Mania for cleanliness and order - how and how to treat it. Manic desire for cleanliness is a sign of neurosis or psychosis

Do you already clean your house several times a day? Do people around you tell you about this or are you lucky enough to notice it yourself? Do you wash your hands after almost “everything” and very thoroughly, although there is no visible degree of contamination? Do you have a sudden desire to clean things up outside your home? Unfortunately, there is no need to talk about simple love for cleanliness here.

What does “purity neurosis” mean?

Purity neurosis is a fairly recent definition for the average person, and what’s more, it’s not particularly clear and difficult to diagnose. The general basis of neurosis is the intractability of some conflict situation or feeling, with incorrect attempts to resolve them.

Psychologists believe that the theoretical limit of the transition of the desire to restore order into a neurosis of cleanliness is determined by the infliction of concern by this behavior on oneself and the people around. Cleaning is not for the sake of cleaning, washing your hands not for the sake of cleansing them - this does not bring pleasure, like ordinary cleaning. That is, a person, in fact, does not have an objective reason to restore this order, the opportunity to receive everyday “benefit” from the result, because everything was clean before, and does not realize this fact in time.

Another “painful” manifestation can be considered cleaning at an inconvenient time with very careful efforts and fanatical emotions (for example, starting to wash a new object 3 minutes before guests arrive). An unreasonably long duration of cleaning without the ability to stop is also a syndrome of neurosis, an obsessive state.

Cleaning, hand washing and excessive bathing without pleasure, as a rule, speak of personal problems and an exaggerated desire to be perfect. Hand washing is sometimes given the meaning of the desire to erase traces of someone or some problematic relationship. People often experience prolonged bathing and hand-washing as a result of unresolved feelings about their partner’s betrayal.

Aggressive feelings that arise from the inability to express emotions about some problematic situation or the belief that there is no one to discuss them with also lead to this “exit” in emergency cleaning. Unexpressed aggression towards other people is also connected to all this.

The desire to “protect” yourself from “bad” thoughts often occurs when you begin such “cleaning”, “washing” everything around you and yourself.

A manifestation of such neurosis can also be a desire (or rather an action) at the moment of the conflict itself, a quarrel, to rearrange something or begin to remove some things (even blaming the other side of the conflict for the disorder). This kind of cleaning helps relieve the first wave of stress and demonstrates the desire to gain control over the situation. More often this manifestation is typical for women.

An overly vigilant attitude towards finding all objects “in their place”, an exaggerated desire to structure everything - is also a “bell” of neurosis. The house is sometimes called the “second body.” And the desire to put things in order in the house is a clear reflection of the desire to put your inner world in order. For such people, moving can be a real disaster with inevitable domestic chaos leading to increased internal chaos.

Men may also experience similar neuroses. Only its manifestation is somewhat different. For example, due to the inability to survive anger, humiliation (for example, due to a conflict at work due to the impossibility of holding a high position) at home, a husband may rudely and constantly demand unrealistic cleanliness and order from his wife.

In the neurosis of purity, problems of sexuality and manifestations of love can also manifest themselves. A person who is wounded and has experienced shame, his imperfection in this area, with his hyperpurity wants to earn the title of “best” and a declaration of love, at least through his master’s qualities.

People with a cleanliness neurosis tend to think about cleaning other than their home. Having visited owners who are less scrupulous in this regard, they begin to get wildly irritated because of the “dirty” house and the mess, unwashed windows or tiles. But in fact, the reason is that the thought arises “about the inconsistency of these people” with the standards of this person. If the owners are not bothered by this, then this is a neurotic problem, which results in serious discomfort. And if a person does not dare to say that this situation is unpleasant for him, then the next step will be very thorough hand washing and another “unplanned” cleaning of the house.

The manifestation of purity neurosis will be stronger, the stronger the person’s stress, the more acutely he experiences this conflict.

Those who are nearby also suffer in this situation in their own way. Not only can this behavior cause them anxiety, but they may also think that the person considers their presence unnecessary. After all, normal communication is impossible during constant cleaning.

Purity neurosis can only be a partial manifestation of mental “problems.” But this should not be confused with the usual maintenance of cleanliness, the desire to set one’s boundaries, to save one’s space by maintaining the place of one’s things.

Who is more susceptible to purity neurosis?

We found that purity neurosis can be characteristic of both women and men. Let us outline some more detailed signs that “attract” purity neurosis.

