[Closed] OCD... What are your compulsions then?

trimming eyebrows and nose and ear hair 🙂

I have to tap things as I walk past them, especially if there are a number of them repeated - like fence posts
(well, I don't HAVE to, but I do it a lot)

Yeah, don't hold back guys. 😯

Notes in my wallet have to be in order (£20's at the back, £5's at the front) with the queens head facing forward.
Car stereo volume has to be even numbers or multiples of 5

C'mon, its CDO.... gotta have them in alphabetical order....

Satyriasis.

one more for having to have volume on even numbers

I count to 5 in my head. A lot.

I can't leave a packet of biscuits half-eaten

Spend ages checking sockets in the house before bed, or leaving the house. Sometimes I get up again or go back in the house to go through it all again.

Hoovering, that's actually really annoyed my family.

Squeezing my tyres convinced I've got permanent punctures

Checking doors and windows are locked.

I can be back and forth to the bathroom half a dozen times in the morning checking that I have shut the bathroom window. I do this even 10 or 15 seconds after I last checked and knowing full well the window is shut.

I will then take the car out of the garage drive to the exit from the flats and then reverse the 75 metres or so to the back of the flats again to check the bathroom window is shut and that I have put my bike back in the garage.

Please do not get me started on how many times I need to take my camelbak off to check my keys are in it, after checking religiously that they were it in before I put the camelback on.

There are others, hand washing, but I don't think I am too fanatical about that one (go through phases on this one). The others are chronic.

EDIT,

I can add the even numbers (car volume, seretide inhaler) and tyre checking to my list

My grandad was in signals during WW2. For the rest of his life (50 years!) he tapped out morse.

Light switches, can't have them 'upside down' when not on. Fill kettle to an even number. Clean teeth after every meal ( carry a fuzzy brush for outdoors) all my art kit has to be in order, paints in rainbow order etc... If I'm Reading a book can't leave it on an odd number.

In my last car I had to have the volume on multiples of 5, but for some reason it doesn't matter in the current one. I think it's because it's got a twiddly dial thing for the volume rather than buttons.

taking my genital herpes medication.. I obsessively take it every morning and evening.. and trying to get my prose as correct as I possibly can when I post here.. even though in reality I am a barely comprehensible coarse and sweary bumpkin..

Harry_the_Spider - Member
I count to 5 in my head. A lot.

I do something similar but perhaps slightly worse - letting A represent 1, B as 2 and so on I add up the 'value' of words and work out a score for them. I then work out if the letters in the word can be split evenly in two or not.

It keeps my mind busy.

I got 37 on that autism spectrum test, normal is 16. Go figure 😕

Another for the stereo volume one. But not just even numbers, there are others that are OK and some even numbers aren't. eg: 3 and 5 are both OK, so 4 isn't. Very rarely is eg: 8 or 12 selected, 'cos 10 is nearby and that's much cleaner.

House lights have to be down for on, up for off. We've a double switch for the stairs, and I get nervy if I have to have them the odd way, waiting for it to get light enough to be able to get them both the right way up again.

Tyre logos must line up with valves?

And not OCD as such, but in the cutlery rack in the drawer, the little compartments must be either L-R or Top-Bottom ordered as Knives, Forks and Spoons. I get annoyed if I'm in someone's house and they aren't in that order, even more so than scummers who just dump the cutlery in the drawer randomly.

when out walking the dog on our local golf course I cant leave with an odd number of golfballs in my pockets! bit of a barsteward when just about to finish walk and find one and then makes it a damn odd number again! dog loves it though!!

For years i have noticed that when i sit still i often find myself moving ever so slightly to align things up around me.

right now i have just moved to align the edge of a seat up with the edge of a cardboard box behind it.

Ive also just moved a mug beside me so that its edge sits spot on next to the edging around it. (it was half over it so i moved it - dont ask why)

...but do tell me why.

oh,i served my time as a joiner and quite often i would be sighting stuff so maybe this has something to do with it.

even more so than scummers who just dump the cutlery in the drawer randomly.

