OCD of cleanliness: extreme fear of mental contamination

 

Individuals put extreme efforts to maintain mental health to live decent lives and chase their dreams. In drastically changing natural landscapes and technical innovation, humans are assaulted with a range of mental syndromes that derail their living. One of the disrupting mental ailments is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder of cleanliness, abbreviated as OCD. Individuals undergo with this disorder are extremely conscious about cleanliness at personal level as well in surroundings.  

Cleanliness is considered to be a good habit and maintaining hygiene protects us from several infections and diseases. If people are involved in cleanliness and keep their environment clean, it is not a mental ailment, instead it is a nice way of living and curbing pollution up to some extent. Cleanliness turns into mental disorder when individuals cannot stay in a messy surrounding and try to clean everything until they are satisfied. Such behavior spoils the relationships and disrupts the routine functions.

Individuals gripped in OCD cleaning always consider that surroundings should be clean and if they observe dirt anywhere, they start cleaning until it is clean to their satisfaction. Besides the dusty environment, they are also obsessive about mental pollution. They avoid objects or shaking hands with the fear of contamination. Suppose, OCD patients dine out with colleagues or friends, they bother if hands are not cleaned or any food particle seen on the other people’s face.

OCD cleaning has considerable impact on the daily life of people. Such individuals have difficulty in maintaining healthy relationships with social members or peer groups. Excessive cleanliness habits without any reason also interferes in school, workplace. People with OCD cleanliness may suffer from monetary stress and they cannot concentrate to enjoy their life. This ailment also increases fear and anxiety of getting infection from dirty places or people who do not wear masks or gloves. In the worst form, OCD cleanliness results in social isolation and agoraphobia. Though such people are not liked by society but this ailment can be narrowed with proper cognitive behavioral therapy and good support of surrounding people, and patients can recover and live a quality of life.

Summing up:

OCD cleaning is a mental thought that can have a troublesome impact on an individual's life. Patients with OCD cleanliness have an ardent desire or habit to maintain excessive hygiene for themselves or the environment. With this strong vigor, they lose relationships and find it difficult to manage themselves in the workplace or other social settings. Therapeutic intervention and supportive behavior can eradicate these obsessions. 

Important note: Above article is created on the basis of environmental inputs. Topic elaboration and ideas are expressions of the writer. Any resemblance is just a coincidence. Writer is not responsible for any disagreement.