Psychologists identify personal characteristics that predispose to the appearance of this type of neurosis. Among them: low self-esteem, uncertainty, susceptibility to judgment (especially manifested as a way to relieve tension before the arrival of certain or large numbers of guests), the desire to be perfect and ideal, etc. All this may be connected to the presence of stereotypes created in childhood. And, of course, external stress will affect the manifestation of neurosis.

Some part of pedantic people can come against all this background into a state of neurosis of purity.

People with obsessive thoughts and a desire to repress them, who set strict limits for themselves and others are high on this list.

It is believed that those who are inclined to avid collecting fall into the same list.

Who is not at risk? Psychologists say that these are people who are able to play at life and perceive themselves and everyone around them with all their advantages and disadvantages.

Does cleaning solve problems?

Of course, frequent physical actions and their repeated repetition to some extent create a feeling of emotional relief, but for the psyche this is a somewhat unfavorable release of experiences. Motor activity can only slightly disrupt the painful series of emotional experiences and interrupt mental activity. But this also makes it impossible to see adequately what the reason for this “cleaning up” is. It is also, as it were, an independent decision without the participation of other parties to the conflict, the desire to master the conflict situation independently.

Cleaning becomes a kind of illusion of protecting oneself, but this is not a solution to the problem, but a reason to seek help (depending on the severity of the condition: either from loved ones or from a specialist).

But, unfortunately, cleaning does not have the ability to relieve stress. On the contrary, such behavior can lead to the habit of repeating all this during any subsequent stressful condition.

Only partial relief can be brought by this activity at first, but not for long. After all, the problem itself is not resolved.

Moreover, a perfectly tidy room can exacerbate a stressful state (for example, with the problem of loneliness, people feel it even more, seeing that there is no one to disturb the order). And then everything comes back with greater force.

If there are loved ones at home, then their praise for cleaning can be a reward if the person lacks their attention.

If this is a negative reaction or a rude remark about the frequency of cleaning, then this is unlikely to help the neurotic. It’s better to try to distract the person, walk somewhere with him, or do the cleaning together and very delicately ask if something is bothering him.

Of course, in the phrase “neurosis of purity” the main thing is not purity at all. This is a huge litmus test of the need to love yourself and the whole world around you as it is. Love makes it easier to look at any shortcomings and do “spring cleaning” in the soul.

From the psychotherapist's notes:

When Larisa sees dust on the window sills and debris on the floor, she experiences a feeling close to sexual arousal. She puts things in order with pleasure and, looking around the transformed room at the end of the work, feels almost ecstasy.

Problem: the husband complains about his wife’s coldness and lack of enthusiasm in bed. The children are tired of their mother’s constant comments about the need to wash their hands not only before, but also after, as well as while eating, and the obsessive aroma of household chemicals.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

It turns out that her parents taught her from childhood: sex is dirty! Everything related to gender, femininity, intimate organs, too. And now she constantly feels unclean. She washes her hands often, takes a shower, and does laundry all the time. But on the other hand, when she comes into contact with dirt while putting things in order, she seems to be introduced to sex! After all, it’s in her subconscious: sex is dirt, which means dirt is sex! The same attitude towards cleaning is found not only among people with incorrect sex education, but also among women who have been sexually assaulted, as well as those who consider their intimate partner unpleasant. The same mechanism works: intimacy is associated with something disgusting.

By the way, in the most extreme cases, a woman can become completely unkempt in terms of personal hygiene (they say, anyway, neither water nor soap will wash away the main dirt - the genitals), but she is fanatical about disinfecting her home.

Such neat people can be identified by their clothes: they are emphatically asexual. Looks like a monk's robe, a school uniform or a men's suit.

SOLUTION:

Do you recognize yourself? Understand that by creating sterile cleanliness, you undermine children’s immunity! An experiment was conducted: some newborn mice were placed in disinfected cages, and some were placed in cages where a little house dust was added daily. When, after some time, the pups were placed in conditions familiar to their parents, laboratory mice, the first pups began to get sick often and eventually died from various infections. And the second group felt great. Therefore, clean up only the dirt that your eyes see. There is also no need to fight the invisible (this is not only unnecessary, but also harmful).

And be sure to consult a psychotherapist about your attitude: sex is dirty! Also, try to arrange an act of love with your husband somewhere on the deserted bank of a river, lake or sea. Don't be afraid to get dirty! And try to get pleasure despite all parental taboos.

Where does the “mania for cleanliness” come from?

