Whats it mean if I keep thinking about numbers most of the time?

Question

I hate maths by the way

it gets worse when im stressed or unhappy

Answer 1

Well many things, if you worry and have to count numbers perhaps OCD some Anxiety, but maybe you are a mathematician at heart. You could just very well be skilled at Math! Or just a natural thing. But if you do worry and have to count stuff like that, then maybe you might want to read more about OCD, if this is causing interference in your life.

Answer 2

Do you mean you are counting the whole time? I used to when I was younger: counting the number of biscuits while eating them (I hated uneven numbers...), number of sips from a glass, the drawings on the wallpaper (so many across, so many from ceiling to floor...). When looking at say telephone numbers, I would always try to find a "pattern" etc.etc. etc. I don´t do it anymore, I suppose I grew out of it. I think I did it as a way to be in control, to keep the chaos at bay. I realised it was not something everybody else does all the time, but I wasn't´t too worried about it either. It was annoying at times, but only to me, it didn't´t really affect my daily life. It was just my little "tic", something I did especially when under a lot of stress. I think I grew out of it, not because my life is less stressful (on the contrary!) but I can handle it a lot better. I also realised that I am only human, that humans sometimes make mistakes but that that is not the end of the world. Some things you can´t control and rather than get very worried and uptight about it, it is better to go with the flow......

Answer 3

It sounds like a mild obsessive problem. I think a lot of people have it to some extent, but if it makes you unhappy or interferes with your life or relationships you could get some help for it. Most doctors would recommend Cognitive Behaviour Therapy which gives you techniques to help stop. There is a long waiting list on the NHS though, so if you are interested chat to your doctor asap.

Answer 4

It looks like a simple escape mechanism to try to dull the pain from stress and / or unhappiness.

To deal with the number issue, try to use my modified form of Transcendental meditation:

Pick a word / or a sound. Let us call this your mantra. Do not tell anyone your mantra.

As you sit, lie, stand or walk repeat the mantra silently in you mind. If you get distracted, just calmly continue. This should be done for maybe 20 or 30 minutes once or twice a day.

Of course, a key goal for you could be love and be loved. (Short term, like and be liked.)

Answer 5

Are you thinking about numbers constantly and it's intrusive to your life? Like...you're trying to listen to a conversation and all you can think is random numbers?
If that's the case, I would say you may have some OCD issues going on. It all depends on whether it's disrupting your life. If it's just a corky thing that you do....don't worry about it. Focusing on it alot can make it worse.
You'd be surprised the odd things that go on in people's minds.
Example for me....sometimes when I walk by doors in hallways I count the number of jams with my steps. It's definetly weird, but not OCD. Because I have to use my brain to the point of mental exhaustion at work, I think it's just my brain's way of 'doing something' since it's used to always over-working....sound weird?
That's okay....I'm okay with it and it doesn't intrude on my life.

Answer 6

There is a simple answer to this question, and the clue lies in some of the other answers given here.

Some people, especially children, know exactly the number of steps on a staircase or the number and letters of car number plates. In your case you are counting numbers.

People do this to reassure themselves. (Nb. You're doing it when you're stressed). Counting numbers gives you a sense of security. In the case of steps, you know that every time you count them, there will *always* be the same number of steps on that particular staircase. You prove yourself 'right'. Every time you count them it always adds up to (say) 15. You can say 'See, I told you so. I was right. It's fifteen'.

When I was young I had particular numbers/places that I used to count - and when I go back to those places now, I still count them to 'prove myself right'.

It's a form of reassurance.

The cause is another matter. (Low self esteem -*sometimes*)

Answer 7

maybe you hate maths, but my guess is that youre still good at it?

some peoples brains just function like that - some people think in pictures and some people think in numbers. theres a guy whos just released a book about it - dont remember his name but the books called 'born on a blue day', if you fancy checking that out :)

Answer 8

It seems like an 'anchor,' if this occurs more so when you are stressed.

Numbers remain 'fixed,' they immutable' and are not something that wavers. Maybe they are the anchor for you which you mind reaches out to for stability.

In my teens, I felt that I was in danger of driving myself crazy with 'colours.' As we drove the route I would call out (in my head) the colours of the front doors of houses as we passed, and I must not miss a door either. It took me quite a while to stop myself.

I 'hated' maths (it had to do with their style of teaching), and - I would (again) drive myself crazy with adding up the numbers on car number plates ....then taking the number arrived at and doubling it - because the twin plate lives on the other end of the car too.

I found out that there were other 'things' you could do with the numbers, and I got into that to ....with two results. 1) I had to stop it because l was driving me nuts, 2) l had become very good at mental arithmetic ....and surprising a number of people as a result.

For myself, l think my 'state' had to do with my relationship with my father (his instant, "Oh, you can do better than that" - without any clear evidence or proof that I could!), and with school, where all evidence pointed to, and clearly demonstrated that, my father was 'Wrong,' I could NOT do better.

A few years after my father died, I met a woman who had nursed him, and in conversation she told me, "Your father was very proud of you"..........

That information was all but a 'Killer,' to me!

I didn't disbelieve her at all, but apart from her testimony, I had nothing to show from him that he was anything but disappointed. It hurt ...hurt that he could not tell me so himself, it hurt that he hadn't the courage to tell me. It hurt that he had left me to flounder in the knowledge that 'I could never do anything well enough…..’

...sufficiently to satisfy him.'

Try to find out more about your Self ~ and best not done on your own.

best of luck.
Sash.

Answer 9

I need to see certain numbers on the clock before I go to work and this (in my mind) ensures that I will have a good day. Is that the sort of thing that you mean?

Answer 10

honestly, see a psycologist. they are trained to help, and they help a lot better than a lot of the people on this website whos advise is that you're losing your marbles.:) it could be that you count things a lot.....my brother does that a lot- he can tell you the number of steps in every building hes been in more then once...it could just be a little weired habit like that....but really, see a psycologist if it bothers you that much