From the last few weeks, we've established that obsessive cleaning is a real problem. And, while originally this was going to be a post on signs that you're cleaning too much, that can probably be extrapolated from the previous posts, and for this reason, today we're going to jump right into the meat of how to stop cleaning too much.

Unfortunately, Obsessive Cleaning Disorder is not something you can be diagnosed with, so these tips will encompass also the mental affliction with (ironically) the same acronym, Obsessive Compulsory Disorder, or OCD.

OCD is characterised by the desire to check things repeatedly, perform certain routines continuously (called "rituals"), or have certain thoughts repeatedly (called "obsessions"). Sometimes, it might not actually sound that bad, but actually, we can assure you that it is never a good or helpful thing.

So, how do we stop it? Well, there are a few steps:

Firstly, OCD in any of it's various incarnations often thrives on anxiety and stress; with the ritual being continously carried out with the intention of soothing the discomfort. Think of it as a voice in one's head that's constantly saying "If I keep on cleaning, things'll get better!" In some cases, the activity is performed with the intention of getting the person so exhausted that they physically have to relax. Fortunately, there are easier ways to do so.

Rather than forcing yourself not to perform the ritual, you can try just laying down and trying to get yourself calm - clear your mind and just rest, maybe stay in bed for a little longer. Some people have found that listening to some relaxing audio also helps them. In general, relaxing prior to performing whatever activity you keep doing will likely help you to do the activity less.

Next, I want you to try thinking of an obsession like a tightly done-up knot. If you pull the knot too hard or jam your fingers into it in order to break it down quickly, it either won't work, or (even worse!) it'll snap. Instead, what you want to do is loosen and play with the knot until it begins to break down gradually, and you can undo it with just a couple of soft movements.

Similar to other addictions such as smoking and gambling, you want to slow down your use bit by bit. While some people might be able to handle stopping cold, chances are you won't, and that doing so will have negatiev ramifications, similar to withdrawal symptons. Using the aforementioned relaxing music is one way of doing this, however another method is starting later than usual, or "accidentally" forgetting to do the ritual on time and just forgetting about it in the end. Mess with your routine for a while, and over time the rope will begin to grow more slack and easier to undo.

These are just a few of many techniques, which I'll cover bit by bit over the next few weeks. We're almost there!

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