You've probably met people obsessed with a manic passion for order. If things are not in their places, there is a dirty dish in the sink, and there is a speck of dust or speck on the floor, they panic and immediately try to fix it... Is this good or bad? And why do they behave this way? I wonder what psychologists and various other specialists say on this topic?

Causes of the disorder

The development of the disease can be caused both by the characteristics of upbringing, and it can develop independently at a conscious age. The reasons are as follows:

Chronic stress. Often the urge to clean appears as a result of severe stress at work or in your personal life. It has been scientifically proven that physical labor helps to distract from anxious thoughts. If you notice that the desire to restore order appears every time after stressful situations, you should contact a specialist.
Diffidence. Cleaning your living space helps you feel like you are in control of your life. A manic desire to clean occurs when a person is unable to control the events happening around him. Order gives the illusion of control and significance.
Perfectionism is the name of a mental disorder in which achieving an ideal is the main goal of life. Perfectionists diligently put everything on the shelves, wash the floors with special care, and wipe off the dust. If someone ruins their efforts, they will definitely face a flurry of negative emotions and the aggression of a perfectionist.
The desire to be good. This reason comes from childhood: when our parents wanted to see us as the smartest, most talented child. This became the starting point for the development of the good child syndrome. With the syndrome, a person tries to do everything in the best possible way and receive a reward for it.

Cleanliness at the service of famous brands

The famous German company Henkel, founded in 1876, gave the world the first washing powder in factory packaging. Two years later, another product appeared - bleaching soda.

In the New World, the first manufacturer of washing powders was Procter & Gamble, which released Dreft in 1933. Specialized means for washing dishes, floors, and windows began to appear, and it turned out that cleaning was a real pleasure.

But residents of the USSR waited for domestically produced “News” only in 1953 and actively continued to use washboards.

You may be interested in: A crystal is a solid body that has an atomic or molecular structure

Meanwhile, washing machines were rapidly improving in the USA and Europe. Surprisingly, the first automatic assistant was released back in 1949!

Our prototype "Eureka" appeared only in the 70s. It was replaced by the famous “Vyatka-automatic” - the brainchild of the company, located in Kirov. Since 2005, the company has belonged to the Italian brand Candy.

Today, manufacturers of cleaning, detergent and hygiene products are not in danger of being left without work, because their products will always be the most in demand after food products. And for whom is the concept of cleanliness not associated with washing, cleaning and bathing procedures?

Symptomatic picture

To proceed to direct treatment, you need to make sure there is a problem. The disease manifests itself in the following:

it seems to the person that the room around him is dirty and requires urgent cleaning;
thoughts are concentrated only on putting things in order;
people susceptible to this disease experience the fear of contracting diseases through contact with dirty objects.

Such mania gradually develops into a fear of dirt, which is called ripophobia.

Communication with a ripophobe

Many families suffer because they do not know how to establish communication with the patient or how to convey their thoughts to him. Explain to the person that everyone has their own understanding of cleanliness and order. There is a concept of creative clutter - it is scientifically proven that a little chaos promotes mental clarity, an influx of inspiration and fresh ideas.

If you are forced to live with a repophobe in the same apartment, make a clear distinction between your things and his things.

Forbid him to clean up and throw away what does not belong to him. If conversations and persuasion do not help, it is worth taking the patient to see a specialist.

Possible dangers

It is generally accepted that cleanliness is the key to health. In pursuit of unsurpassed purity, the human immune system suffers. She suffers under the influence of disinfectants used during cleaning. The manic desire to get rid of harmful bacteria leads to the destruction of beneficial ones, which have a positive effect on the human body.

When the bacterial balance is disturbed, gastrointestinal disorders, acne on the skin, and hormonal imbalance are observed.

Young children are at greater risk. Being in sterile conditions, their body loses the ability to resist disease. The absence of viruses and bacteria is just as destructive for humans as their excess.

Perfect cleanliness is dangerous for the body

Obsessiveness. Their clinical manifestations

The most common symptom of obsessional neurosis is obsessions

- obsessive thoughts of a negative nature. The patient is aware of his condition and tries to cope with the disease, but it is impossible to do this on his own.

Compulsions may occur

, which may be hidden actions or thoughts.

With mild neurosis, outsiders may attribute the patient’s quirks to the person’s character traits; in severe conditions, this disorder means disability.

