I cannot let a day go by without.... am I strange?

Question

I am a housewife and get bored at home during the day, so I rearange the furniture, and I am not joking. I find it relaxing, but i am afraid that this may be something that is not normal. I have been doing this for well over ten years, actually I am 30, and have done this since I lived homewith my parents at the age of about ten or younger. My mom was the same way until she became wheelchair bound.
My husband has never come home to the same style room, even the day I came home from giving birth, is this a sign of a problem?

I would like to assure the people that think my being a housewife is less than great, I would like to tell you that I also breastfeed a two month old, case around a 3 and 4 year old, and take classes at the local university.

While on vacation last year, I remembered that my home was getting dusty almost every day.

My children have also shown signs of obsessive behavior, like constantly washing their hands, and the refusal to use a dirty bathroom in public. In fact, my 3 year old freaks out if there is a spot on the wall and insists that I should clean the house.

Answer 1

I do that when I feel out of control. Mentally out of control. If I change my surroundings to be in order, then maybe my life will magically be in order. I do the same thing with painting. When my life hasn't become my own, I will rearrange and paint. Then I feel, for a short while, that I have control and happy. I am married and have 4 kids and if I feel overwhelmed with the mommy/wife thing, I'm not happy and in control, so I feel if the outside is in order, clean and organized then the world won't see the inside isn't. You can try to find out what is making you unhappy and try to change YOU, not your surroundings.

Answer 2

You have described some of the classic symptons of OCD and it usually worsens over time and may debilitate you to the extent that you cannot lead a normal life. I wonder based on your description if you are teaching this behavior or if your young ones actually have OCD. I tend to think the earlier since your child is so very young. This is a treatable condition and not to seek professional help especially when you have children in the home watching your every movement is not your ideal situation. OCD is on the rise and the stigma of days gone past is now gone. You can go to to your family physician or preferrable to a mental health clinic to see a professional. Sometimes a mild dose of an anti-depressant with other properties can do wonders without side effects. Some of the older drugs that have been around awhile are used by the local physicians. At any rate, cross that bridge and take care of yourself and by doing so you will be taking care of your children! For more information call your state's mental health help line. Most states have a 800# and it can be found in your phone book. I cannot give you the number as you do not say which state you are in. Also research OCD on the web. Education is wonderful no matter what you have!

Answer 3

This is a sign of needing a life.
Learn to do something. Take a class. Read. Knit. Play a sport. Get a job. You need an interest. 30 years old an still playing housewife games is just sad. And rest assured that housewife games is what this is. Are you meeting him at the door with his slippers, too? Good heavens, there's got to be something out there more interesting than moveing the room around. If this is all I had to do all day I'd put all the furniture under the window, climb up and jump out.

Answer 4

First of all, you stated that you were bored. Rearranging the furniture brings a sense of "newness." It is possible, too, that by rearranging the "environment", your attempting to rearrange your LIFE by bringing a sense of newness through Creativity. Is there a sense of suffocation in your Life? Are you a creative person with talents that you have really never used but, are calling out? If your good at rearranging furniture, why not take a course in interior decorating and expand your knowledge? Thus taking that knowledge and creativity into the outside world and making some extra money, too? Everyday would be a new challenge and the meeting of new people. And, your confidence and selfesteem would blossom because your doing something that you love to do. In loving what you do makes work, no longer, work! You would have a total win/win environment in youur life. Research this. Speak with a counselor on a short term basis to see if this is related to Obessive Compulsive behavior and if you have dealt with the past and your mother. If O/C, isn't part of these behaviors, go for it. Challenge yourself in seeing how many beautiful environments you can create and sell them to the public or write for a magazine. Go for it. Good Luck.

Answer 5

I agree with the answer that says if no one minds, and it is not taking up time you would prefer to be doing something else, it is no problem. However, if you would like to try to break the habit, the next time you feel like rearranging the furniture, go find something to eat. Specifically some low fat meat like chicken, or other protein if you are a vegetarian, and a bit of carbohydrate. While an apple would be ideal, since you need help now, go for a cracker or a single cookie. Also if you have peanuts or almonds on hand (and are not allergic) eat them up. They are protein and good fat.

Don't eat a lot of this though. A snack is about one ounce of protein and a small amount of carb if you are a woman. Don't worry about the amount of nuts.

Eat this instead of starting to rearrange the furniture. Chew slow and enjoy. Then drink 8 oz of water and do something that raises your heartbeat for a while, even just breathing in and out. Laughing is the best for this. Try to do something other than re-arrange the furniture for 30 minutes to an hour - including getting out of the house, if you have to.

See if this helps you be less anxious to rearrange.

Answer 6

this is a classic example of an obsessive compulsive behavior. OCD behaviors can manifest themselves in all kinds of ways, from washing hands to flicking switches, to really harmful ones like pulling out your own hair.

But is it a problem....well thats really up to you. The test of that would be does your compulsion stop you from leading a normal happy life. Like, can you not go on vacation, because you have to rearrange the furniture? or do you not accomplish everything you want to each day?

Basically is it holding you back in some way. If yes, then the compulsion is a problem, if no then ehh. If no one cares about the furniture, how cares if it is strange.

And don't worry you're not alone, many many people have some small compulsions of there own, like eating or touching their hair.

Answer 7

maybe you think it's all part of your everyday routine to do the household chores and part of that daily routine is rearranging everything inside the house.I don't think it has to do with some mental problem or anything with that matter.Maybe you should try to divert your mind to some other things so that you will not be doing the same routine everyday.maybe you should go out with your friends sometimes for an all girls day out or something that you would enjoy doing aside from rearranging your furnitures.
Try other things that would catch your interest and try to have a schedule for a general cleaning in your house once a week and little by little you will get used to it.Life outside your home is definitely wonderful and it's all in your hands how you can make the most out of it.Of course together with your family.

Answer 8

You poor thing! It's not enough that you are wearing yourself out because you have to with the children, and trying to better yourself with classes, but then placing the undo stress upon yourself of constantly cleaning and rearranging furniture! If this is not a problem in your life, then I would do as someone already suggested and continue onward, business as usual; however, if this is a problem or soon to become one, I would seek help. OCD is readily diagnosed and treatable and has a huge success rate with treatment. I wish you and yours well. God bless!

P.S. Only a doctor can diagnose a disorder, this is just my two cents. Again, good luck!

Answer 9

Yeah, it is a touch obsessive compulsive, but if it isn't impacting you negatively, then don't sweat it. Obsessive compulsive disorder can be medicated. Its a body problem, not a mind problem, an imbalance. If you start going nuts about whether you locked the house or washing your hands ten times an hour, go see someone. But if it's just a rearranging the furniture thing, hell, a change is as good as a holiday.

Answer 10

Life should be about balance. I would say that you already realize that there isn't a balance. No one thing or things should dominate your life. It's one thing to be clean and neat, to enjoy variety etc., but when it consumes you then it's a problem. Remember your kids look to you for guidance, they immulate you, they copy what you do so if you're setting these unrealistic expectations for them, they will have to deal with it sooner or later. I would briefly explore this with a professional counselor, only someone with years of experience can determine whether this could become more of a problem. In many ways it sounds as though it's a cry for attention. Good luck.