She is really sweet but she must be stressed big time. She cannont leave a dish in the rack. If I wash my dinner dishes and leave them to drain when I go back they are all put away.
She adjusts the couch covers in the lounge just...so - and she never uses that room!
If I go into the bathroom after her all the shampoo, shower gel and cleanser bottles are exactly lined up - an inch apart. This happens EVERY time.
I am not complaining about her and she never gets upset - but do we add to her stress by not drying our dishes straight away or by not lining up the bathroom products neatly, thereby making her OCD even worse?
2006-11-04 03:28:08 · 10 answers · asked by ShoCh 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Actually you are giving her an "outlet" in which she can express her OCD.
If she didnt have that, she would be going nuts by now...(And, people with OCD are NOT nuts, they have a disorder that with a lot of therapy can be controlled, but it takes years).
It would be more stressful if she didnt have an outlet for her disorder, and had to hold it all in.
Just be happy that you are makeing her happy by givin her something to do and occupy her time, but be careful not to be "too" sloppy...
I wish you well..
Jesse
2006-11-04 03:34:48 · answer #1 · answered by x 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, there's no reason to purposely add to her anxiety, but there's also no reason to enable her by helping her to act out her compulsive behaviors. Maybe you could just have an intervention where you tell your roommate how much you care about her and how much you are concerned about the amount of time and energy she is spending on these cleaning behaviors. Maybe that'll be just what she needs to get some help.
People with OCD participate in compulsive behaviors like these because they lessen anxiety. So chances are that she is experiencing a lot of anxiety in her life. The cause of the anxiety is her obsessive thoughts, though, not necessarily your behavior. I think it is very sweet that you are concerned about your flatmate. Perhaps the caring help of friends, as I mentioned above, can help her to begin working on her illness.
2006-11-06 16:39:55 · answer #2 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to make adjustments to make her less stressed then you can, but she has a problem and it is her problem. You don't need to make it yours. I'm not saying that you can't help her out, just that sometimes we tend to take on more than necessary and end up resentful in the end. You don't want that to happen.
I can tell you something you could explain to her about the dishes, though it probably won't help if she's dealing with OCD. I worked in the food industry for years and the health guidelines always said to rinse your dishes in very hot water and let them air dry. That kills germs. Wiping them with a towel spreads germs.
If you can talk to her about OCD, you might suggest that she see a doctor. They have medications that help.
2006-11-04 03:34:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
When you start doing things her way, she will find something else to work on.
But really it's a matter of patience and understanding, that this is an illness not a lifestyle she chose.
I think she is great if she does not complain when you leave your dishes to dry, you are not doing anything wrong.
2006-11-04 03:45:24 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My co worker is the same way and I am learning to compromise with her tell this flat mate of your's that you can do this stuff yourself and maybe start doing them right away that way she will feel less stress
2006-11-04 03:30:08 · answer #5 · answered by AngelVirgo9206 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since your flatmate is a bit over the top.
Move.
There are always plenty of other people you could flat with.
2006-11-04 03:37:57 · answer #6 · answered by abwoodford1968 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
give wide outlook scenarios about plus and minus each
2006-11-04 03:33:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
my best friend has ocd... i love her to death.. so i make sure that i do it how she likes it and she never complaines just goes on with her day...
2006-11-04 03:30:30 · answer #8 · answered by babykins 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She seems to enjoy it, let her do the housework.
2006-11-04 03:32:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
some pple are just very neat and clean.
2006-11-04 05:46:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