Mild neurosis is sometimes mistaken for personality traits

There are several paths of the disease:

Symptoms persist for several months or even years
With lulls and outbreaks provoked by stressful situations
Constant and steady progression of the disease

Correction

Mania for cleanliness and order is a purely psychological problem that requires treatment. Aromatherapy and working with a psychologist will help with this.

Psychological help

Since mania for cleanliness is formed under the influence of psychological factors, treatment must be appropriate. Seek help from a psychotherapist who will determine the exact cause of the problem and help you cope with it. There are several effective methods.

Cognitive behavioral therapy consists of correcting the patient’s consciousness. The goal of this therapy is to change your way of thinking, established habits, and lifestyle.
Hypnosis. The hypnosis technique is based on putting a person into a deep hypnotic sleep, during which therapeutic effects are carried out through suggestion.

Both methods have shown their effectiveness in practice and are popular in the treatment of such abnormalities.

Aromatherapy

Mania of order occurs as a result of emotional overstrain and excitement. To relax, you need to regularly carry out therapy with aromatic oils; to do this, you need to pour a couple of drops into a special candle, thanks to which the apartment will be filled with wonderful aromas. Aroma oils should contain:

Lavender. Helps normalize the functioning of the central nervous system, promotes healthy, complete sleep.
Orange. Clears the mind, improves mood, restores the body's strength.
Bergamot. Promotes the production of dopamine (the hormone of happiness), reduces symptoms of anxiety and nervous tension.
Mint. Stabilizes, restores psychological health, eliminates overexcitement and depression.
Marjoram. Normalizes sleep, relieves stress and anxiety.
Rose. Stabilizes hormonal levels, relaxes, relieves irritability and fatigue.

If you notice a manic desire to constantly clean the room, strive to ensure that the apartment is perfectly clean, try to let go of the situation, this will not lead to anything good. You need to be more relaxed about cleaning. This doesn't mean your home has to be dirty. It’s just that every action should be done in moderation.

Everyone strives to ensure that their home is always clean, every thing is in its place and the mess spoils the overall appearance. The mania for cleanliness and order is sometimes present in the jokes of loved ones, who like to make fun of someone who is haunted by an unwashed cup in the sink from time to time. Usually this disease manifests itself in adulthood and is nothing more than an obsessive condition called mysophobia.

Signs and symptoms of mysophobia

Sometimes a person feels discomfort because his things are out of place; slight disorder can cause him a slight shock. This makes his world unsafe and threatening to his peace of mind.

Sometimes he can cope with it on his own, the phobia will not take threatening forms. In this case, psychotherapeutic consultations and group trainings, which you can be enrolled in at any psychological center, are very helpful.

The mania for cleanliness and order is not always justified, sometimes it is simply a fear of an unfavorable assessment from society, a method to avoid the feeling of shame that the world around us is imperfect, things are not in their places, and the dishes have not yet been washed. There is nothing reprehensible in the feelings of such a person; the internal conflict between the concepts of one’s own sloppiness and the canons of cleanliness in society can gradually grow and take on more aggravated forms.

Is it a disease or will it go away on its own?

Mania for cleanliness, according to psychologists and scientists, is still a disease, although it does not threaten others. For anyone who is susceptible to this, there is nothing absurd about washing their hands more than a hundred times a day or taking off what they consider dirty clothes. Mysophobia in men is much less common than in women; such people are usually called pedants. Sometimes parents who notice such zeal in teenagers do not sound the alarm, but encourage it, rejoicing that a good helper has appeared in the house. This is not correct; the sooner therapy is started, the easier and more painless the treatment will be. Some patients admit that they have some deviations in this regard and agree to accept outside help. Those who categorically deny their illness respond much less well to therapy.

Mysophobia can be triggered by severe stress, positive or negative. The sooner you contact a qualified psychologist, the faster you will receive help and be completely cured.

From childhood, everyone is taught to have order and cleanliness. Cleanliness is a sign that a good housewife lives in the house. Ordinary house cleaning turns into a manic passion for sterility. Some wash their hands almost every 5 minutes with antibacterial soap and force others to adhere to the same hygiene rules.

Striving to be good

It is no coincidence that purification rituals
occupy such a large place in all world religions.
Adherence to religious and social norms, conscientiousness, and integrity are characteristic of clean people. “Neat people tend to see themselves as conscientious and responsible. They think before they act. This is how we envision ideal air traffic controllers,” explains University of Texas at Austin psychology professor Sam Gosling, author of the bestselling book The Curious Eye: What Your Stuff Tells You. However, his research found that, despite all their outward decency, neat people are no more empathetic or kind than those who scatter things.

