Contamination, a fear of things that might be dirty or a having a compulsion to clean (you may hear this called "obsessive cleanliness disorder"). Mental contamination involves feeling like you've been treated like dirt. Symmetry and ordering, the need to have things lined up in a certain way.
Cleaning and washing: Excessive handwashing or personal grooming routines (e.g., showering) or cleaning objects, such as doorknobs and countertops, to get rid of germs. Checking: Repeatedly checking doors, windows, or appliances to ensure they are locked or turned off.
OCD is a brain disorder that can cause repeated washing, compulsive cleaning, obsessions about harming others, anxiety, and depression. Take a self-test for OCD, find a treatment program, and get online help for OCD.
fastidious - very concerned about matters of cleanliness (Oxford Dictionaries Online)is a particular sense strongly associated with that way of referring to "fussiness". Clean freak someone who has to constantly clean; someone who obsessively cleans. Neatnik (n) A stickler for neatness or cleanliness.
One of the things that has been found in the research is that having a sense of control can help people to deal with stress. Cleaning might make you feel better because it gives you the feeling that you are doing something that needs to be done. And you are in control because you chose to do the activity.
OCD Types and Symptoms
Contamination, a fear of things that might be dirty or a having a compulsion to clean (you may hear this called "obsessive cleanliness disorder"). Mental contamination involves feeling like you've been treated like dirt. Symmetry and ordering, the need to have things lined up in a certain way.
It's important to consider the key difference between being unusually clean and having OCD: whether it negatively impacts your life. As with all mental health disorders, one of the criteria for an OCD diagnosis is that it must cause turmoil for the person.
Cleaning is considered to be a form of stress relief, among other activities such as mindfulness and exercise practices. Research has demonstrated that cleaning can yield several positive effects on mental health.
Symptoms fluctuate in severity from time to time, and this fluctuation may be related to the occurrence of stressful events. Because symptoms usually worsen with age, people may have difficulty remembering when OCD began, but can sometimes recall when they first noticed that the symptoms were disrupting their lives.
We don't know for sure what causes OCD, but your family history, psychology, environment, and the way your body works could all play a role. Personality traits like perfectionism may put a person at risk of developing OCD. Stressful life events and psychological trauma may also play a role.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common anxiety disorder. It causes unreasonable thoughts, fears, or worries. A person with OCD tries to manage these thoughts through rituals. Frequent disturbing thoughts or images are called obsessions.
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is a mental health condition that causes an extensive preoccupation with perfectionism, organization and control. These behaviors and thought patterns interfere with completing tasks and maintaining relationships.
He concluded that in times of high stress and anxiety, people default to repetitive behaviors (such as cleaning) because it gives them a sense of control during a chaotic period.
If you are experiencing lots of stress from something in your life (work, school, family, etc) you can feel urges to clean. These urges stem from not being able to relieve the stress but needing to do something to feel better. Having a clean space helps promote mental health and wellbeing.
People struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are often misdiagnosed as having other psychological conditions. One of the most common misdiagnoses for this population is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This diagnostic problem arises for two reasons.
The OCD cycle consists of 4 basic parts: obsessions, anxiety, compulsions, and temporary relief. It's considered a “vicious” cycle because once you get pulled into it, it gains momentum and strength, making it even more difficult for you to get out.
Obsessive symptoms include excessive fears and doubt and taboo thoughts. Compulsive symptoms include repeated checking or counting or needing to do things in a certain order or a certain number of times.
Beyond temporary lethargy or a bad day, consistently not wanting to take a shower can be a symptom of depression, fibromyalgia, or a phobia; whilst physical pain can also be a reason – in which case, the best course of action is to see your doctor for the best guidance.
But research shows disorganisation and clutter have a cumulative effect on our brains. Our brains like order, and constant visual reminders of disorganisation drain our cognitive resources, reducing our ability to focus. The visual distraction of clutter increases cognitive overload and can reduce our working memory.
However, indifference to hygiene tasks, including showering, brushing teeth, doing laundry or brushing hair, is a common symptom of mental health conditions (particularly depression).