I mix them up on purpose to annoy people. I don't even have them pointing the same ways 🙂 The tin opener is in with the knives...

Jonv I'm glad it's not just me with the lights, it drives my gf mad, I can't go out and relax if one switch us upside down. We like to leave a light on when were out, I couldn't cope with knowing a light switch was upside down, we've got timers now on lamps, I don't mind sockets being upside down as they're not going to hurt me or laugh at me when my backs turned.

Fiddling.
Whether its checking my zip pockets are done up over and over, or checking I have my wallet, keys, phone on me when I know full well I have!
To fiddling with the bass, treble and volume on the car stereo even when it sounds perfectly fine and it always ends up on the same setting. Checking the handbrake is off over and over again even though I know it's off from the last 20 checks and the lack of a red light on the dash.
God loads of things, that make me sound pretty weird when in the written word, but I think most of us are like it in some way or another if we think about it! 😆

Ear plugs, have to wear them, even alone in a quiet room I can't fall asleep. I lost some the other day and panicked. Cleaning ears is another of mine at least daily. I check all the plugs are off, due to fire risk every night, often have to recheck. I'm claustrophobic too and will check the lock on a toilet door isn't going to leave me trapped by 'testing' it 5 times or so, unlock - open - lock - unlock - open - lock - unlock - open - lock - unlock - open - lock. I can't get in Lifts and have been known to ascend / descend a 18 storey building 2-3 times daily by the stairs to avoid the lift. People at work thought I was demented, I was quite fit

For years i have noticed that when i sit still i often find myself moving ever so slightly to align things up around me.

I do that, every day when I get in from work everything gets straitened or put in aligned piles, drives me mad mess..

One of my 22 month old twin daughters has developed some weird ones already, she cant go to bed without 2 cylinders and will shout 'worry circles' until they are placed back in the bed, also she can't sleep without a bodywarmer in the cot. Well weird, sister has no such affliction...

Can anyone shed any light (as long as the switch is the right way! 😉 ) on why people do these things?
Is it for a sense of control? Are our minds so under-stimulated they find the most mundane things to think about? I don't know...

Not sure if this counts but I don't like having the car volume on no. 13, even though 14 always seems too loud and 12 too quiet grr.

There is someone in my office cracks his knuckles regularly and periodically shakes / wrings his hands to the side three times, then moves them over his head, but without actually touching the head.

I touch my nose a lot, but it does actually itch. Any maybe a bit too much imaginary beard / chin stroking than strictly necessary.

Oh, so many of the above!

Thanks, guys, I'm glad it's not just me.

I think it's because you're freaks. hth.

Phew, I'm normal. 8)

My volume dial goes to eleven. And there it stays. Its one louder 🙂

Can anyone shed any light (as long as the switch is the right way! ) on why people do these things?

Insecurity I reckon. I check my front door when going out [i][b]a lot[/b][/i]. I've often done the "stopping the car and driving back [i]just to double-check[/i] even though I'm 100% positive" thing. Although there is some logic to it as I'm often miles away in my own little dream world not paying attention. And I've been known on several occasions many years ago, to go out leaving the front door unlocked. But not since I started checking 20 times before leaving 🙂

I appear to be uncompulsive. I often don't bother to check if my front door is locked and leave it unlocked. I never read the numbers on dials. I leave stuff higgledy-piggledy 🙂

I shouldnt of looked at this thread as its got me know looking at sockets!

I use the rule of 4. press locked doors down 4 times to make sure they are deffo locked. check zipped pockets on backpack 4 times, and to make double sure do it 4 x 4 times if its an alldayer!

I'm pissing myself laughing at all you weirdos...Do more stupid stuff...

