i think i might have OCD? what do i do about it?

Question

when it comes to things like loading the dishwasher or things i just dont want to do, i get kind of careless, but always have to sort the forks and knives so taht they are all together, no matter what. When i am writing notes in class, it has to be 100% perfect. if i make 1 mistake while using pen, i will rip the whole page out and rewrite it. I dont like getting photocopied notes, so i have to rewrite them myself. if the posters in my room arent perfectly straight i feel funny and i wont be able to leave the room or go to sleep unless they are straightened. If my blinds arent lined up, i will get the same feeling. i have to organise all my folders in my computer so they all have a place to go. my closet has to be color coordinated or else i get that strange feeling. i just do weird things like that. Is it OCD? if not what is it and what can i do about it?
*more details below*

i am also very paranoid about locking doors, and i always check them 3 times before i can walk away from it.
i dont know if im a perfectionist or if i have OCD. sometimes it feels like one more than the other. im not sure.

Answer 1

It could be a small case of OCD, or it could be perfectionism, or both. I tend to think that everyone is a bit OCD, even if it's not something that's life altering or debilitating (like washing your hands 50 times, or cleaning your kitchen 10 times a day). If it's something that really bothers you, you can talk to your doctor. They can set you up with a Phsychologist who can put you on medication. It doesn't sound like it's debilitating to you, more of a bit of perfectionism with just a small bit of OCD mixed in.

Answer 2

I think it is either OCD or OCPD. I have OCPD because it is only organizational and particular things I have to fix not checking locks and whatnot. It also describes my personality perfectly.

Also known as:

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is characterized by a person who has a decreased ability to show warm and tender emotions, a perfectionism that decreases the ability to see the larger picture, difficulty in doing things anyway but their own, and an excessive devotion to work, as well as indecisiveness. Essentially, everything must be just right, and nothing can be left to chance.


Personality disorder characterized by at least 3 of the following:

A. feelings of excessive doubt and caution;
B. preoccupation with details, rules, lists, order, organization or schedule;
C. perfectionism that interferes with task completion;
D. excessive conscientiousness, scrupulousness, and undue preoccupation with productivity to the exclusion of pleasure and interpersonal relationships;
E. excessive pedantry and adherence to social conventions;
rigidity and stubbornness;
F. unreasonable insistence by the patient that others submit to exactly his or her way of doing things, or unreasonable reluctance to allow others to do things;
G. intrusion of insistent and unwelcome thoughts or impulses



I know exactly how you feel, and although I hate having to worry about if things are in order or not, I am glad someone else is like me. My closet must be in order by color and length and all my hangers are the same type. I cannot stand it when I have to take photocopied notes, I always recopy them myself. I cannot eat certain foods because of their texture. If I see something off by just a little bit, I will fix it to where it is straight. All my folders on my computer are organized in their perfect place. I have to write on 2 sheets of wide ruled paper only. I write in black ink only. If someone marks on my paper with another color I rewrite the whole entire paper or I throw it away. All of my shampoo's and conditioner's and body wash and whatnot, in the shower are organized by height. My blinds must face upwards, not down. There are many other things but I am tired of mentioning them. Anyhow, you get my point. I hope the OCPD thing helped, and if you think it is a little stronger then that, possibly see a doctor. (I am not sure what the protocall is.)

I don't know how old you are but I am 16 and on this website it says that these traits are in full effect around that age, which was another red flag to me. Let me know if I was any help!

Ashley
NC

Answer 3

Call with any problem, anytime:
Girls and Boys Town National Hotline
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
They have the trained professionals
to help you with this.
Help is just a call away. <}:-})

Answer 4

if you think these issues are effecting you and stopping you with moving on in your life...i would be concerned other than that i wouldn't make it a huge issue...i am OCD b/c of certain things in my past and it hasn't effected me in excelling in life or any of that...why be put on meds when it isn't necessary...