Does anyone on here tonight suffer from OCD?

Question

That's obsessive-compulsive disorder for you college educated people. :)

Answer 1

As a matter of fact, I do. I'm able to control most of it, and I only find myself obsessing when I'm depressed or under a lot of stress.

I never realized how serious the problem was until people started pointing it out to me. That's when I realized that my canned and dry goods were arranged not only according to food type (fruits, veggies, etc.) but also according to size, color, and alphabetical order. Same thing with spices, cooking oils and flavored vinegars.

Silverware has to be lined up just so, and it must stay stacked when I close the drawer. Dishtowels, bath towels, washcloths all must be folded as only I can fold them. And they have to hang evenly. The clothes in my closets and drawers hang in, or are arranged in, the same direction. Papers must be in neat stacks. My books are lined up like soldiers in a row, arranged by size, author, type. My movie collection is arranged by type, also --drama, action, horror, comedy... and alphabetized. I create for myself so much extra work by doing this.

When I'm really stressed, I count. The patterns in the floor, nail holes in walls, syllables in a sentence. Everything must come out to an even number, or a multiple of 5. If not, I'll redo my patterns and counts until they do. Only then can I relax.

I wash my hands obsessively, and keep a bottle of hand sanitizer at each sink and in my purse. I insist that my kids carry it to school, because I'm paranoid about getting sick. I even wash my hands after each cigarette, and I usually brush my teeth after each one, also.

A friend of mine, who is also a psychiatrist, pointed my OCD out to me years ago, but I didn't believe him. Then the TV show 20/20 ran a feature on the disorder with a series of test questions afterwards. I nailed every single symptom, and then some.

I was able to overcome much of this by realizing that I am a wonderfully unique person, and completely worthy of being myself without having to be concerned with what others think of me. I gave myself permission to stop obsessing constantly, and to be forgiving of what I might see as my own faults, and the faults of others.

This was no easy feat, and required much reading, talking, crying, letting go. It worked a little too well, and I ended up as having practically no ego whatsoever. I hadn't yet learned to strike a balance, and for years I was a bit of a slob.

Now, however, I've basically found the appropriate middle ground for me. I find that I like neat cupboards because it makes things easier to find, but things are no longer arranged by label, or alphabetically. It's OK if my silverware doesn't stack, and since the towels are in a cabinet, who cares?

I still keep my books and movies in order because it saves me time when I want to read or watch something. I'm still fussy about papers.But I no longer count or wash my hands after each cigarette. I'm sure there are other things I've missed, but I've made a huge improvement in my life.

Except for now, that is. You know what's been going on around here for the past five weeks. Yes, my OCD is showing, but I do want things to be perfect. After tomorrow, life returns to normal.

Answer 2

OCD may be very actual and really tough for any individual with it, however to assume your spouse (or spouse to be), to live via the principles that you've got put in situation on your possess existence is asking quite a lot of her. If she were to reside her lifestyles by these ideas, then now not only would she be enabling you to stay inside the protection zones you've gotten created, however she would most definitely grow to resent the OCD and how it impacts you - for some individuals there's no difference between the 2 and so they could just resent the individual, not the situation. Have you ever had counselling for this? What about anti-anxiety medicinal drugs? I know any person who has OCD (amongst other things) and due to the fact he has been on the anti-anxiousness meds, it has made a large difference to his outlook on life, his routines aren't as inflexible as they had been before and he's virtually interacting more with the world and enjoying it. There are most likely still disorders there, however they don't seem to be as overwhelming and limiting as they had been earlier. Please take some steps to support your self

Answer 3

I am abit of it, or so i think! I'm obsessing on emptying my cellphone's inbox and sent items before i go to sleep. It's for a fresh start by the next morning.

Answer 4

Thank god I don't.
I thought I did once when I was a kid, I thought looking at girls boobs was an OCD but I believe it's a normal thing.

Answer 5

Obsessed with Cloning Dinosaurs?

Why yes, actually.....*blush*

Answer 6

I actually do. Not too many people know that about me, but it's something I've dealt with for a long time now. Oh well... I manage somehow.

Answer 7

Yuppers. Me. :) Bipolar too. Isn't modern medicine wonderful. Hehe

Answer 8

Well, if you were college educated you would see this is a Religion & Spirituality section!

(see what happens when you have to be cocky?)

Answer 9

Yes I know.
There are a few of us that are obsessed with being the ultimate Zilla

Answer 10

I like to open all my cabinets and close them again for no reason.


And eat New York.