[HolisticGal]

I feel like my OCD motivates me to clean and be clean. My therapist doesn't think my complex rituals in order to avoid germs is healthy - but my biology professor did think it's healthy! Most of my behaviors started after taking microbiology, virology, parasitology classes and working in labs, learning proper handling techniques.

I'm thinking that my therapist just doesn't get the importance of these rituals as she's only trained in psychology. She's working with me on exposure therapy but I don't want to be exposed and honestly don't think I want to learn bad habits that she's trying to tell me I need to learn!

Example: to get a glass of water
I pick up the cup from the end so I won't touch the lip area and usually from the back row of cups so it has a lower likely hood of being touched by others. Then I turn the knob to the left, away from the cup so that in case there is invisible debris on the top, it won't fall into the cup as I pour the water.

The therapist says this is all too exhausting to think about while getting a glass of water but I feel it's natural now. I don't "think" about it the way she thinks I think about it.

[kaliope]

well I think you are talking abut the difference between ocd and ocpd. ocd people feel the rituals interfere with their lives and hinder them where ocpd people find them beneficial. wiki it.

[HolisticGal]

I never knew of this distinction! I will bring this up with my therapist. Thanks!

[Utterly]

There can be 'minor upsides' to actual OCD. Usually, some part of the OCD is a rational concern... if the perception was true;

Cleaning can be a good thing. The table might be dirty, at some point. HOWEVER, spending 8 hours cleaning something you can't actually see (germs) is obsessive. Its the problem with perception (that you doubt your ability to correctly perceive,) and the associated interruption of life in the compulsions.

Kaliope is correct. If it everything "feels right," and you have no negative feelings about cleaning again, it has more to do with personality, so POCD. Bear in mind that OCD and OCPD are often comorbid- so you can and often do have both, if you have one.

[Tommo]

Yeah...I carry a 4/4 cadence in my head most of the time. I'm a musician...and maybe my whole metabolism has adapted...I don't know, for sure.

[HolisticGal]

I rather enjoy cleaning but would never spend 8 hours on just one object (i.e. the table)...unless it was an antique and I was getting ready to sell it! And to hide the cats' scratch marks.

I feel physically better as well when the house is clean. In fact, if you have allergies , your Allergist will send you home with a book to turn you into a an OCD or OCPD person!!

[UnderRugSwept]

There is a huge difference between OCD and OCPD...and it's not true that most people who have one have the other.

Please see the below link from the International OCD Foundation:

http://iocdf.org/wp-content/uploads/...Fact-Sheet.pdf

[Turtlesoup]

I can see some positives in my OCD I guess-since a lot of mine is related to numbers & letters I have always been excellent at math & spelling & people think its cool when I can pronounce names & words backwards I'm really good at organizing things like by size, patterns & colors. However since i'm forever reorganizing stuff I'm usually the only one who knows where things are.

[HolisticGal]

That's adorable Turtlesoup! I wish I could pronounce words backwards. Oh and yeah, I do feel like I have an edge in the math and spelling department too. I mean, if I could synthesize a pill for OCDP, I would! It's a great motivator. I can see it's benefits in certain situations.

[gubernova]

No, being aware of intrusive thoughts 24/7 makes it hard for me to keep on going.

[chasms]

my ocd makes it hard because for me, doing things in General is...hard. I have a lack of motivation that makes simple tasks monumental. this makes my compulsions difficult to manage but they are definitely necessary for me to live comfortably. mine has to do with contamination on my bed and pajamas and I have a ritual but it takes a lot out of me, I still do it tough because if I don't I'll be in extreme distress. I'm kind of on a middle ground between seeing it as good and seeing it as bad.

[Nicholas Ray]

Hi everyone I'm very new here.

I used to think that my OCD was benificial, since my house was always clean & tidy, thus making me very proud of my surroundings, hence making me feel good about myself.
But I have now realized that these rituals are like a snake devouring its own tail...the bath will never be shiny enough, the beds will always need remaking, the garden will always need more weeding and I will never be good enough.
There was a time when I held down a full time job, and yet the house was always clean and tidy...now there isnt enough hours in the day to do all the chores I see that need doing. Where did I go?

I truly believe that my need to control and manipulate my surroundings is a direct result of my PTSD and anxiety. I would like to be alive in the real world again.