thinkin always bad and ocd "alway have 2 clean"

[amanda9322]

I always think the worse I think about everythin over n over again and wat if this wat if that I hate it .

Even though I have a light case of ocd its stratin to affect me n my husband . Everythin always has 2 be clean or I start havein a melt down I get up set wen things look dirty and its starting to b more then just a mild case wat should I do

[Smoky Jo]

Hello         

I am similar to you, everything has to be clean and everything has a place.
I have ancient artifacts, fossils and antiques, my home looks more like a museum
than a home. Everything is perfectly centered, spaced etc etc. I have had
people come over and ask if anyone lives here. If someone picks something up
to look at it, when they put it back, I have to make sure it is aligned or centered
perfectly. I actually use a ruler sometimes to space things. That's the way I want it,
that's the way it is going to be and there is no exceptions. In my case; I did away
with the  "what ifs".  It's my life and I'll live it my way.
On second thoughts, maybe I am a little more severe than you. I don't believe I
am much help to you, because I believe the same.....keep it clean.

[amanda9322]

Yea we r kinda the same the only thing is I have 2kids so they always get it dirty n I'm right behind them cleanin up and if I have 2 do somethin but a place in the house is dirty I have 2 stop watever imm doing 2 clean that first

[Smoky Jo]

I do the same thing, I just like things clean and I really don't
see anything wrong with that. I have been told I have OCD,
but I really don't care. I could see if there would be a problem
if I went into someone else's home and started commenting
on things out of place, etc etc...but i don't. It's your home,
do as you please......

[amanda9322]

I do c ur point n its ture its my. House n I like it to b clean all the time but I guess it is a peoblem wen it starts afecting me and my husband so that's y I wanna claim doen I get to mad wen we dirtys things

[Grandma]

I have to disagree with Smoky Jo.  "It's your home, do as you please..." kind of misses the point.

What Amanda is doing ISN'T pleasing to her - it is causing her increasing emotional pain.  A basic question asked to determine if behavior should be changed is whether it is causing significant distress in one's life.  If Amanda's compulsive cleaning is causing problems in areas of her life such as family relations, eating, sleeping, enjoying previously pleasurable activities, etc., then it is a problem needs to be addressed.  If Smoky Jo's cleaning and measuring does not cause problems in her life, it is not a problem that needs to be addressed.

More simply put - if something hurts, fix it; if it doesn't, leave it alone.

[amanda9322]

Yes grandma u hit the spot before me cleanin was not. A big deal but over the past year I seen it go for a down fall I have to have to have clean if its. Not clean I will not focus on nothin besides wat needs tob clean if somethin looks 2 dirty I get reallt up set and have to have to clean it its like even wen nothin is dirty I have to clean no mater wat cuz I my mind nothin could never b clean enough