There's a conventional belief that very less percentage of Indians suffer from OCD, as compared to their Western counterparts. But experts contradict. "There's a lack of awareness in India when it comes to OCD. Here, cases are not reported, whereas in US and other Western countries, people are aware and hence, don't take it for granted," says Dr Sandeep Vaishya, Senior Consultant --Neurosurgery, Max Institute of Neuro Sciences. Despite the fact that OCD is more common than schizophrenia, few people are aware of this dreadful disorder that affects both children and adults.

According to Ellen McGrath, a clinical psychologist, most neat freaks tend to have "hot spots" -- extremely high standards for neatness in very particular areas. These trigger points spark feelings about childhood routines and can touch off relationship battles: the sock left on the floor suddenly holds all of a couple's buried tensions. If neat freaks find their special terrain in disarray, they start overreacting and get angry. The problem, from their point of view, is that disorder signifies a lack of control -- precisely what they fear. "'Neat freak' is another term for a control freak," says McGrath. Neat freaks are often perfectionists in other areas of life, continually setting themselves up for frustration and disappointment. "My OCD also took form in fits of anger -- intense, unexplainable rage over nothing! I hated that I acted this way and I hated that my husband suffered for it too. But I just thought that was me -- my personality -- and what a horrible person I am! Why couldn't I be kinder, less of a perfectionist, ease up a bit...?"