Obsessive Compuslive Showering?

MadMan118 · #1 09-22-2010, 05:20 AM

Over that last several months I've gone from showering maybe once every other day to about 4 times a day. Once in the morning, then when I get home from school, once before I leave the house again and again before bed. So I tried cutting out the after school shower. After 15 minutes I felt a bit odd, then at about an hour I felt nervous at an hour and a half i was starting to feel a bit paniced so I took a shower. Bad felling gone. What the hell is going on?

MIJ-VI · #2 09-22-2010, 05:23 AM

How are you sleeping?

Has there been any trigger lately (recent stress or a resurrected memory)?

MIJ-VI · #3 09-22-2010, 05:29 AM

It seems that a few others have this variation of OCD:
http://index.healthboards.com/ocd/ex...e-showering/1/

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Harassed by Unwanted Thoughts?
http://www.iampanicked.com/anxiety-a...y-disorder.htm

MadMan118 · #4 09-22-2010, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

How are you sleeping?

Has there been any trigger lately (recent stress or a resurrected memory)?

My sleep lately has been either excessive or non existent varying from day to day.

There's not really any thing i can think of that at has occurred lately that could serve as a trigger.

MIJ-VI · #5 09-22-2010, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMan118

My sleep lately has been either excessive or non existent varying from day to day.

There's not really any thing i can think of that at has occurred lately that could serve as a trigger.

This isn't normal (unless you're on the high side of middle age or older).

Are coffee, cigarettes, or other things part of your life?

A lack of proper rest can throw a person's life cycle & chemistry out of whack and promote a spiral into depression (which can be tough to recognize when one is immersed in it).

XigXag · #6 09-22-2010, 05:49 AM

OCD (to my understanding) is often triggered by some form of trauma. I dont believe the true trauma needs to be recent, but something else may have brought it back up.
And to me that showering behavior does look OCD.

Whats going on? only you can say.
I hate internet diagnosis, but I think you should talk to a therapist.
Actually, I dont really like therapists. So I dont make an 'internet diasnosis of go see a therapist' everyday, ever actually.

Do you have any other compulsions? Cleaning the house? Avoiding certain foods? any of the repetitive compulsions (checking the lock 3 times before you leave the house...)

And the sleep varying from none, to too much...depressive behavior there.

My heartfelt advice is talk to Somebody. A Therapist I suppose is better trained, but sometimes a friend is easier to talk to, or sometimes a stranger is... Im rambling now, but I do think you should talk to somebody before this blows up into something larger.

Completely off topic, but Ive always thought Alaska would be an awesome place to live. Its the painter in me, but damn that place is beautiful.

Best of luck

arbitrary · #7 09-22-2010, 05:55 AM

You're actually on the right track; good work. Try to resist those "ocd" showers for as long as you can. Even if you feel panic/high anxiety still don't shower. Let yourself be anxious; accept the anxiety; let yourself feel bad. This is the most effective way to reduce your number of showers. Look into Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). And don't ask anyone if they think you're dirty. As much as it sucks, the key is to let yourself be anxious and then, ironically, the anxiety will decrease. But it may take a while.

Taking your sleep into account, it sounds like it'd be best to talk w/someone about this (maybe a professional).

MIJ-VI · #8 09-22-2010, 06:04 AM

MadMan118? When is the last time that you had a physical?

How's your general state of health? Underweight? Overweight?

MatticusMania · #9 09-22-2010, 10:35 AM

Quit wasting water dammit. No one needs 4 showers in one day.

Unless you work in excrement, then you should probably just live in a large shower.

/tough love approach

MakiSupaStar · #10 09-22-2010, 11:44 AM

Are you dirty? Do you smell?

BassChuck · #11 09-22-2010, 12:32 PM

What's goin' on in that shower? I mean, to quote a Seinfeld episode, "What's your shower routine?".

MatticusMania · #12 09-22-2010, 12:42 PM

Maybe he's making a salad?

codeinedreams · #13 09-22-2010, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arbitrary

You're actually on the right track; good work. Try to resist those "ocd" showers for as long as you can. Even if you feel panic/high anxiety still don't shower. Let yourself be anxious; accept the anxiety; let yourself feel bad. This is the most effective way to reduce your number of showers. Look into Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). And don't ask anyone if they think you're dirty. As much as it sucks, the key is to let yourself be anxious and then, ironically, the anxiety will decrease. But it may take a while.

Taking your sleep into account, it sounds like it'd be best to talk w/someone about this (maybe a professional).

that's very good advice. this is a method that many therapists use to combat OCD. also explore with someone what underlying issues are going on for you that are also triggering anxiety.

MadMan118 · #14 09-22-2010, 05:25 PM

Other than the showering thing I don't really have any other obsessions. I keep my house really clean and I always back into my parking spot nothing that weird. I don't really feel depressed, my life isn't great right now but I'm doing alright. My health is okay my body is in worse shape than it should be for a male in his mid 20s. At about 6 foot and 210 pounds I'd say I'm not overweight I do eat a bit(**** ton) too much though. But thanks for the advice guys.
Also yeah Alaska is some beautiful scenery. Yeah there is a lot of isolation in the rural areas along with a lack/surplus of light and the weather generally hates human existence but I love it and I'd not call anywhere else my home.

Riverrunsred · #15 09-22-2010, 05:28 PM

I shower 3 times a day and I work inside at a desk.

electracoyote · #16 09-22-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Maybe he's making a salad?

Yep. A germophobe. OP, are you wearing your emergency pendant?

kesslari · #17 09-22-2010, 05:41 PM

Definitely sounds like it's worth checking with a professional - getting mental health advice from a bunch of bass players online is... not mentally healthy...

Seriously, get checked out - it will be better for you.

**lowendfriend** · #18 09-22-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Quit wasting water dammit. No one needs 4 showers in one day.

Unless you work in excrement, then you should probably just live in a large shower.

/tough love approach

How 'bout this guy?

Simo98 · #19 09-22-2010, 07:31 PM

4 times a day

I have that many in a week normally

blendermassacre · #20 09-22-2010, 07:31 PM

on a side note, whenever my wife gives me the "you smell like butt" speech (like after the gym or after work, etc) I often think of the world even 100 years ago, when showering was a weekly or monthly practice, and deemed unhealthy to shower more frequently