Do i have a form of OCD?

Question

When i am writting a note, letter or copying a web address onto paper, I stop and restart around 10 times untill my writting is perfectly neat, I also get mad if it isn't neat. I can't stop myself re-writting it till it's perfect, is this a form of OCD, or is this just normal?

Answer 1

It sounds to me like OCD...especially if you don't want to do this activity, but can't keep yourself from doing it--like a calling. This aspect would differentiate OCD from mere perfectionism. OCD waxes and wanes with anxiety. It is usually not the problem but a symptom of something else going on in your life. OCD is normal in the sense that we all want to feel that we have some sense of control over our lives (externally-situational and internally-emotional) and when we feel that we have lost this control we naturally will engage in behavior to reestablish it.

We each have different and many coping mechanisms. Some people drink or do drugs, others work a lot or take yoga and for millions of obsessive compulsives, rituals are the preferred choice. Only you can determine how much distress this is causing you. And if it is interfering with your quality of life than I would suggest seeking support for the stress producing events in your life NOT for the OCD.

Some people that suffer from OCD have difficulty expressing their emotions. In some cases this was learned early in life when a child’s expressed emotions were ignored, denied or ridiculed. These feelings of helplessness, failure and shame reverberate into adulthood and OCD is a way to ward off these feelings via obsessive checking (reduces fear of unknown/helplessness), perfectionism (reduces fear of failure) and washing (reduces feelings of shame). Since the child (now adult) was robbed of this vital tool, this needs to be honored before all else.

My sister had OCD since she was little. She tried every medication known to human and nothing worked. As she got older (26 years old now) she outgrew many of her rituals. Much of her success can be attributed to the various coping skills she gained in life and that she accepted the OCD as a part of who she was and not an enemy she had to fight. Being at war with yourself is hard on the mind, body and SOUL.

Answer 2

Almost everyone has something that they tend to be anal-retentive about. Just as long as it does not become a problem wherein it is affecting your life and those around you, I would not worry about it.

Believe it or not, once out of grammer school, not many people care if your handwriting is neat. You should work harder on your spelling than your handwriting. It is "writing" and "until". A till is something you put money in. In your application of the word, it is an abreviation of the word 'until' and hence in poetic circles would be written 'til.

Your time is way too precious to waste on re-writing the same thing over and over again to give it "eye appeal" to yourself.

Answer 3

You need to talk to a real, live doctor about this...

having said that, it sounds like you likely DO have OCD

it can be lived with, counseling, behaviour modification therapy, perhaps even some meds to help you with the brain chemistry that causes this compulsive, repetitive behaviour.

Please DO get to your doctor's, I've worked with people who have untreated OCD, it rules their lives, disrupts their ability to do their work well, takes up more and more of their time....

oh, by the way.... GO EASY ON YOURSELF....

no one or no thing is "perfect".... and that's why life can be such an interesting place...

we all have 'glitches'....

good luck sweetie

Answer 4

I don't believe it is OCD. You may have a mild form of OCP, Obsessive Compulsive Personality. I've seen it referred to as OCPD, or Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder, as well.

I never knew there was any other 'category' than OCD until I did research due to some of my own 'behaviors'. I found that I have OCP, rather than OCD.

I have many 'behaviors' but as one basic example, I'm extremely meticulous. I have a specific place for every item in my home and office. If an item is even a hair out of place, it makes me nuts until it's 'fixed'.

My doctor is aware of the OCP, and has never suggested medication. In her opinion, what I deal with is more of a nuisance for me than something to be medically treated in my case.

You may or may not have OCP, but you definitely don't have OCD if you're simply overly meticulous about your handwriting and that's your only obsessive behavior. And as others have said, you may not even have an obsessive/compulsive issue. It may just be that you're extremely particular about your penmanship!

Answer 5

I do the exact same thing when it comes to writing notes and letters. I don't think we need to go to the doctor because of it and I sure as heck don't think we need to take Zoloft. What we need to
do is stop being such crazy perfectionists!

P.S. Did I mention that we DON'T need to take Zoloft?!?

Answer 6

That could be a form of OCD. Try some Zoloft.

Answer 7

read "Personality Plus" by F. Littauer.....it might be out of print, but is always available on half.com

it will help you understand yourself & others as well...

O.C.D. ? Probably not, just a bit of a perfectionist....like me

Be Blessed <><

Answer 8

This is a mild example of obsessive compulsive behaviour. Try to live with it as it is who you are. You are not alone.

Answer 9

Talk to your doctor. Don't get medical advice from the internet.

Answer 10

Sounds that way, get some help before it gets worse.