Does anyone else do this?

[Courtneylub]

I''m not sure if this is the correct forum for this question, but here goes. For as long as I can remember, when I see letters or numbers, I add them together in increments of 5 and I get just a tiny bit of satisfaction if it totals 10, 15, 20, etc. I even do this in the car reading signs or while watching TV. What does this mean and do any of you do anything like this?

 

[indypitty]

No, I don't do that exactly, but I do something very similar. I sometimes mentally count the number of letters in words. Like you, I have a little formula I do in my head and like the number to be evenly divisible. Weird, I know.

I hate to say this, but I think it's a VERY MILD symptom of OCD, because it's considered a ritual. I saw Billy Bob Thornton in an interview once, and he has a bunch of these little rituals he does.

 

[somethingshiny]

My little sis actually adds up all the letters in a sentence and divides by the number of words. Her goal is to have at least 5 letters avg. I do think it''s some form of OCD. Especially with her, because she does it while people are speaking.

I used to spell spoken words incessantly. (while holding my breath) Then I began "typing" them. Eventually I broke myself of it (by around 15-16)

Up until just about 4 years ago, I could only walk one way around counters, islands, etc. I just had to go clock wise. I started forcing myself to go the other way around and eventually broke that too.

The one thing that I can''t break myself of is counting while doing things. Like with sweeping, with each sweep I count but only up to 4 and then start again. In my head I keep track of how many 4''s I''ve counted and I can''t stop on any number but 4.

I kind of think that it''s not really a bad thing if it''s not interfering with performing your normal routine. (my spelling would get in the way of conversation for example). I would think it keeps your mind sharp.

 

[icekid]

It''s called a bit of OCD... join the club

 

[packrat]

I do weird counting things and things with words too, and wondered if it was a form of OCD.

If I''m out walking and step on a crack in the sidewalk with one foot in a specific spot-like the ball of my foot or in the middle..I have to alter my stride and do the same thing on the other foot. I can "feel" the spot on my foot and it irritates the heck out of me until I "even it out" by doing the same on the other foot.

 

[doodle]

The whole OCD thing bugs me because nowadays, any quirk gets labeled as OCD, even if 20 years ago, it would''ve been merely idiosyncratic. I have dozens of weird little things like this, as do most people I know, so no, courtneylub, the cheese doesn''t stand alone!

I''m a chronic counter--if my husband gets out of the car to pump gas, for example, I''ll count while he''s out of the car, in increments of 100, then when he gets back in the car, I''ll total the increments together and divide by 60 to see how many minutes it took him to pump the gas. Any time someone mentions a certain number of something being present, I have to count to make sure they''re accurate (case in point, the Verizon commercial where the guy says something like, "so these ten sprinkles [on the ice cream] represent our friends and family" blah blah blah, I have to count to make sure there are ten sprinkles. I also consistently play the alphabet game with myself on road trips (the one where you have to find a sign, bumper sticker, whatever, with a word containing the letter "a", then "b", etc.). I don''t think doing these kinds of things is OCD at all, the exception being if you absolutely can''t cope or believe something bad will happen if you''re unable to complete the ritual. For most people, I think it''s just humans being humans--we''re easily bored and constantly looking for stimulation...even if that happens to come from sprinkles in a Verizon commercial.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I have OCD and count too. For example, when at the grocery store, I count how many plastic produce bags I rip off the dispenser.

My case use to be much worse, back in my teens, like I''d check the door locks 10 times or the clock alarm multiple times and as I grew older I broke those habits.

 

[FrekeChild]

I add things or find patterns or *things* in numbers. For instance:

Our wedding date: January 9, 2010 1.9.10
1+9=10 (this pleases the math nerd in FI, and was chosen for this reason.)

My birthdate: April 22, 1982 aka 4.22.82
4=2+2
8=2x4
4+2+2=8/2=4

A phone number: 730-0031
7+3+0+0+0+3+1=14
14/2=7
OR
3+0+0+0+3+1=7

ETC.