BTW I'm writing all this shit down so if we ever meet, I'm so going to mess with your head

I'm writing all this shit down so if we ever meet, I'm so going to mess with your head

What and ask me if I'm sure that I've locked my front door ? ..........now [i]that's[/i] just cruel 😐

My problem is that I'm so used to double-checking my front door is locked, that I don't pay attention whilst I'm doing it.........so I have to double-check that I've double-checked 😕

What a bunch of nut-bags we are.

If I set an alarm it can't be on a normal kinda number eg 7am or 7:15 its got to be like 703 or 727.

I don't like wearing matching socks either, just feels wrong.

I can't leave a baked bean (or part of a bean) in the tin but am 'not allowed' to use a fork or spoon to remove it or them and have to shake or hit the tin until it's completely empty before I rinse it for recycling.

Binners, do you ever get ear ache or poke the cotton bud so far it makes you cough
...hmmm ocd?? it must get less as you mature ......
whats the opposite of cod then??
thats me i`ve got that i reckon

before I got a track pump, I'd count the pumps with a hand pump to 20, then stop, then 20 again, then 20. it'd have to end on 20!
If I'm on a climb I count the rotations of the cranks, depending on the incline/gear, it'll go1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,and 8, sometimes 12. It's a way of switching off my "pain brain" and going into repetitive "machine mode". I'm sure I'm not the only one!?
errr... I count 'em in my head, not aloud! I'd be a pain in the ass if I was a gym instructor or sommat, anyone doing reps ending on an odd number would just do my head in.

We have one of those mug rack things on the kitchen wall. I always have the mugs arranged in a symmetrical manner. If I take one mug off, to make the arrangement non-symmetrical, I'll move another one on the rack to maintain the symmetry.

Gary_C - Member

C'mon, its CDO.... gotta have them in alphabetical order....

Did I meet you on Saturday while I fixed that girls Santa Cruz?

It's a way of switching off my "pain brain" and going into repetitive "machine mode". I'm sure I'm not the only one!?

I've sometimes done it to a repetitive "machine mode" type noise/beat in my head. It helps with performance whilst cranking up a hill. Not sure it counts as OCD though.

When cooking I have to set the timer so it ends when the real time is a multiple of five. Just seems tidier that way. And I avoid touching handles, railings on trains etc. I use my little finger to type in my PIN. That seems a bit nuts.

That one about the alarm reminded me of an alarm clock I used to have.

It had a 7 minute snooze, so as I always pressed snooze once before getting up I'd set it at say 6.53, so I'd get up on the hour. We all would, right?..... 😉

I do that Rich, not on an odd number though you freak, unless it's 5, ie 6.55am or a multiple of 5 in time, is ok. What sort of **** came up with 7 minutes of snooze? that doesn't fit. But you beat it by getting up on the hour, HA! I set it 5 mins before getting up time though, just so I can enjoy 5 mins in bed. Thanks Ernie, for telling me I'm not ocd! I know I'm not at all. I'm sure it's a bugger of a problem for some though.

Reading through this before an early start at work and I have come to the conclusion that you are all slightly tapped. Are some of you folks really allowed in to the public on your own.?

😯

Plus, I'd be interested in what profession these sorts of weirdo's are attracted to. What I'd like to see is a complete lack of IT workers with compulsive disorders, that'd be a nice touch of irony but having met thousands of IT staff, I doubt I'd be that lucky.

Like amateur footballers calling me gay when I ride past on my bike, WHILE THEY'RE DOING THEIR HAIR IN THE CAR MIRRORS.

If on the bus i will always use my knuckle to press the stop button. Always. Oddly i don't do the same on cash machines, only the bus.

Oh and i have a thing for a clean desk. I get really agitated if the desk is a mess in the morning and start feeling angry and slightly weird. Can't do anything else until the desk is clear.

