Cleaning obsession

I am obsessed with cleaning, I will clean even when the house is clean. It's not that I am worried about getting sick. It just makes me feel better to have everything perfect, clean and in its place. This is effecting others in the house though because I get frustrated if someone comes in with their shoes on and brings a tiny bit of dirt in. Or if my partner doesn't leave areas clean the way i do. I also feel like it effects my child because I can't bare mess, when she gets toys out I feel like I'm tidying as she is playing. I must clean 3 times a day and sometimes I can't leave the house without doing certain chores. Or it plays on my mind all day. Its frustrating, I feel burnt out because I never stop

Username: Matthew L.Matthew L.

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y ago

I can relate. I used to worry about everything being clean. However, I don’t clean my apartment as much anymore. I still keep things neat and orderly, and I do laundry on certain days. I have an obsession with cleanliness, however it doesn’t weigh as much on me. It could be my meds and NOCD ERP that’s caused me to go about things differently. I do understand wanting things to be clean and orderly. It must be hard living with others, and trying to keep things just right. It’s tiring, no doubt.

Username: laurenskidmorelaurenskidmore

Date posted: 2y ago

Maybe I need to go on meds. I used to be on them and it wasn't this bad. Id say it's since coming off them that it's got out of control. Like you says maybe the meds stop that worrying about everything being perfect. It is so tiring 😭

Username: Butterfly_02Butterfly_02

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 2y ago

Honestly I am the same but I think social media makes it worse for me. I'm a mom and I always feel pressure to have my house spotless like some instagram photo. Ugh it's exhausting!

Username: laurenskidmorelaurenskidmore

Date posted: 2y ago

I totally agree, social media doesn't help at all. Everything seems perfect on there. It's tiring isn't it. If I have someone coming round, I can't bare the thought of anything being out of place, the house has to be spotless. I just don't know what to do to stop this feeling 🤯

Username: 15ba!15ba!

Date posted: 1y ago

I couldn’t relate to this post more. This way of living is beyond exhausting. I clean first thing when I wake up. Then, I clean again when I come home from work all the up until bedtime. My cleaning affects my husband. I hold him to such a high standard of cleanliness and it makes me feel so bad. I wish I could control my cleaning but part of me can’t let go of this clean lifestyle. The idea of not having things in order is unimaginable. Next week, I begin exposure therapy with a NOCD therapist. I’m hoping this exposure therapy will help me to calm down and not affect others with my obsessive cleaning!

Username: Pigpen

Date posted: 3y ago

I clean too much at night and not getting to bed until really late. It's not germs that bother me though. I don't even want to be in my house anymore.

Username: Linds1985

Date posted: 1y ago

OCD tendencies?!

I'm 37, been diagnosed with depression and anxiety since I was 16. I've thought for a few years now that I may have some ocd tendencies. But I feel like they are getting worse. I clean, every single day. I have to vacuum 2-3 times a day or I cannot relax. I have to vacuum every morning, or I can't concentrate on work, I vacuum later in the day, then again before bed to help me relax. I can't skip a day...if I do it nags at me. I'm also a perfectionist?!? I get highly irritated if things are out of order, or my house is chaotic. Sit on the furniture wrong and squash my pillow? My anxiety or irritation spikes until the person gets up and I can go fix that space. I also obsess over things, and seek answers/validation from others. When I tried leaving my job for another, I talked to anyone that would listen. Obsessing for weeks and weeks wondering if I was making the right choice, looking for someone to answer me. I could NOT think of anything else. I'm assuming this is ruminating? Now, most recently, I've been having awful intrusive thoughts. Every single night. Mostly about loved ones dying, and how will I go on. I work myself up, have anxiety attacks and cry. ...this makes sense as to why I feel the need to constantly clean or be doing something, so I don't have to think these thoughts. In my head if I can just make it to morning, nothing bad will happen during the day. I'm ferried my phone will go off at night with bad news. It's making it hard to sleep, I don't want to relax because my mind drifts to these intrusive thoughts. I don't know...no one had diagnosed me, but I feel like some signs are there. I feel like I'm slowly going crazy...and I'm so very tired of it.

OCD newbies

Username: Moonluver

Date posted: 1y ago

cleaning

I do this thing where I clean my bedroom every night and I physically can not clean it until t that time. I cant pick up clothes or make my bed until right before I go to bed. Does anyone experience this as well? How do I get myself to clean whenever I want?

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Cleaning obsession

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