Author of the book “A Perfect Mess” 3

David Friedman is convinced that by wanting to be correct and blocking all unwanted impulses with the same care with which they put things in order, neat people are driving themselves into a trap.

Firstly,

An environment that is too “ideal” leaves no room for creativity. “You've eliminated everything that's wrong—you're never late, you rarely spill or break anything, but you're also rarely lucky,” he writes. A cluttered table and an untidy kitchen are the trademarks of famous scientists and talented chefs. It is in chaos, in the fullness of their emotions, “bad” and “good”, that they are free to fully explore and create.

Secondly,

Pedants spend the same amount of time, if not more, maintaining order as “slobs” spend searching for keys and other necessary things. “I meet hundreds of people who tell me about their obsession with order. And they all admit that it makes them uncomfortable. Neat people simply cannot live any other way: they are prisoners of their habits,” he sums up.

1 M. Antony, R. Swinson, “When Perfect Isn't Good Enough: Strategies for Coping with Perfectionism” (New Harbinger Pubns Inc, 1998).

2 S. Gosling “Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You” (Profile Books, 2009).

3 D. Freedman, A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder: How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and On-the-Fly Planning to Make the World a Better Place (Back Bay Books, 2008).

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an uncontrollable process of constantly remembering traumatic past events, thoughts or actions. Characteristic for people who lack self-confidence. Changes that often occur that disrupt the patient’s usual activities are accompanied by painful experiences.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is typical for people who lack self-confidence

There are two types of obsessive-compulsive disorder:

Distracted obsession, which includes:

Obsessive counting
- a person counts everything he sees: steps, windows, buttons on the shirt of the person standing next to him. Various arithmetic operations with numbers can also be performed - addition, multiplication.
Obsessive thoughts
(neurotic obsessions) - manifest themselves as thoughts of a negative nature that offend the moral essence of a person, which cannot be gotten rid of. They cause a constant feeling of anxiety and can even develop into a phobia.
Intrusive memories
are events from the past of a negative nature that arise involuntarily in the form of vivid pictures.
Compulsions
are automatic, uncontrolled movements that occur involuntarily. The patient does not notice these actions, but is able to stop by force of will. However, as soon as he is distracted, they will resume.

Imaginative obsession, which includes emotional experiences such as anxiety, emotional stress, fear.

Features of the disorder

There must be a golden mean in everything. If a cult of cleanliness reigns in a family, then in the future a person raised in such conditions may face two problems related to hygiene.

Sloppiness. Having escaped from the place where there was perfect order, a person relaxes and stops looking after the house; there is no one else to force him to clean his home.

Excessive maintenance of cleanliness in the house. The desire to be clean should not go beyond the limits: if people spend all day cleaning, wiping off dust, putting things in their places, this can lead to paranoid deviations. The painful desire for cleanliness is called a mania for cleanliness and order. This is more of a phobia. They are called:

mysophobia (fear of dirt);
germophobia (fear of infection).

The second type of phobia is mainly common. People have a panicky fear of infection, they try to avoid contact with others: even after a regular handshake, they try to wash their hands or treat them with an antiseptic as quickly as possible.

Frequent hand washing causes irritation and flaking of the skin, which can lead to eczema or other skin conditions.

Germophobes are usually withdrawn, and as a result they develop other neurological problems.

Cleanliness is important, but not above all!

Love of order is a commendable quality. But in the pursuit of accuracy, it is important not to overdo it, otherwise life will turn into a struggle with virtual dirt .

It is important not to miss the moment when it is time to say “stop” to yourself, so that there is no risk of losing peace, friends, sacrificing rest and entertainment. In addition, living in the same space with a clean person can cause trouble for others. Relatives feel anxious about what they will “inherit” somewhere. Children are generally sure that any game they play is a disaster for their mother.

Causes

Any habit or action does not arise out of nowhere; there is always a basis that served as an impetus for the development of the problem. The reasons may be as follows:

Fear of dirt and germs – ripophobia.
Stress that occurs for various reasons.
Housework can distract a person from bad thoughts. Every time problems arise, he starts cleaning the house.
Diffidence. Putting things in order in the house, putting things in their places - all this creates the illusion of control over your life. This happens to those people for whom things outside the home are not going as smoothly as they would like. This behavior is typical of soft and weak-willed people.
Mental problems - neurosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychosis.
Heredity. The cause is observed in 60% of people suffering from this disorder.
Having suffered serious illnesses, infections, impaired kidney function - all this leads to intoxication of the body.
Many women have developed a mania for cleanliness and order for the reason that men value such zeal for cleanliness.
Increased instinct of self-preservation. Such people see dirt everywhere.
Autonomic nervous system disorder.

