To not wish to be called OCD?

[BlueButTrue]

Every day I:

Clean my floors with floor wipes (twice a day, more if I see any mark etc).

Wash up as I go.

Make my beds first thing

Hoover all rooms (about 3/4 times a day)

Wash on, put a wash away

Clean kitchen surfaces (3/4 times, more if I'm using kitchen more).

Clean cupboard doors/draws

Hoover sofa

Hoover living room rug (twice)

Wipe down living room surfaces (3/4 times)

Clean toilet (3/4 times a day, sometimes more)

Clean bathroom (about twice a day top to bottom, and little wipe downs etc whenever else).

Empty bin

Wipe down bedroom furniture/dust surfaces

Every other day I:

Steam clean bathroom and kitchen. Sometimes this is every day too.

Hoover behind sofas (will do this each day if any actual messes are created).

Twice a week:

Clean out fridge

Clean inside cupboards

My Nan is apparently "worried" at the extent I'm cleaning, but I think it's healthy and normal. It keeps me calm and makes me happy. I don't believe it's extensive. "Cleaning isn't good for the soul" says DNan.

MIL has hinted I should be checked for OCD.

Personally, I find this quite offensive. OCD is a serious health issue and not one to joke about.

AIBU to clean the way I do and think it's healthy? AIBU to think it's offensive to others who really do suffer that it isn't acceptable to go around, throwing the term 'OCD' about?

I have OCD. But it is almost impossible to recognise it from the inside- I was deeply ashamed of my compulsions, while feeling that my fears were totally real and these things had to be done. I think it's wise to be open to someone saying that spending hours cleaning every day could mean you have an anxiety disorder, and to consider that seriously.

gilead that sounds awful - I hope he gets the help he needs :(

At my worst, I estimate I was having distressing intrusive thoughts up to a thousand times a day. It was debilitating - I really can’t stress enough that real OCD (and mine is more the O type) is a life wrecking, debilitating disorder. It’s not vaguely comparable to the stuff I see on Facebook from people who are just pedantic about stuff. I was visually hallucinating my intrusive thoughts by the time I was treated.

Op I think you said you’re expecting soon? That’s when mine started in earnest so please please just have a chat NOW with your DH. Set a baseline, if you will. Think about how your love of cleaning could possibly progress - what stage would worry you? What actions would you like him to watch for? Agree that with him. Possibly have a look at exploring some coping techniques?

I agree with gandalf that ocd is likely a spectrum disorder. People can have traits, hints and then progress to being very ill very fast. Mine was triggered by the birth of my son and a traumatic pregnancy. I look back now and I realise just how ill I was.

Just take care of yourself OP - you may have a slight tendency towards OCD like behaviour and sleep deprivation and the hormonal fuckery of birth can do some odd things to you.

It's not normal to spend 14 hours a week cleaning your house.

It might be the cleanest house in the world, but would you honestly want that to be your legacy?

Anatidae mine is more the pure O kind too. I think everyone is nissing the point. We dont know the op. She states people close to her in real life, grandnother and husband dont think her behaviour is normal and they know how she is. Its hard for internet randoms to know anything based on what the op says, but i wouldnt take it too lightly when her RL family have expressed concern. I was diagnosed as a young child so i wouldnt know my behaviour was abnormal. I assume its the same in adults that they dont recognise their own behaviour is off.

I don't think 'everyone' is missing the point at all. In fact coming onto this thread I saw people immediately observing that there might be an underlying anxiety problem. Nor have I seen it taken lightly.

"What if you're unable to complete your routine? Do you feel upset or anxious?".

I mean, this is a direct quote from page one. Word for word, it is a question that was actually asked of me by a psychologist. When I was treated for OCD.

Only read to pg 5 as have children hanging off me selfishly demanding my attention. So what if other people find cleaning boring, the op has stated she enjoys it. OP I also cleaning frequently, including using the cordless Dyson 2-3+ times a day, wiping kitchen and bathroom after every use etc. It doesn't interfere with my life. I love a sparkling clean home and it takes 30mins- hour max spread throughout the day. I can assure you my children are well cared for, my job doesn't suffer etc.

Suggesting the OP is basically neglecting her baby, having a life of drudgery and diagnosing a serious mental health condition is ridiculous.

Oh good! I see cleaning tips hurray

Direct quote from OCD Action charity -

^^People with OCD experience intensely negative, repetitive and intrusive thoughts, combined with a chronic feeling of doubt or danger (obsessions). In order to quell the thought or quieten the anxiety, they will often repeat an action, again and again (compulsions).

