It’s perfectly normal to enjoy being in a clean and tidy environment; it can help us to feel calm, relaxed and in control of our lives. It’s also better for our physical health, reducing the risk of infections and respiratory problems. However, sometimes people who are very neat and orderly are sometimes labelled ‘OCD’ (obsessive compulsive disorder).
Even when OCD is used as an affectionate description of a friend or family member who has need for order and enjoys cleaning, it can have the effect of perpetuating misunderstandings about the condition. It may also trivialise the suffering and daily struggles of people who genuinely have this complex mental health disorder.
Here’s a look at what OCD is, and why it’s more than having a preference for cleanliness and attention to detail. Severe OCD may require professional treatment or therapy, which we can help with at our Manchester therapy centre.
Understanding OCD
OCD is a mental health disorder characterised by obsessive unwanted thoughts or urges that are intrusive and cannot be controlled. This can result in compulsive behaviours, such as repetitive washing, cleaning, the need to arrange things in a certain order, or an irresistible need to double check things.
The person is usually aware that their compulsions are excessive and often unnecessary, but they find it impossible to break out of the cycle of obsessive thoughts and behaviours.
OCD can be a debilitating condition that interferes with the person’s daily life, and may even prevent them from having a social or professional life. It can also lead to other mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Can an untidy person have OCD?
The short answer is yes, they can. The popular stereotype of OCD is a person who is excessively neat and clean, and this can certainly be the case if their compulsions tend that way. However, this is not always how the condition manifests. In fact, it can be the opposite: some people engage in hoarding, which leads to an extremely cluttered environment.
It’s important to be aware of this distinction, because someone who does not fit in with the expected patterns of behaviour may find it more difficult to get a diagnosis and access the help that they need.
Other people with OCD may need to perform certain rituals that aren’t related to cleaning or tidying, such as double checking all the light switches and door and window locks before they leave the house.
The condition may also manifest itself through intrusive thoughts about taboo subjects, or an irrational fear that failure to behave in a certain way will have disastrous consequences.
How is OCD treated?
OCD can be treated through therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which helps to break unhelpful thought cycles; or through meditation and relaxation techniques. Some people may also require medication such as SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) to help them manage their symptoms.