Behavior correction

If you are afraid of germs, you are haunted by a constant desire to clean the house, then use the following methods to combat the phobia:

If you're worried about getting your hands dirty, touch the doorknob and don't wash your hands afterwards.
Train yourself to clean the house once a week.
Take the bed linen and throw it on the floor, after a while put it back, sleep on this linen for a week without washing it.
Learn relaxation techniques. Find yourself a hobby.
Psychoanalysis. The goal of the psychotherapist is to identify the traumatic situation and displace it from the patient’s life.
Hypnosuggestive therapy is a combination of hypnosis and suggestion. The patient is put into hypnosis and the correct behavior patterns are suggested.
Group therapy. In a group format, it is easier for people to cope with their problem, because they are united by the desire to overcome obsessive states collectively.

Therapists provide treatment using obsessive-compulsive disorder techniques.

How to get rid of obsession

It is advisable to combine several approaches to quickly and effectively treat the patient.

Obsession syndrome should not be left untreated

To get rid of obsessive-compulsive disorder, the following are used:

Drug therapy - the use of antidepressants, tranquilizers, psychotropic drugs. In severe cases of the disease, the patient may remain in a psychiatric hospital.
Cognitive behavioral therapy involves bringing the patient face to face with his phobia in order to demonstrate how unfounded his fears are.
“Thought stopping” - used to treat obsessions and phobias.
Hypnosis.
Individual psychotherapy.
Autogenic training.
Game therapy.
Art therapy.

Norm or?

At first glance, love for cleanliness and order is very commendable. The home of such a person is usually pleasant to look at. But the more you observe this individual, the more you will be surprised by his behavior.

For example, such people do wet cleaning every day. They don't forget to wipe the dust off the furniture, even if it's not there. It is very important for them to arrange the trinkets on the chest of drawers in the “correct” order; they will definitely straighten a crooked tablecloth or bedspread on the bed... And they also wash their hands a hundred times a day, and certainly with antibacterial soap, change towels daily and carefully align them on the hanger after each use, polish dishes and bathroom fixtures until they shine...

Their loved ones suffer from such “cleanliness”, since the latter constantly hear nagging, accusations of sloppiness: they didn’t clean their shoes, or there were stains on cups or glasses, or they didn’t notice a small spot on the floor... They can throw a tantrum at the slightest reason, which is not uncommon leads to scandals in the family. If a person lives alone, he may not allow other people, even relatives, into the apartment so that, God forbid, they do not stain the floors or furniture...

Advantages and disadvantages

Basically, the cleaning thing isn't that bad. If it helps a person calm their nerves and feel safe, why not? Consider this a type of psychotherapy. And it’s a real benefit for the family: they came home from work, and everything in the apartment sparkles.

However, in some cases, the love of cleanliness turns into neurosis. If a person becomes obsessed with cleaning, endlessly rubs, washes and washes something, and is not interested in the rest, this is clearly too much. Such people bring not only themselves, but also their loved ones, to exhaustion, clinging to them for any reason. Either they laid the tablecloth crookedly, then they placed the vase with flowers out of the center, then they didn’t notice a tiny stain on the floor, or they didn’t clean the shoes right away - the list of complaints is endless. As a result, clean relatives lose their nerve and scandals in the family become commonplace.

Causes of "mania"

If you realize that someone (or yourself) is literally fixated on cleaning, try to find the reason for this. There may be several of them.

Fear

Some people have ripophobia - the fear of dirt. They see dirt literally everywhere, even where there is no trace of it. Therefore, they endlessly wash their hands and all objects that can be washed.

Another type of mania is the desire for ideal order. Those suffering from it can straighten a hundred times, for example, what they think is crooked clothing hanging on a chair. Items in a room, closet or somewhere else must be placed in a strictly defined order, and nothing else...

This is a pathologically obsessive condition that needs to be treated. Such a patient needs to undergo a course of psychotherapy.

State of chronic stress

It doesn’t matter for what reason the stress arose: a person has troubles in his personal life, at work, he has lost someone close... If a person has not been noticed in anything like this before, but now he constantly has a broom or a vacuum cleaner in his hands, then a mop, it can be “stressful” cleaning.

