<p>Ok I've been thinking and maybe I am a little OCD. I have to have most everything super organized (if its not then I don't freak out, but I put it on my list of things to do ASAP). I also like things in even numbers (like I have to have 2 M&Ms of the same color in my mouth at once, or if there is only 1 of that color, I give it away or bite it in half; I have to put an even number of ice cubes in my cup). I really don't freak out about things not being my way, but I always try to make it be my way. I can still function and all that.</p>
<p>I've been trying to not do the things I listed above, but I subconsiously do them.</p>
<p>What exactly is the treatment for OCD? Just trying to avoid doing all those things?</p>
<p>There's OCD, which is a psychiatric anxiety disorder, and then there's just cleaner than average, pickier than average, quirky, meticulous, whatever. The term 'OCD' tends to be casually/teasingly applied to these traits (as it has been in a few posts here), but they're not the same thing. </p>
<p>Now, at the risk of revealing some madness...I like to walk to the right of people. If there are two people, I like to be in the middle with the larger person on my left. I like to sit in corners with my back to the wall. I always sleep against or nearest to the wall. I prefer to eat M&M's in color groups by rainbow order, leaving myself one full color set. When I talk, listen, or read, I have a frequent tendency to 'type' the words in my head. I only eat one type of food at a time, no matter what's on my plate. I always set my alarm clock such that the minutes are multiples of five. For years, when I wrote, I couldn't stand to put the last word of a sentence alone on a line (lest it 'feel lonely'). Any kind of remotely addicting game is the death of my productivity. I have favorite cleaning products. Do I have a bit of an 'OCD personality'? Ohhh yeah. Do I have OCD? No.</p>
<p>If you're concerned, then by all means, you ought to meet with a specialist and start addressing this. When it comes to psychiatric illness, it's often all too easy to 'diagnose' oneself, but this can be a bit of a trap. Since treatment ought to be professional anyway, it's best to see someone if you're able. Before you leave home, it could be very worth your while to talk to your parents and meet with a therapist or psychiatrist, especially since you feel that this really does affect your life, and since you fear that it may affect your college experience (for these reasons, your habits may be worth treating even if they don't amount to OCD). Just don't feel forced into any conclusions by strangers on an internet forum.</p>
<p>I can understand your being concerned with the cleanliness of the dorm rooms. However, schools do clean the rooms after the students from one year leave and the new students arrive. As suggested by others, it makes sense to use a mattress pad and a mattress cover. A good one to get and the one I bought for my son is the one for allergens/dust mites. It is soft and comfortable and nothing like a plastic cover. It zippers around the entire mattress, so encases it. Wiping down surfaces with clorox wipes should take care of your concerns.</p>
<p>If you are functioning well, then I would not be concerned about having some quirks.</p>
<p>Student615-- I won't leave a piece of clothing alone in a drawer or one piece of food on a plate. I always have to eat that "one last chicken nugget" because I don't want it to be lonely!! Good to know someone else out there is concerned about the welfare of inanimate objects! :)</p>
<p>to the OP-- I definitely agree 100% with what Student615 said. Even if you are just "a little OCD" or simply have some OCD tendencies in your personality, it might be a good idea to see a therapist to get some suggestions for coping mechanisms or strategies you can use to make yourself feel better. You might see that the suggestions really pay off and you're interested in continuing to talk to someone about it so that your fears don't interfere with your everyday life.</p>
<p>It's not a big deal and I think the original poster is overreacting a bit. Although any communal living situations always generates annoyances from some things not being done to ones personal preference, an obsession about germs generally has little basis in fact. Does the original poster not eat at a restaurant because someone else used the silverware earlier in the day? I hope not... as with most things so long as it's been properly cleaned and handled these no danger of 'germs' coming to get you.</p>
<p>In my experience, dorm bathrooms were cleaned once a day which included a decent hose down with strong bleach solution (that will kill just about anything). Communal showers are always a bit of a downer (I mean everyone likes their own really), but you get used to it. I did wear flip flops (as did most others) since there is a small chance of transferring various foot fungi if someone on the floor has athlete's foot or something like that and takes a shower just before you (although I've never actually heard of a case where this happened so could just be a myth... maybe one for the MythBusters? ;-) )</p>
<p>Yeah I'm a germaphobe too. I have the Clorox wipes, the hand sanitizer and hand sanitizer refills, the Swiffers. I do my dishes every other day and my laundry once a week because I hate having any dirty dishware or dirty clothes in my room. I change my bedsheets about every week and a half. I wear shoes everywhere-- I do not go barefoot anywhere. I never get into bed unless I'm wearing my PJs or other clean clothes that have not been worn outside of my room. Luckily many of the bathrooms have those paper toilet seat covers, I always use those. </p>
<p>Many of my friends and dormmates have just gotten used to communal living and aren't grossed out by germs-- they'll tramp about barefoot, use the toilets, lounge in bed with their shoes on. But though being a clean freak takes extra time and effort it gives me unbeatable peace of mind.</p>
<p>Just don't be a pill to people around you who might not be as concerned as you are. People generally leave you and your habits alone if you leave their's alone.</p>
<p>By the way, many freshmen get sick a lot their first year, simply because they need to adjust to having a new schedule (classes, being away from home, partying) and having to live with dozens of other people (sharing bathrooms, kitchens, etc). So even if you're very clean, you'll probably get sick some way or another. Don't freak out, its normal, and over time your body will learn to deal with college life.</p>
<p>Yeah, that getting sick at the beginning of the school year goes for just about every year in college, too. The only times I've ever gotten sick in the past five years have been right after summer break and right after winter break. This year I got smart and ate three oranges a day for the first few weeks I was back and I was fine.</p>
<p>I could relate to the OP's post (and also to other habits/quirks stated in this thread...), but I think dorm room conditions are just something you get used to. I too did not like the idea of putting my stuff on the tables, shelves, in drawers, in the closet, etc., without wiping them down first. So yes, I wiped everything down with disinfecting wipes. I wiped the inside of my drawers, outside of drawers, bed frame, microwave, fridge, desk surface, sides of my chair, the bar on which I hang my towel... I never walk barefoot in the room because that kind of grosses me out. And I have a bottle of hand sanitizer on my desk and usually one in my bag as well, so I just use that a lot (which may lead to really dry hands). I actually live in a suite, which has two bathrooms, so I don't have to deal with using bathrooms that are shared by a whole floor. Good luck!</p>