Do I have OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)?

Question

I do NOT have the major symptoms of OCD (counting things, washing hands or doing other routines obsessively, etc.) However, I do sometimes suffer major anxiety over little things that no one else would notice, but I notice. For example, a purse that I bought had a tiny, miniscule, unnoticeable (except by me, when I look very closely) scratch on the brass buckle, and I obsessed over it like crazy! Everyone told me you could barely see it, but yet I let it bother me for weeks. It's only when I buy new things, whether it's clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. I will find something wrong with it, usually it is barely noticeable, like a tiny scratch that nobody will even see, and I fixate on it. It has to be perfect. Usually I just end up making myself miserable. Is this OCD? Its the only OCD-ish symptom I would have? Thanks for any answers. Serious answers only, please! Ive used Yahoo answers before, and some people can be mean in their responses. Just looking for answers.

Answer 1

That's not OCD.

What you should do is step out of that perfect shell of yours. You're thinking that if you strive for perfection people will like you more.You tend to cover up "unpleasant" things with "perfect little" things that will hardly be noticed.

Answer 2

Oh gosh. Without more information, it would be impossible to speculate. I relate to you, in the sense that I am a "perfectionist" & nothing wrong with that. I don't want chips, scratches or anything imperfect on something I buy. I also take incredible care of the things that I already have. A teeny little scratch in a vase can tell me--this isn't going to last! (& it doesn't.) I suspect that some of your answers were evoked by your "focus" on the things that you say fixate you. I wonder, does any other "imperfection" bother you. No, it certainly doesn't seem you have OCD. But. This is noteworthy enough to you to ask about it. So, what is it? People are irritated, & "miserable"about a lot of things. It's when they impact your life that you need to explore them. So, I'm back at square one!

Answer 3

You have identified an obsession, but I don't see a compulsion.

Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts that you can't stop. It sounds like you do this with new things. If it happens all the time, I'd say it's an obsession.

Compulsions are time-consuming and often unreasonable things that people do to ease the anxiety over the obsession. If you spent a long time each day trying to mend the tiny little flaws in your things, that's a compulsion, and I'd say you might meet diagnostic criteria for OCD.

Answer 4

I think what your problem is is not OCD. I believe it may be that you are having issues with something inside yourself. Maybe at one time, you were judged by someone who found faults in you, instead of pinpointing the wonderful qualities that you possess. So later on in your life, you seek out imperfections, or flaws in the items that you purchased, for these items are actually a reflection upon yourself.

Answer 5

Thats not OCD by any means.

You likely have some insecurities about how you are perceived by others. Its seems as if you feel these new items you buy are these things make you, portray who you are, determine your worth, your appearance, your value.

Did you grow up without money? Did you grow up feeling like the odd one out? You have some other issues here stemming from how you feel you may have or are perceived by others.

I get the feeling these things drive you crazy because you feel if you notice them others can too and it they can what will they think of you? Does this seem about right?

Answer 6

That's not a particularly OCDish symptom, however I will tell you that EVERYONE has OCD to some degree. Everyone.

The particular symptom you described is more associated with being anal retentive... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anal_retentive