People always tell me that i have an O.C.D because i wash my hands over 20 times a day excluding after toilet washes.
2006-10-20 00:31:36 · 23 answers · asked by charlotte a 2 in Health ➔ Other - Health
If there's no rational reason why you constantly wash your hands (e.g. handling food, working in hospitals etc) then I'd say it was a little strange to be hand washing so many times in one day. Maybe consult your doctor just to be sure, these things have a habit of getting out of control.
2006-10-20 00:45:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, you're pretty smart for washing your hands all of those times in one day. I do it too. I'm a nurse, so I probably do it even more.
You don't mention what it is that you do, but if you have a job that requires you to handle money, dirty dishes, keyboards, telephones, things like that, then you're doing the right thing.
I wouldn't be so quick as to classify you as O.C.D. just because of the handwashing. Now, if there are other things that you are doing besides the handwashing, then maybe. As long as your hands aren't raw from the handwashing, don't worry about what other people think or say. See who gets sick before you do then you can say "maybe if you had washed your hands...."
2006-10-20 00:51:54 · answer #2 · answered by Doodlebug 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would certainly seem that you are displaying some compulsive tendacies. We all do to some extent, be it checking you have your passport 20 tmes in the airport before a flight or checking the cooker is off before bed. The time to worry is when it starts to affect your life in a negative way. If you are worried then check for support groups in your local area and talk to people with o.c.d this way you can see how far up the scale you are. As long as it isnt upsetting you i wouldnt worry too much. Clean is good!
2006-10-20 00:43:36 · answer #3 · answered by Laura p 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You may have, if you can think of nothing else but the need to wash your hands until you have washed them then I would say that you have. Don't worry though, it is quite a common "disorder" and effects many more people than you would expect. Seek help though, counselling can help, as can keeping a diary documenting when you wash your hands and how you felt before and after; this will help to pinpoint any triggers. If your hands are becoming red and chapped from over washing then this is certainly something you need to address soon, as it may become very painful.
2006-10-20 00:43:20 · answer #4 · answered by kchick8080 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It probably depends on why you are washing your hands, and whether you feel compelled to do so. If you work in a dirty environment, or with food, then you would expect more handwashing than if you're in an office.
Try and see if you can go for one day only washing your hands before cooking/eating and after going to the toilet. If you find that you can't do it, or if the thought makes you panicky and you feel you have to wash them more often, then you may have OCD.
The key is in the compulsion, not necessarily in the action itself.
2006-10-20 00:40:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends on what you are doing - naturally if you were handling food or peoples bodily fluids (urine and blood tests) then no as you should wash your hands after each episode.
If there is no other rationale for the hand washing I would seek the advice of a psychologist as they can find the route cause for this.
2006-10-20 00:39:17 · answer #6 · answered by Nicky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you are a bit obsessive with washing your hands but is it a need you have to do or is it just a habit you have picked up? There is nothing wrong with being extra clean especially wen it comes to your hands because they are the part of the body always touching stuff including your mouth!
So don't worry about wat others say you do your thing and others will have to live with it or they will have to mind there own!
2006-10-20 00:59:13 · answer #7 · answered by ema 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OCD is a a fairly serious disorder and in order to figure out if you have it, you need a psychiatric evaluation. You need to answer a series of questions which aid in figuring out the extent of your problem, and the best course of treatment. Simply washing your hands is just not enough information to tell if you are ill or not.
2006-10-20 00:41:56 · answer #8 · answered by Huey from Ohio 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many symptoms and characteristics of OCD, hand washing is just one. You need to go to your Doctor who will probably want to refer you to a Psychiatrist. They will take a more detailed history before making a diagnosis If you find the hand-washing distressing then there are treatments.
2006-10-20 00:35:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you do. I wash my hands tons of times in a day our use purelle. I got into the habbit of having to be extremely clean after a family member had an organ transplant.
2006-10-20 00:33:56 · answer #10 · answered by masterdvrsgirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