My mom spends 7-8 hours a day cleaning the kitchen sink

[ssbtech]

OP needs to seek help himself, so he can better understand his mom's problem and start working on a path to help her realize that she has a problem. Once the OP has started to see a psychologist or other professional who specializes in compulsive disorders, he'll be better prepared help his mom out.

[jacksorbetta]

I have a mild OCD disorder. Also cleaning oriented. However, I do not obsess over any one particular thing, it's more general spotlessness overall in the house. I feel bad for your mom's hands more than anything! My propensity for wiping counters, cupboards, surfaces in general do a number on my skin (even with gloves). She should be encouraged to see a dermatologist , who in turn might refer her onto someone else for appropriate behavior mod.

I was much more obsessive in the past than I am now. I would literally spend every single moment I was home cleaning something. Now, I do a thorough tidy/clean in the evenings once my kid has gone to bed. Yes, having kids makes this disorder more disorderly. Don't even ask me about crumbs..... Anyway, unless your mom is willing to seek some intervention for herself, all you can do is change how you react to it so it doesn't bother you as much. My family took about 15 years, but they finally know to just let me do my thing (and not leave a mess behind themselves!). I've always been aware I'm a neatnick (even at age 4). The term OCD wasn't used until fairly recently... and your mom has probably been that way her whole life.

[longitude]

bring her over to my home......

[tralexus]

how about, instead of watching her wash pots & pans, you do the dishes.....just a thought...

[Maymybonneliveforever]

I'm sorry to hear that your mom is going through this issue, but I'll give you my perspective;

In reply to "who is she hurting", in my opinion she could be more productive else where whether it be spending more time with her family, enjoying a hobby, or finding something that she truly enjoys. I don't know much about OCD, but is this something that she truly enjoys doing or is it something more out of habbit pr am I right to say, obsession, if so then she's not only hurting herself but those that love her?

Bottom line is.........if nobody is able to talk to her and truly get through to her then professional help maybe your only avenue.

Let us know how this works out please.

PS.
Personally I think there is a difference between being a so called "Neat Freak", and spending every minute of the day being obsessed with it to the point it consumes all your free time.

[stevenvv]

Simple, hide the sink.

[whampoa]

OP, where are you from?

Dr. Debbie Sookman from McGill University Health Centre is world renowned for treating people with OCD.

Here is a CTV W5 documentary about this mental disorder.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/w5/w5-treating...-in-5-1.796122

http://www.ictoc.org/

[manmanny]

Good Luck OP.
It's hard as the person neglects It; I think It's mainly because of fear more then anything.

some phobia. She needs pro help.

[manmanny]

Simple, hide the sink.

bring her over to my home......

seriously?

[Mayosandwich]

You'd probably get more responses posting this in Off-Topic. Anyway, perhaps you're better off treating this as more of a serious (and a bit expensive) hobby. Seriously, if she doesn't acknowledge there's a problem and there's no harm done, then there's nothing you can really do, right? Some people might spend that much money a month drinking, or smoking cuban cigars, or be holed up during their free time with their model railway. Yes, I do do know a person with OCD and am not trying to make light of it. The person I know is pretty good once you get her out of the house; in the house, she has a compulsive need to clean things multiple times.

OCD is forsure not an easy thing to treat and impossible if you cant acknowledge it.

Create an opportunity to leave the house..

See a musical, a movie, a game of mini-putt, shopping, visit a museum, take a walk...

As for the sink, is it only the kitchen sink or other sinks as well? As buildinghomes mentioned, maybe a new sink which always looks clean or is easier to clean and which looks less dirty such as a dark granite sink or something like it.

Yes its the only sink. Her sink already is a fairly new one and easy to very easy to clean but when you have OCD nothing is ever good enough.

Honestly I don't see an option other than professional help. If she will not acknowledge that she needs help perhaps you can get a social worker or somebody who deals with OCD to come to the house and speak with her. They may have a better chance at getting though to her.

Ive tried, she doesnt walk to talk about it cause she believes theres no need to as theres nothing wrong. And my siblings think i should drop it off and get mad at me when Im the only one in the family who even sees it. I cant get her to see it.

how about, instead of watching her wash pots & pans, you do the dishes.....just a thought...

I do and only when shes not home and i pretty much have to put the pots away in the cupboard after. If she sees it, she will rewash it no matter who washes them. Just the thought of having people at her sink using it, is dirtying it up and she doesnt like. She wont even let her sisters or anyone when theyre over use her sink unless its for like 2 secs to rinse a cup.

[manmanny]

Ive tried, she doesnt walk to talk about it cause she believes theres no need to as theres nothing wrong. And my siblings think i should drop it off and get mad at me when Im the only one in the family who even sees it. I cant get her to see it.



I do and only when shes not home and i pretty much have to put the pots away in the cupboard after. If she sees it, she will rewash it no matter who washes them. Just the thought of having people at her sink using it, is dirtying it up and she doesnt like. She wont even let her sisters or anyone when theyre over use her sink unless its for like 2 secs to rinse a cup.

She is in need of Professional help. Its difficult to convince her but somebody has to do it. It look more than sink cleaning.

[Mayosandwich]

She is in need of Professional help. Its difficult to convince her but somebody has to do it. It look more than sink cleaning.

Well I havent had any luck so far cause I cant even get her to realize that she has a problem and needs help. She doesnt want to talk about it and if I bring it up she gets mad cause she feels im worrying about something so pointless and I should worry about more important things.

[X820]

First you have to get your siblings/family to help you out in this matter, talk to them. Spending hours in front of the sink is not alright. When they agrees to back you up, talk with your mom. You have to get them to acknowledge the problem here. Then you can seek out professional help, ask for their advice.

[manmanny]

For us it was easy to convince our Nephew. And in the first general meeting with doc he pointed out at least 7 more (bad)habit the kid has. So good luck.

First you have to get your siblings/family to help you out in this matter, talk to them. Spending hours in front of the sink is not alright. When they agrees to back you up, talk with your mom. You have to get them to acknowledge the problem here. Then you can seek out professional help, ask for their advice.

And this.

[flashy_mcflash]

Well I havent had any luck so far cause I cant even get her to realize that she has a problem and needs help. She doesnt want to talk about it and if I bring it up she gets mad cause she feels im worrying about something so pointless and I should worry about more important things.

Most OCD is rooted in fear or uncertainty. Maybe you can talk to her and try to see what fear she is trying to quell with the cleaning, or what she is trying to avoid by keeping herself needlessly busy. You are right that it's going to be tough to do anything if she doesn't realize there's a problem so the best route is to talk to a professional yourself about how or even if you should confront her.