David Beckham talks OCD and how it affects his family

Retired athlete David Beckham is releasing an upcoming Netflix documentary detailing his soccer career, but also his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

According to the International OCD foundation, OCD is defined as “a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease distress.”

How does OCD affect Beckham?

For Beckham, his OCD revolves around intensely cleaning parts of his home while his family is asleep.

“The fact that when everyone’s in bed, I then go around, clean the candles, turn the lights on to the right setting, make sure everywhere is tidy,” Beckham said. “I hate coming down in the morning and there’s cups and places and, you know, bowls.”

The 47-year-old revealed that his pet peeve is lingering candle wax.

“I clip the candle wax, I clean the glass, that’s my pet hate, the smoke around the inside of a candle,” he said. “I know it’s weird.”

He went on to express that he “feels compelled” to complete chores, despite how “tired” they can make him.

How does Beckham’s OCD affect his family?

Beckham has been married to fashion designer Victoria Beckham since 1999. The couple have four children together: three sons and one daughter.

Beckham stated that he wasn’t sure if Victoria appreciated the effects of his mental disorder.

“I clean it so well, I’m not sure it’s actually appreciated so much by my wife, in all honesty,” Beckham said.

However, Victoria reportedly told the Netflix production crew that her husband is “appreciated” and “just so perfect.”

Beckham’s Netflix documentary

Beckham announced his Netflix documentary to his Instagram last summer, promising “untold stories” from his journey.

The series is expected to release later this year.