Dealing with Compulsive House Cleaning
Though cleanliness is a next to godliness, there’s a limit to how many times you should clean your house. If it has become a ritual and an addiction, then one should look at this compulsion carefully and address the underlying problem.
When house cleaning becomes an addictive behavior
The behavior is easy to notice: repetitive sweeping, dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning around the house. And it’s not just about being a perfectionist; one can notice that cleaning is done even when the house is spic and span. It will seem irrational for it really is. This ritualistic cleaning is a symptom of an obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD. People with OCD are usually filled with anxiety and are bombarded with fears and concerns, thus the repetitive actions, such as house cleaning, to make them feel better.
Effects of compulsive house cleaning on the family
Aside from the inconvenience and added costs that repetitive house cleaning might bring to your family, it can also spread the feeling of anxiety to family members. One can get a feeling that something is “not right” with a family member with compulsive cleaning tendencies. It can certainly disrupt the normal flow of daily family life.
Dealing with addiction to compulsive house cleaning
One should bring the person to a professional to get diagnosed if he or she really has OCD. If the person has OCD, treatment is very much possible. Through cognitive-behavioral therapy, most patients can recover through therapy sessions and programs, and medication.
Understanding the causes behind the behavior
As the cause of OCD is having fears and anxieties, one way you could help a friend or family member with OCD is to allay their concerns. One should be affirmative always about their concerns, and assure that everything will be alright. Once a person with OCD gets some confidence, the person would then start to refrain from performing the rituals as there is no longer any need for them.
Though one may think that repeated house cleaning is just peevish, one should also be aware that it might be a symptom of a mental disorder. As such, one should consult a medical professional to get the proper diagnosis and treatment. And if it is OCD, one should always keep a positive attitude to assure a friend or family member with OCD that everything will be fine. That, with therapy and medication, will make dealing with compulsive house cleaning certainly manageable.
Photo Credit : Menage a Moi
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