cleaning of the house becomes your only purpose for living and you don't want to have people over because they will get it dirty, and when they do you must sweep up after them even though you've made them take of their shoes outside as well as wear booties over their socks. I could go on and on, but the fact is that is does not matter what the focus of the person with OCD is, it is all "real" and very demanding of the OCD sufferer as well as all of the people who are close to them or come in contact with them.

[cwortman544]

Unless you have small children that make messes I think vacuuming and cleaning 3 times a day much less several is quite obsessive.  If it's your house it's your rules so it's not for me to say but maybe it's just because I'm a guy too but I don't clean that often and my house is fine.  Dishes and trash are always a daily thing though.

[BabyMamaBoutique]

Ferriwinkle, I couldn't have said it better.  Yes, it is a very horrible mental disorder and takes up many hours of my days.  Stress makes it worse and I sometimes get panic attacks and have to leave my house because I a so overwhelmed.  I wash my hands so much they bleed esp in the winter.  You can look at my hands and see what kind of day I am having.  I avoid having people over bc of "outside germs" and I have two kids and hate that they see me like this.  They worry they will have it too. I pray to God they never do.  It is so debilitating at times.  It is so hard to habituate when my daughter wants to have a friend spend the night.  I will sit down and play board games with my daughters and their friend but all the while I am obsessing over what their friend has touched so I can wipe it down after she leaves.  I have depression which I believe stems from my OCD.  I would give anything to bring peace to my family.  I don't know what to do.  Sometimes I feel like I should commit myself to a hospital or something!  I try to overcome the OCD but I usually end up giving up and giving in to it.  It is physically and emotionally draining for my entire family.  I am so tired of hurting people because of my disorder.

[lennydee]

    Great idea, most peoples don't want to clean or have the time to clean their house. They are all ways willing to pay some one to do it for them.

[charmaine56]

Just get the dirty out. Dont keep cleaning the clean. that is when its ocd. 

[falcon9]

Just get the dirty out. Dont keep cleaning the clean. that is when its ocd. 

That's why we released the kids into the wild, (backyard), when they were young and mostly dirty.  Oh, we let them back in eventually, (that was assumed, yes?).

[MiguelC]

That is a lot of vacuuming. I do a minor clean; vacuum and sweep once a week and every 2 weeks I clean the bathrooms, kitchen, dust, etc.

[ferriwinkle]

Ferriwinkle, I couldn't have said it better.  Yes, it is a very horrible mental disorder and takes up many hours of my days.  Stress makes it worse and I sometimes get panic attacks and have to leave my house because I a so overwhelmed.  I wash my hands so much they bleed esp in the winter.  You can look at my hands and see what kind of day I am having.  I avoid having people over bc of "outside germs" and I have two kids and hate that they see me like this.  They worry they will have it too. I pray to God they never do.  It is so debilitating at times.  It is so hard to habituate when my daughter wants to have a friend spend the night.  I will sit down and play board games with my daughters and their friend but all the while I am obsessing over what their friend has touched so I can wipe it down after she leaves.  I have depression which I believe stems from my OCD.  I would give anything to bring peace to my family.  I don't know what to do.  Sometimes I feel like I should commit myself to a hospital or something!  I try to overcome the OCD but I usually end up giving up and giving in to it.  It is physically and emotionally draining for my entire family.  I am so tired of hurting people because of my disorder.

If you need help, you should see a counselor that specializes in OCD and depression, and a naturopathic doctor. The counseling will help you get out your frustrations with an unbiased third party (as well as give you tools to talk yourself down from anxiety attacks or severe OCD moments). The naturopathic doctor will be able to prescribe you with supplements that will balance your brain chemistry.  My wife has done both and is a lot better, she still struggles, but she has power now.

[ro901]

Why is this under suggestions?

[Metalmania1]

ro901,
LoL i just noticed that too!

 

[BabyMamaBoutique]

Thanks all! I have no idea why I put it under suggestions.