![]() “It’s strange,” said the husband, “but outside our house, there are no rules, and she’s really relaxed when we go to other places. If anyone violated any of these rules, an angry reaction would erupt. They were not particularly encouraged to invite them over anyway. The children were only allowed to have their friends in the family room, and could not go with them to other parts of the house. ![]() The living room was off-limits because lint or dirt might get on the carpet or the furniture, or the couch cushions might get disarranged. No one was allowed to go to bed without first showering. The doors to the other two remained closed to everyone. Although their home had three full bathrooms, they were all made to share just one. No one else was allowed to do laundry or load the dishwasher. No one else was allowed to use the refrigerator. they had to ask their mother and she would get it for them. If the children (ages 6 and 10) wanted to eat or drink anything at any other time. they had to eat on snack trays in one corner of their family room, and the floor had to be vacuumed immediately afterwards. They were not allowed to eat in the kitchen because it would dirty the floor with crumbs. Only then could they move about the rest of the house. This was so they would not bring dirt or dust in from outside. He also complained that he and the children were forced to remove their shoes and coats in the garage before they could enter the house, and then were supposed to go directly into the laundry room, where they would change their clothes for a new, clean set laid out for them. On weekends, it would also take up almost half of each day. He went on to relate how every day of the week his wife had a compulsive and meticulous cleaning routine that lasted about six hours, beginning on weekdays with her return from work and ending about midnight. I don’t feel free to live in my own house any more. She’s driving me and the children crazy with her cleaning. The husband began our session by saying: “Doctor, have you ever seen anyone scrub a ceiling, or polish a towel bar? I can’t live like this any more. They were both in their early 40s, professionals, nicely dressed. Recently, a couple came to see me at my practice.
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