Obsessed With Cleaning: Does He Have OCD?

Q.

My husband has been obsessed with ironing for the last 6 months and even if I have cleaned the house from top to bottom he will clean it again. He even comes home in his lunch break to wash and iron - is this OCD or am I going mad? Help!

A.

Feeling the need to clean on a very frequent basis is one of the most common signs of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Obsessive cleaning is one example of the type of activities and “rituals” that OCD sufferers need to perform regularly to relieve anxiety. This OCD symptom is usually borne out of a fear of contamination. As the OCD sufferer is so keen to avoid the possibility of coming into contact with dirt or germs, he or she will go to great lengths to keep things clean and tidy – even if this takes up a good deal of their time. As well as cleaning objects and surfaces on a frequent basis, obsessive cleanliness can also take the form of repeatedly washing hands and clothes to avoid dirt and germs settling on them.

Living With An OCD Sufferer

This type of behaviour can be difficult to cope with, especially the person in question has not previously displayed OCD symptoms. Anxiety rituals such as frequent and obsessive cleaning can have a big impact on the rest of the household. In this situation, it can become irritating or even insulting if the OCD sufferer repeatedly feels the need to clean or re-clean after you have already done so and this can create tension.

If this becomes the case, try not to let your frustrations show too much as this can result in more anxiety for an OCD sufferer. This can in turn contribute to a vicious circle in which the increased anxiety makes him or her feel even more of a need to perform their OCD rituals.

Treatment

If you are confident that your husband's obsessive cleaning is a sign of OCD, and that it is a big enough issue to warrant treatment, there are several options available. This can include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which aims to change the thought patterns of OCD sufferers to break the anxiety that is triggered by the unsuccessful performance of a ritual. This is more effective than taking OCD medication as it is a way to break the cycle, rather than simply helping to deal with the anxiety.