Doing housework helps to take your mind off dark thoughts and at least temporarily “drive” them out of your head. However, with prolonged stress, this can only serve as a temporary measure. If you find yourself cleaning even when it’s not at all necessary, then maybe it’s better to go to a psychologist rather than transferring cleaning products and detergents...

Diffidence

Putting things in order in the house, arranging and putting things on shelves and drawers gives a person the illusion of control over their life. This usually happens when we realize that we are not able to control the world around us, the one outside the walls of our apartment. For such a person, everything can be very difficult at work and in his personal life... But in his little world he is the absolute master.

If putting things in order takes too much time and actually replaces a full life, this is certainly a reason to consult a psychologist and try to figure out your problem.

Obsessive thoughts during VSD

VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia) is a dysfunction of the human autonomic system. With this disease, the following types of neuroses may occur:

Neurasthenia
is increased irritability of the body combined with general weakness and loss of strength, increased fatigue and, as a result, physical and mental exhaustion. Accompanied by depression, dizziness and severe headaches that interfere with mental and physical work.
Hysterical neurosis
is a strong surge of emotions that occurs as a result of severe stress and is accompanied by convulsions, partial loss of sensitivity, transient paralysis, and loss of consciousness.
Phobic neurosis
is a constant feeling of fear and anxiety, accompanied by disruption of the autonomic system, and resulting in social withdrawal. Also, as a result, panic attacks and phobias may occur.
Hypochondriacal neurosis
is excessive preoccupation with one’s own health and, as a result, a constant feeling of anxiety and fear of getting sick. Such patients react sharply to any physical discomfort felt and immediately consult a doctor. They can invent symptoms for themselves and in most cases do not agree to take medications.
Obsessive-compulsive neurosis
is involuntary thoughts and fears that cannot be eliminated.
Depressive neurosis
is chronic fatigue, depression, loss of interest in life, in some cases accompanied by thoughts of suicide. Occurs due to unresolved traumatic situations.

What does “purity neurosis” mean?

The desire to “protect” yourself from “bad” thoughts often occurs when you begin such “cleaning”, “washing” everything around you and yourself.

The manifestation of purity neurosis will be stronger, the stronger the person’s stress, the more acutely he experiences this conflict.

Who is more susceptible to purity neurosis?

We found that purity neurosis can be characteristic of both women and men. Let us outline some more detailed signs that “attract” purity neurosis.

Some part of pedantic people can come against all this background into a state of neurosis of purity.

People with obsessive thoughts and a desire to repress them, who set strict limits for themselves and others are high on this list.

It is believed that those who are inclined to avid collecting fall into the same list.

Who is not at risk? Psychologists say that these are people who are able to play at life and perceive themselves and everyone around them with all their advantages and disadvantages.

Does cleaning solve problems?

But, unfortunately, cleaning does not have the ability to relieve stress. On the contrary, such behavior can lead to the habit of repeating all this during any subsequent stressful condition.

Only partial relief can be brought by this activity at first, but not for long. After all, the problem itself is not resolved.

If there are loved ones at home, then their praise for cleaning can be a reward if the person lacks their attention.

From the psychotherapist's notes:

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

Such neat people can be identified by their clothes: they are emphatically asexual. Looks like a monk's robe, a school uniform or a men's suit.

SOLUTION:

Everyone has at least once met a person who is obsessed with order. Such people spend all their time cleaning. The room, in their opinion, should sparkle with cleanliness. Our mothers instilled in us a love of cleaning from childhood. This is a quality that is always rewarded. However, upon detailed observation of the behavior of a person obsessed with cleanliness, one can notice the absurdity of his actions and irritability.

Sometimes adherence to order develops into mania

How to deal with those possessed by such a mania?

Try to convey to the person that everyone has their own understanding of order. Some may be comfortable in sterile conditions, while others prefer “creative disorder” or even a mess... Some, for example, like it when books are on shelves in the closet, while others like them when they piled up on a table or on a windowsill.

If you live with such a “maniac” in the same room, forbid him to touch your things, carry out audits in closets and throw away “unnecessary trash”. Let him restore order only on his own territory.

If you see that the matter has gone too far, try to persuade him to contact a specialist.

Troitsyna Margarita

Psychotherapist Ivan Fenin warns

: an excessive desire for cleanliness can be a sign of hidden neurosis and even psychosis, so you should not demand extreme accuracy from yourself and your loved ones, this can lead to bad consequences.

