I'm an "OCD" cleaner, as well. I also have to have everything tidy before I can move on to do something else (go to work, sit down to watch TV, go to bed, etc.). I have always been this way. I have no idea why. My husband just sort of accepts that the OCD house cleaning is just part of me. I have explained to him that I think I do it to cope with stress, feeling like I have some kind of expectations placed on me because I am a working mother, etc. He doesn't understand how cleaning helps with any of that, but at least he knows that it is not personal when I come behind him a dry all the water out of the kitchen sink after he washes his hands! I think he used to think that I expected him to do things like "dry the sink" after washing. Just explaining it to him and letting him know that I am fully aware that the problem is all me helped a lot. Now when he washes his hands right after I have dried out the sink he will at least say "sorry" and sometimes we even have a good laugh as I am drying up all those water spots! I am with the gal that posted above.... just try talking to your husband. He might be more understanding than you think. He just probably is never going to know how you feel unless you tell him, that's all.
Pain, Hurts So Much So Deep
in Journey from FAT to FIT
A blog by Monique Salmond
Posted
I'm an "OCD" cleaner, as well. I also have to have everything tidy before I can move on to do something else (go to work, sit down to watch TV, go to bed, etc.). I have always been this way. I have no idea why. My husband just sort of accepts that the OCD house cleaning is just part of me. I have explained to him that I think I do it to cope with stress, feeling like I have some kind of expectations placed on me because I am a working mother, etc. He doesn't understand how cleaning helps with any of that, but at least he knows that it is not personal when I come behind him a dry all the water out of the kitchen sink after he washes his hands! I think he used to think that I expected him to do things like "dry the sink" after washing. Just explaining it to him and letting him know that I am fully aware that the problem is all me helped a lot. Now when he washes his hands right after I have dried out the sink he will at least say "sorry" and sometimes we even have a good laugh as I am drying up all those water spots! I am with the gal that posted above.... just try talking to your husband. He might be more understanding than you think. He just probably is never going to know how you feel unless you tell him, that's all.
Good luck and feel better.