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Traditionally, the days leading up to Passover are the time for a deep clean of the home. But for those who are obsessed with cleaning, regardless of the holiday, among them people who suffer from an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCS) the spring cleaning ahead of the Jewish holiday can be a trigger that could lead to worse symptoms. "These are people who are not cleaning because they prefer a clean and tidy home but because they suffer from obsessive thoughts about germs and infections that cause them anxiety and a sensation of constant danger," explains Dr.
Lior Cohen, a clinical psychologist with Clalit Health Care Provider's mental health clinic in Jerusalem. 4 View gallery Illustration ( Photo: Shutterstock ) 4 View gallery Illustration ( Photo: Shutterstock ) "During the COVID pandemic we all felt similar concerns and were worried about getting infected. We sanitized our hands and were careful of human contact.
But for those who are dealing with OCD, that is a daily reality. Every doorknob is a potential source of contamination and thoughts could lead them to disaster." The OCD manifests with frequent hand washing, showers and even house cleaning.
"I had a patient who would not be able to fall asleep if there was even one dirty cup in the sink." OCD is found in about 2% of the population, mostly in women," says Miriam Fink-Lavi who runs a children's psychiatric clinic in Jerusalem for the Leumit HMO. "It can begin in childhood and could have significant life-long effects.
" She says OCD is made up of two aspects. "The obsessive aspect includes repeated thoughts that could involve dangers, increase anxiety that would be difficult to ignore or control. The Compulsive aspect manifests in behavior aimed at reducing the anxiety caused by the obsessive thoughts.
A person who fears a home invasion would repeatedly check if his door is locked," she says. "When it comes to cleaning, people would repeatedly wash their hands, sanitize work surfaces, or spend hours cleaning house, fearing germs." Compulsive behavior is not always logical.
Some people would avoid cracks in the sidewalk, convinced that if they step on one, something terrible would happen, or perhaps feel the need to carry out a kind of ritual, to prevent the disaster. "When the OCD occupies at least one hour a day or disrupts the daily routine, it may require professional intervention," Fink-Lavi says but warned that there was a difference between compulsive cleaning and the wish to live in a clean and tidy environment. 4 View gallery Illustration ( Photo: Shutterstock ) "Most of us naturally seek a certain amount of order and control that fits into our desire to keep our personal space clean and tidy," she says.
"For some people a tidy space provides a sense of calm while others feel more comfortable when there is a mess and do not consider it a problem. How can we differentiate between OCD and perfectionism? "We look at how long and how intensively behavior is manifested. How often do you wash your hands in a day? How much time do you devote to cleaning? How does it effect your life? When the behavior becomes too time consuming and too intense, that it can cause distress or harm to daily function, it becomes a disorder that must be addressed.
" Dr. Cohen says perfectionism fits well with OCD and is common in those diagnosed with the disorder. "For example, a picture that hangs a bit off center on the wall, could bother, some while others may not even notice.
Those with disorders would be extremely bothered and would not be able to relax until the picture is put right." The annual practice of giving the house a deep clean ahead of Passover, be it for religious reasons or otherwise, affects those suffering from OCD in different ways. "One the one hand, the fact that everyone is busy cleaning, could make things easier.
Suddenly their behavior is seen as normal," Cohen says. "Bit on the other hand, the holiday cleaning could be a trigger because of the social pressure and expectations of pristine results." Cohen says the way to minimize the emotional burden is to identify ways to relieve pressure in advance, perhaps by scheduling chores over an extended period of time or avoiding family conflicts around the subject of cleanliness and order, so as to reach a balance and arrive at the holiday in a positive and calm state.
4 View gallery Illustration ( Photo: Shutterstock ) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was found to be helpful especially for people suffering from OCD. In therapy they are shown how their anxiety works and is taken apart with the obsessive elements so that the patients understand what their anxiety is made up of. "Ultimately one of the main challenges people with OCD face is to learn how to live with doubt," Cohen says.
"Did I lock the car door? Is the door bolted? Are there dishes in the sink? The ability to accept the uncertainty and still function, is a significant part of healing." Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play : https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store : https://bit.
ly/3ZL7iNv One of the more effective methods of therapy is called Exposure and Response Prevention, which means confronting the fear and preventing a compulsive response. If a person is afraid to touch the door knob, because it may be contaminated, we would guide him towards touching it but without quickly washing his hands afterwards," Cohen says. "This process is done gradually, and over time, patients learn to bear their discomfort and mental tension for longer periods of time until the anxiety is reduced and living with doubt becomes part of life.
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