Do you like to spend hours cleaning the house, feel awkward when things are slightly tilted, or even get angry when someone doesn't return things to their original position? This could be a symptom of OCD.
It's good to like tidiness and cleanliness. However, be careful if this habit is carried out excessively, for example soaping the dishes must be 3 times, ensuring all objects must face forward, or stacks of magazines must be arranged according to size and their position must be symmetrical.
Habits like this can be a symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). Despite having similar characteristics, these two conditions have fundamental differences.
Cleaning the House Too Often and Possible OCD or OCPD
Lovers of tidiness and cleanliness like to clean the house because they feel happy when the house looks neat and clean. However, if the urge to clean the house arises because a person feels he will be seriously ill or hurt if his house is dirty, this could be a symptom of OCD.
Obsessive-ccompulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder that makes a person have uncontrollable thoughts or behaviors (obsessions) to do something repeatedly (compulsively). These actions can even interfere with daily activities and social interactions of sufferers.
In addition, a strong urge to keep the house clean and tidy, and even angry or grumpy when the condition of the house is not what he wants, can also be caused by the nature of perfectionism, namely the desire to do everything perfectly. now, this could signal obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD).
Generally, people with OCPD do not feel there is anything wrong with themselves or their habits, and often feel proud. This is different from OCD, because the habit of cleaning the house is done under the pressure of fear and anxiety. People with OCD generally feel frustrated and depressed because they are unable to control the urge to do something repeatedly or excessively.
Both OCD and OCPD require treatment from a psychiatrist or psychologist if the condition has made the sufferer experience disturbances in daily activities or problems in relationships with other people.
Treatment is with psychotherapy, relaxation therapy, and taking medication from a psychiatrist if necessary.
Always Clean House and Possible Germ Phobia (Mysophobia)
In addition to OCD or OCPD, the habit of cleaning the house excessively can also be a symptom of germ phobia (mysophobia).
The most common symptom of germ phobia is frequent hand washing or cleaning the house. These symptoms are indeed similar to the symptoms of OCD. In fact, many people with OCD have a phobia of germs.
The thing that distinguishes these two conditions is the reason behind it. People with germs phobia clean the house to get rid of germs, while people with OCD clean the house to relieve their anxiety or fear.
How Often Does Your House Need To Be Cleaned?
Cleaning the house should be done regularly so that the house is free from dust and dirt that carry germs that cause disease. Apart from being clean and tidy, the characteristics of a healthy home are having good air circulation and sanitation and being exposed to direct sunlight.
So that your home is always free of disease-causing germs, here are some tips for cleaning every room in the house that you can do:
Kitchen
To keep food and drinks cooked at home clean and healthy, you need to regularly clean the kitchen at least once a week. When cleaning the kitchen, you can take the following steps:
- Clean kitchen countertops and floors regularly, at least once a day, using clean water and antibacterial floor cleaner.
- Use a different cutting board when cutting vegetables and raw fish or meat.
- Immediately wash cooking utensils and cutlery after use.
- Squeeze the dish cleaning sponge after each use, then place it in a dry place.
- Clean the shelves and walls in the refrigerator at least once every 3 months with baking soda and clean water.
Bed
Change and wash bed linen, blankets, and bed cover about once a week and use hot water to kill the mites. In addition, use a vacuum cleaner (vacuum cleaner) to clean the mattress regularly.
Bathroom
In addition to the kitchen, the bathroom is a place that has a high risk of becoming a breeding ground for germs. Therefore, clean the walls and floor of the bathroom with a disinfectant once a day, and do not leave used tissues or dirty clothes in the bathroom.
Sitting room
In this area, germs and bacteria also tend to spread easily. You can prevent this by taking the following steps:
- Clean carpets and mats once a week.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to clean the sofa down to the corners once a month.
- Clean the doorknob with an antibacterial cleaner every few days.
Cleaning the house must be done regularly so that you and your family members at home are not exposed to certain diseases, such as infections or allergies, especially if there are babies or small children in the house.
However, if you feel the urge to keep your house clean and tidy is too extreme, making other people or yourself uncomfortable, you should consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
