OCD anyone help??

nats3006

Bun wrote: »

I'm the same with some things. Curtains particularly. Admittedly I am worse now our flat is smaller as it gets dirty and untidier so much quicker. Does it get worse in times of stress? Some people let this sort of thing go a bit, some get worse as it's part of your life you can control. If you feel that it is controlling you rather than the other way round then maybe have a word with your GP? Maybe have a designated play area which the kids can mess up more?
Though reading through the posts again it looks like an OH mess area may be more appropriate.

Thanks for all replies and no it doesnt get worse in times of stress i tend to just give up in times of stress and not bother doing it admittedly for half an hour lol!!!
i wont go to the doctors i will feel a right weirdo telling him i have to do things in a certain way and what i have explained on here!! ds1 who has just turned 3 is at nursery monday and wednesday from 1 till 6 and its a break ds2 is 5 months so doesnt make a mess as such!! i do let ds1 play in his bedroom but he wont play alone someone has to be with him at all times
thanks again for your reply

nats3006

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Hi
It sounds like you might have OCD - what happens if you challenge yourself not to do things just so?

The phobics soceity is very good for helping to overcome it OCD.http://www.phobics-society.org.uk/

i have tried this and i cannot settle to watch a programme or anything knowing that there are things to be done!! i dont think its OCD for the simple reason once i have done it i wont go back to check i have done it properly ( maybe cos i make sure i do it properly first time round )

thanks for the link really helpful!!
xx

nats3006

Justie wrote: »

can you come and be OCD in my house please it's a tip


no seriously if it stresses you out if you don't do it and you feel it's getting in the way of you enjoying life then go and see your GP and get some help. It sounds to me like you have a control issue but not necessarily OCD which tends to be characterised by repetitive behaviour (handwashing is a classic) so if you were constantly straightening the same thing or had to get up and go and check that your cupboards were in order even though you'd just done it that's more OCD. It sounds to me as though you just have a high standards. However any control issues whether they're about food or straightening things in the home may be a sign of other issues in your life that you feel less in control of so it's well worth talking it over with your GP and maybe seeing if you can get a series of counselling sessions. You're not a candidate for the white coats just yet though

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
yeah i will be round in the morning! u know alot of people say do a part time job in cleaning peoples houses!! thing is i only clean my own house to how i want it i dont like doing anybody elses!!
xx

Mandles

Yeah, its ocd. I have it mildly and a realtive has the exact like you. Seems to flare up after having kids sometimes. There is help out there if it becomes a problem.
I have a thing with germs and getting them from things so wash my hands non stop.I do try now and do it easily to eat food without washing my hands on purpose which helps bring any ocd down to not really being a problem.
My relative has the opposite and worrys about giving germs(she is mega clean and tidy like you..i would eat off her floor she is so obsessvly clean!)
Anyway , she purposely touches things and gets herself out of it(she is up at 2am when shes bad with ocd checking her recycling!!).
Stress makes it worse. I suggest purposly leaving magazines laying untidly on the table or things in the wrong ordeer and leave them as this will be a good start.

I watched a program about it and there is a part of your brain at the back that you can see on a scan more active than a normal persons but after treatment or changing your behaviour yourself it is the same as a regular persons.
I really hope you sort it to a managable level for your kids sake as my dear old mum had ocd and thats why i have it so you might be putting this behaviour on your kids. Also, like you admit it must make life a little hard with you like this.
Stop it now before you get worse but well done for admitting it and trying wanting to change.

Mandles

Just thought of another one that me and my realtive do and that is push the front door 3 times after locking it.

Nicki

nats3006 wrote: »

i dont think its OCD for the simple reason once i have done it i wont go back to check i have done it properly ( maybe cos i make sure i do it properly first time round )
xx

That's not the test though. Some people have compulsions around checking, and they will go back and check things several times before they can move on. With a cleaning compulsion though, you would be compelled to clean every time the thought of contamination came into your head, but wouldn't necessarily keep checking to make sure you had done it (if you see what I mean) By way of example, you might feel the need to wash your kitchen floor every time someone walked across the room, but having washed the floor, you wouldn't necessarily (although you might) go back to check you really had washed it. Not sure I'm explaining very clearly. Anyway if you think it might be and its bothering you, get it checked, otherwise tell your friends you'll live the way you want to live in your house and they can live the way they want in theirs!

Bun

I do that to, and sometimes have to come back up the road to check it:o
I have days where I"m a bit germ phobic, and will always peg out washing if DH does it as it isn't 'right'. And having my son definitely made me paranoid about hand germs for a while, so I can see how that would work.
Some good advice from Mandles. Would maybe talking about it to children make it less likely to be carried on?

Bun

And cant' abide dirty toilets -if I have someone in I am cleaning it all the time (workmen like me!) and I have been known to clean relatives loos....:rolleyes:

Mandles

I dont know really. I think it's what kids see. I saw my mother very ocd about animals and germs and us as kids getting germs . I have now got very similar but with more things than she ever had. I now see my daughter copying the same behaviour as me (not my son, he is totally gross and doesnt care about germs). I've told them to say ,"mum you are being ocd" when i am and they do and i try not to do what i am being odd about . I think in the tv program about it said that it can be heredditory(?!) but i think its what your kids see and learn. Mine is not bad though really. It has calmed as my kids have got older.
I bet you kick public toilet doors open too(i do and open the doors with my coat sleeve).

floyd

I have a problem with order, everything must be at exact right angles with labels facing the same way and organised in exact height order but I think that may be learned behavious as my Mum and sister both do the same. My true OCD is focused on switches, for example, I have to check each cooker knob 4 times (even if I haven't used it) before I leave the house. I can't just look at them to check, I actually have to touch each one in order right to left to believe they are off. Same with all appliances. If I don't do this and leave the house I have to go back and do the whole sequence again.
Some people do have a strong desire to do certain things but not to the extent where they feel phsically and mentally ill when they don't do it, this is sometimes misinterpreted as OCD.