Situation one.

Peace treaty

Meanwhile, conflicts can be avoided. Try to understand what internal problems the cleaner is trying to solve through cleaning. Knowing the reasons for such mania, it is easier to cope with it.

Try to get him to have a frank conversation, and if that doesn’t work, suggest that he see a psychologist. True, it will not be possible to change a neat person against his will - he must want to change himself. You can only push him towards it.

Convey to him the idea that each person has his own attitude to order. Some people are comfortable when everything around them is completely sterile, while others are comfortable when there is creative chaos or even outright chaos. And if it’s convenient for you to have books and notebooks lying not on a shelf, but on a table or windowsill, let them lie there! Prohibit the cleaners from touching things in your room, throwing away “unnecessary” pieces of paper and going through your closet. After all, you also have a right to your territory. Let him “bring beauty” to his room and common areas.

Order comes first!

There are many women in the older generation who have very strict and firm rules regarding how and when to clean the house, how to arrange things in the closet, how often to change linen, etc. They usually fulfill these requirements themselves, but sometimes they call on loved ones to follow the “master plan” outlined by them and consider those who are not concerned about cleanliness to be “lost” people.

What to do

Remember that all cleanliness is relative - not only a leak from neighbors can happen, but also an earthquake, house demolition or fire. Then all efforts to restore order will seem ridiculous. Try to look at them from this point of view, thank God that there is nothing like this in your life, and clean as much as you have the strength and time to do without compromising other interests.

It is useful for married women, with rare exceptions, to realize that men, alas, generally do not value cleanliness or order in the house at all. He disturbs them, complicates their life, while they expect peace and ease from home.

Situation two.

There is infection everywhere, you need to wash your hands as often as possible

There are people who have an increased sense of danger and anxiety in relation to their body. This is not selfishness, but a personality structure. In childhood, such boys, and more often girls, regret a pulled out tooth, love to wash themselves and, unlike their peers, carefully put their toys in boxes.

Under certain conditions, they may experience “clean hands psychosis.” In a situation of anxiety, they begin to wash their hands, first after going outside, after visiting someone else’s house that they don’t like. And then at home, so much so that over time they rub off the skin on their palms until they bleed.

What to do

1. Hand washing psychosis requires treatment using special psychotherapeutic techniques. But, if you notice it in a mild form, you can try one of the algorithms proposed by American psychotherapists.

● Do not clean your bathroom floor for a week. After this, wipe it for three minutes with an ordinary mop. Use the same mop for other tasks without cleaning it first. ● Buy a fluffy mohair sweater and wear it for a week. When taking off your sweater at night, do not remove any wool pellets from it. ● You, your husband and children should not remove your shoes when entering from the street. Don't clean your house for a week. ● Throw the sheets and blankets on the floor and then place them on the bed. Do not change this bedding for a week.

2. Other ways to cope with a dangerous addiction to cleanliness are suggested to be carried out together with a psychotherapist.

Patients are repeatedly brought into contact with objects or situations that cause anxiety, obsessive fears or compulsive actions. At the same time, they are “allowed” to resist the desire to perform actions that, as it seems to these people, they are obliged to perform. Therapists often lead by example. While under the supervision of patients, doctors interact with objects without intrusive actions and then encourage patients to do the same.

Situation three.

Sex is dirty and should be avoided and shamed

To a greater extent, this syndrome is associated with female psychology, because women more often feel like an object of violence, use, and are less likely to express their desires and feelings in this area. She is sharply hostile to other women who are doing well in their intimate lives, especially young women.

Sometimes such complexes lead to the development of dermatitis, allergies, symbolizing rejection of oneself from others, intolerance to a situation that the body “screams” about, but the mind does not want to know. Pathology from the gastrointestinal tract may occur.

What to do

1. Such deviations require serious psychotherapeutic intervention, of course, if the woman herself suffers from them, is aware of this and is ready to undergo treatment. Often the problem lies in some complexes associated with childhood, in relationships with father and mother, which require serious analysis.

2. Experts consider the most successful in such cases to be the so-called process-oriented psychotherapy, when the patient moves in his own direction, experienced only by him, and the psychotherapist, feeling the trajectory of movement, helps him use his own internal resource, focusing the patient’s attention on the “key” words, postures, gestures, sensations. The key point here is the belief in healing through a spontaneous, living process that occurs within the patient. This therapy can be compared to a journey, the outcome of which is unknown in advance.