Ear plugs, have to wear them, even alone in a quiet room I can't fall asleep

snap, although I wouldn't consider it OCD, just the by product if living next to noisy neighbours for 3 years

Mmm yeh lots! Im always doing the aligning thing, it doesn't really upset me but I do have to straighten it up. Things also have to be centralised and symmetrical.
On the bike it really bothers me if things dont match. Cables have to be fairly short and all have to stick forward by the same amount. Bolts cant be different colours etc. I've made specific trips to engineering suppliers before to buy bolts to replace bolts that are fine.... Just the wrong colour.
As above notes in a wallet have to be the right way round.
I even went through a phase of arranging the wardrobe by colour, rainbow stylee.
Don't get me started on the fridge. I could strangle the missus after she's put the shopping away. I mean what kind of freak puts yohguts on every shelf!!
I abandoned the alarm clock in favour of my phone. If there's a clock in front of me it's just wrong to get up on a weird number

I don't think it OCD really but I can't get out of bed in anything less than the multiples of 5 thing. So if I have to get up at 7:05 but missed that and the clock turns to 7:06 I then wait until 7:10. Think it's more laziness than OCD though

Add up series of numbers, do things in multiples of 3 (avoid multiples of 4 AT ALL COSTS!), and I detest treading on the cracks in pavements (does that count? My Dad told me that bears will come out and eat you if you do when I was very little - the fact that I haven't been eaten yet as I have avoided the cracks for 40+ years is surely proof that he was right?).

Fairly convinced that most things on this thread are utterly normal and sensible. Oh dear.

EDIT: Actually, the symmetry thing and the yoghurt / shelf thing are a bit mad. In my opinion. Can't stand symmetry.

A lot of this stuff is just common sense, especially if you live alone.

It takes me 10 minutes to leave the house, have to make sure all switches are off, the gas oven is off, the doors are locked, cat is in correct position. Make sure I have my key at least 20 times.

I am banned from using the stove/oven/cooker in the mornings, after leaving the coffee on the stove and cycling to work, luckily I had a flatmate then who smelt it and work up.

Oh yeah - and fridges - there is a right place for everything in the fridge. I managed to share a fridge by demarcating it into two halves, and ignoring the other side.

Work: can't work if desk is a mess, monitor is squint or anything is sitting not at right angles. Frack me I even delete emails and file them in the right place, thats what makes me a real freak !

But I rarely clean or maintain my bikes properly, so there are limits.

Since having kids most of my OCD like control freakism has been quashed. Entropy is now enforced by two cute girls.

Why are all us OCD freaks prejudice against odd numbers? I'm as guilty as the next cyclist, don't get me wrong, but am I/we numberist?

Cleaning the car after almost every trip...

Similar with the bikes...

This place is the source of all my OCD tendencies.

I'll be back in 4m 38secs.

I like to be symmetrical, so I don't wear my wedding ring, and I don't wear a watch, because I would want one on each wrist. It makes driving a bit frustrating having to sit over on one side of the car.

I also wipe my bum until it bleeds a bit 🙁

Notes in my wallet have to be in order (£20's at the back, £5's at the front) with the queens head facing forward.
Car stereo volume has to be even numbers or multiples of 5

Glad it's not just me!

You lot are all mental!

A lot of that stuff actually sounds familiar to things I do but nowhere near to the extremes some here take them to. Not touching door handles - tho thats more to do with the amount of people I see not washing their hands. Getting out of bed at x.x5 or x.10 is perfectly normal.
Seem to remember hearing/reading we all have OCD, there's just a massive variation.

Couple of things no-ones mentioned probably just me being anal not OCD, I can't stand bread getting squashed and hate people/anything touching my disc rotors

Oh yeah the bank notes - have to be all with the Queens head facing the same way - thats from working in a bank many years ago (so Princess te Puia and Ed Hilary not the Queen) and it just seemed to make sense.

sink in the kitchen has to be clean, rest of the house can be a disaster area but the sink has to be clean

cutlery drawers that aren't L-R fork, knife, spoon freak me out too, got to be arranged how they go on the table

Numbers thing for me too. Mine are multiples of 3. My alarm is set at 6.54 am and get up 21 mins later (3 snoozes). Amp volume for the TV needs to be set at 45, 48, 54, 57, 58.5 etc. Try to avoid 6 though, that's not good, although not always possible. 😯
Wash hands far too much. Hate the feeling of touching something strange/ dirty then feeling it on my finger tips. Washing hands cures it.
Used to chech doors but I have cured that one. 🙂
Edit; Cutlery needs to all face the same way in its drawer.