The reason why the OP's family is asking if she has OCD is probably because society has become used to using it in a throw away manner along the lines of "I have to have my sock drawer perfect - I'm so OCD" - usually followed by a self congratulatory laugh at how humorous they are.

If what you are doing causes you to be anxious then definitely seek help but don't confuse a slightly over the top habit/hobby/interest with what is a severe mental health problem.

By the way, for anybody struggling, the book Brain Lock is fantastic and got me through many a dark spell.

paperandpaint thats actually a good point i didnt even consider they might have just taken in the popular ocd myth and applied it to op. Thanks i will look out for that book.

But someone with a compulsion to clean won't find cleaning makes them anxious. cleaning makes them feel calm. NOT cleaning would cause anxiety.

Someone with ocd would be anxious whilst cleaning or at least very shortly after worrying they had done enough, its an anxiety disorder not an I enjoy cleaning disorder. I'm sure GPs have enough to do without seeing people as they spend time cleaning and enjoy it.

But the point of OCD is that the anxiety is ever present and real calmness is rarely achieved.

You are cleaning to quell the anxiety of germs or contamination or the feeling of not being good enough. The anxiety just comes back because you are always obsessing over intrusive thoughts and ruminating constantly.

It's a bit like tumbleweed in a Western - it just keeps gathering speed until you do the action or ritual. There is momentary calm but often for literally minutes before it starts up again.

Lily- I have OCD. That doesn't mean I understand every experience of OCD but I do know how compulsions feel. The point is that they are soothing to the anxiety. I actually have cleaned compulsively, to the extent of rubbing multi-surface cleaner into my hands. Doing that made me feel 'calm', and I had to do that in order to feel calm. Because I have OCD. I am not saying OP does, but cleaning in order to feel calm? Yeah, that definitely rings a bell.

Just to clarify, I don't clean on top of sparkling clean...

Yes it may not need doing again but I like it to sparkle etc etc, so this does annoy me.

I completely had this sparkling only 3 hours ago and this is what I come back to no idea why! No extractor or anything of the sort in the bathroom. I can't find the source. I don't have dust in here and I'm always bloody hoovering etc etc.

And again, I don't feel any anxiety before/after cleaning.

OCD is really crippling and I don't have any negative thoughts/anxious or paranoid thoughts.

I will be happy as Larry, and still feel like a good clean.

To be honest, if I felt particularly down or circumstances made me understandably anxious (for example, waiting to hear about a diagnosis for if I have or haven't got kidney disease etc etc etc), I would NOT be cleaning or doing what I love. I'd be very upset in bed with hot teas and Mumsnet.

I really do just love cleaning.

And I still believe the only reason some posters think I may have OCD is because I do a lot of cleaning and enjoy it.

Maddie exactly this. But those who aren't naturally taken to cleaning/struggle with time management will have you thinking otherwise

OP, making beds as soon as you get up is a filthy habit that prioritises tidiness over hygiene.
You should let your beds air so as to discourage the bacteria that thrive in the warm, moist environment you create between the sheets and on your pillows by lying there for hours on end.
Apart from that, I wish I was a bit more like you.

By making the beds I mean airing them out, as in pulling the covers down, fluffing the pillows etc etc.

I usually put them back to their original 'look' around lunchtime but not always. Depends

No need to make digs about time management, I'm glad you're happy with your regime. I'd sooner be wrong than just assume someone else is fine, when they might actually be at the beginning of something that ruined my life for years.

Blue, I can't even see anything. If it were me, even if it did get dirtied up again, I'd leave it because I've already done it. Yes, it would be nice if it stayed sparkling but I don't know if I could be faffed to do it again.

I would just say that something your in laws has said has struck a nerve somewhere. Or you’d have not given it a second thought.

None of us can diagnose or clear you - maybe have a quick look of those scales I mentioned earlier? If you’re ticking any boxes then maybe think about seeing someone?

The plug hole is just dust - unless you live in a clean sterile room (the kind they make the Hubble telescope mirrors in) then there’s dust, regardless of how often you hoover :)

Op what was your main source of pleasure/joy before 18 months ago? What did you used to do to make yourself feel good?

I'm not a professional but I wouldn't label you with ocd based on this. It looks like a lot of cleaning, more than i do and i do also like things looking nice a clean, but your description and attitude to it sounds quite normal.
I'm also picturing your house and it must be amazing. Wish i knew you I would enjoy a good chat about cleaning methods etc. What are your top products that you use?

Op , do you recommend floor wipes over a micro fibre mop?

Thank you, Anatidae.

Paper, I've ordered the book in paperback, should be here soon. Thank you.