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EzraS
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20 Jul 2016, 3:00 am

If left up to me, I would rarely take a shower. But my room is always organized to help maintain mental order. When something isn't where its supposed to be I feel confused.



underwater
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20 Jul 2016, 6:03 am

About cleanliness and OCD: I've heard excessive cleanliness is the most common form of OCD behavior. I've been a witness to this sort of behavior spiralling out of control, and it's not pretty. It can be just as life-destroying as a lot of other conditions, mainly because spending all your time cleaning means you are not spending it on something that is either a) useful or b) enjoyable. The burnout is spectacular, yet you've achieved nothing.

The trick is to set some limits for yourself *before* life hits you with a ton of stress. Decide what is just a tad obsessive and what is sick. The definition is usually whether it interferes with living normal life or not.


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League_Girl
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20 Jul 2016, 11:19 am

underwater wrote:
About cleanliness and OCD: I've heard excessive cleanliness is the most common form of OCD behavior. I've been a witness to this sort of behavior spiralling out of control, and it's not pretty. It can be just as life-destroying as a lot of other conditions, mainly because spending all your time cleaning means you are not spending it on something that is either a) useful or b) enjoyable. The burnout is spectacular, yet you've achieved nothing.

The trick is to set some limits for yourself *before* life hits you with a ton of stress. Decide what is just a tad obsessive and what is sick. The definition is usually whether it interferes with living normal life or not.



I have never been that extreme with my cleaning. I only know cleaning has come to a point where it drives the whole family crazy. My mom gave me some examples about how it makes it hard for everyone around that person to live because of their need for cleanness. You are playing match box cars and building race tracks in the living room with your friend. You and your friend decide to leave the room to get something from your room but your OCD mother tells you to pick up the mess first. You tell her you're not done playing yet but she tells you you clean it if you are not going to be playing with it but you tell her you are just going to get something from your room and you will be right back but not the OCD parent wants it picked up if you leave the room. So there you go as a child having to clean up the "mess" and then you decide to not keep on playing with your cars and tracks because you might have to pick it up again because you can't even leave the room for a few minutes. Now as a child you always have to plan your playtime and think ahead to make sure you will have every thing you need or else your play time will cut short because no way are you picking everything up just to get something or to go to the bathroom or to eat or get a drink of water only to get it back out again after you had set everything up because what is the fricken point? Then there probably comes a point as a child where you quit playing with toys because you don't see the point in it.

Also you make a cup of coffee and then you go to the front door to answer it and then you come back and your coffee is gone only to find your OCD daughter had dumped it out and put it in the dishwasher because she thought it was left there. Now you as the parent have to always bring your drinks with you to the jon, to the front door, when you go and get something, etc or else it will be dumped out if your daughter sees it. Also imagine having to come to the front door with your food or to the job with your food?

I can see why now why someone who likes things to be clean and keep picked up can drive everyone crazy and why it would make it hard for them to even live a normal life while the OCD person is happy and content with themselves while everyone around them is going crazy and having anxiety if they are that extreme I just listed as an example.

My mom dated a guy in the 1970's and his neatness drove her crazy she broke up with him. She wouldn't give me any details about how it affected her. She said it just drove her crazy.


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Son: Diagnosed w/anxiety and ADHD. Also academic delayed and ASD lv 1.

Daughter: NT, no diagnoses. Possibly OCD. Is very private about herself.