CDs in alphabetical order (I've got a lot of em, so it makes sense). Apart from that... nothing. I'm weird in other ways... like just [i]having[/i] to have new music to listen to every day. New, as in never heard before, just released. It gets expensive.

Funniest thread EVER!

Keep it coming guys

My problem is that I'm so used to double-checking my front door is locked, that I don't pay attention whilst I'm doing it.........so I have to double-check that I've double-checked

This will just snowball surely!

I constantly find myself tidying up the local supermarket, lining up the tin labels and picking the ones I want from the back so as not to mess up the pattern. I also line up my food on the conveyor belt so there's no gaps.

I drive my girlfriend insane by making neat piles of everything we own that's not put away. I don't organise it logically or anything, I just line it up in a pile, biggest stuff at the bottom.

I switch all the sockets off in the kitchen before I go to bed, and my girlfriends has to physically restrain me if I hear a flatmate use an electrical thing in the kitchen when I'm already in bed. Oh dear.

This reminds me of my early school years when i was very insecure. Used to do the 3 times thing for brushing teeth and sucking water off the brush. It soon became 3x3 times, so i would do things 9 times.
I remember if things were the wrong way up, i just had to change it and make it right.
Have any of you tried to just stop. Just walk away and leave it? What happens? I did as a 17 year old and have never done anything like it since.

EDIT: Actually, the symmetry thing and the yoghurt / shelf thing are a bit mad

Have any of you tried to just stop. Just walk away and leave it? What happens?

Surely the world was expole?..... no wait your head!

Before getting into bed the pillows have to be perfectly aligned with an even amount of space on all sides.

Ditto the last bean in the tin thing, smaller tins prove more of a challenge.

I do those multiple things too!

When I'm walking somewhere I have to count the number of steps I've taken. I always have to end on a multiple of 50, so I can often be seen walking on the spot or in small circles once I've reached my destination, just to tally it upto the right amount.

Its pretty daft but I've found if I lengthen or shorten my stride I can sometimes reach my destination on an exact multiple.

I leave draws slightly open and cupboard doors slightly a jar whan I am at my gf's house. Then sit back and watch her closing the lot without her knowing she is doing it. Not really ocd but entertaing none the less.

Checking to make sure I have locked the door, both the house and car....not sure if its OCD or just the fact that I forget!

I use to move things slightly, sugar, tea, coffee etc, then watch my brother put them straight as he walked past....

Doors windows of course. Notes in the right order? Doesn't everyone do this?

Stacking the dishwasher is getting quite OCD. Everything has it's own place. I've been know to completely empty a full (incorrectly stacked) machine of all the dirty dishes and cutlery and restack it.

I can't believe I wrote that.

Checking to make sure I have locked the door, both the house and car....not sure if its OCD or just the fact that I forget!

This is a major one for me as well, stems from having my car broken into and being burgled.

I'm just way too frickin lazy to be OCD.

Some nights I compulsively sit on the sofa, thinking about the unwashed dishes in the sink, or if I turned the gas hob off. I just wait until my wine glass is empty and check this stuff when I get a refill. Sometimes the hob is on, the dishes are always still dirty. I'll turn the hob off, take the bottle back to the living room and ignore the dishes.

I used to have to touch things an even number of times and with the opposite side of the body that I first touched it with, also the TV volume had to be an even number, also lots of other little idiosyncrasys.
Fortuneately since the birth of my kids I no longer do them (too busy doing other things), although I still check the doors are locked several times before going to bed, and check the gas is off on the cooker hob. Which is probably because the wife has a habit of leaving doors unlocked and she has left the cooker on a few times as well.

What is the opposite of OCD? I've got that...