Things that repeat a lot make me happy, or there already is a pattern. I don't feel the need to mess with those.

I also have a bit of a photographic memory when it comes to short series of numbers. That's weird. Mostly because I hate numbers and math.

But yeah there are tons of sequences that I'll come up with. I have rituals and patterns and things that I do, and I already know I have mild OCD (obsessive type).

ETA: I just read through my post and I think I sound nuts.

 

[icekid]

Date: 6/6/2009 7:52:10 PM
Author: MC

My case use to be much worse, back in my teens, like I''d check the door locks 10 times or the clock alarm multiple times and as I grew older I broke those habits.

I do this with the alarm clock, though not as badly as I used to. These days my husband is even involved. I make him check my alarm too. Then I''ll be trying to sleep for 20 min, sit up, and check it a few more times..

(as if I''ve EVER overslept!)

 

[somethingshiny]

doodle~ I count the Verizon sprinkles too. Like I think they wouldn''t have checked it before they paid to put it on tv or something!!

Freke~ Your number game is something similar to what I do, too. Although, I don''t consider it weird at all. It''s just my way of remembering numbers. I still remember phone numbers from when I was a kid--of people I haven''t talked to in 15-20 years!


And, I got to thinking. We''re all on a jewelry forum where numbers mean a lot. We''re obviously number oriented or we wouldn''t find the satisfaction in a well cut stone. Like, we "see" numbers more than normal people. So, my bet is most PSers have at least a few idiosyncrasies, whether obsessive or not. (I''ll be glad to run the numbers if you really do want to make a wager...)

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I don''t but I know my aunt and cousin assign colors to words and numbers. Not really sure how but I always thought that was interesting.

 

[Courtneylub]

I didn''t even consider OCD. I don''t have any other symptoms of OCD at all. If anything, I can be just the opposite. What if it''s just a hint of geniusness?

 

[ChinaCat]

Court- I''ll vote for geniusness!!! Ha!

I don''t do any counting, but I have a friend who does something about adding up the number of lines in the letters of words she sees and then having to make them add up to certain numbers or something.

I know I do some weird stuff cause I once had a friend who found it amusing and would point it out to me, but I can never think of it.

I do assign "personalities" and gender to colors and numbers, and try not to put certain ones together if I can help it b/c they either "don''t get along" or because I don''t want one to be near the other. I don''t think this is OCD, but I do think it''s kinda weird.

I think everyone has little habits and I don''t think they make you OCD, I think they make you interesting!!!

 

[Dreamer_D]

You are all crazy! LOL!

I''ve never heard of this and when Court posted I though, "How funny!" and then you all chimed in!

I don''t do this but I''m sure I do other strange things. Actually I just thought of it... I pick at my cuticles

That''s OCD too. I''d rather count numbers, it is a less annoying habit.

And Shiny, don''t be too wierded out by the OCD label... ALL forms of mental illness are extreme versions of normal behavior. You all are describing OC behaviour, just leave off the D

(for disorder...)

 

[doodle]

freke, i do all that stuff, too, exactly, haha! i have an insane recall of numbers, like I can hear a friend say their social security number once, and fifteen years later still remember it accurately. my best friend bar tends at a small privately owned pizza place, and they got out of the ordinary swamped one night, so she turned to me and said, "i know you don''t work here, but i may need you to help me serve!" i told her to hand me a menu and the liquor pricing list--it took me fifteen minutes to memorize the entire thing, including every liquor under each price category. it tends to be pretty useful.

 

[Lilac]

I need to do things an uneven number of times - like if I touch something once or twice, I feel like I need to either 3 times, or 5 times, etc. My husband even knows this by now and if he kisses or hugs me twice, he automatically says "oh wait, that was only 2 times, you need one more." Not sure where that little OCD thing came from, but I just can''t seem to stop doing it no matter how silly I know it is.

My grandmother always used to tell me if I left one piece of food on my plate it would be really lonely, so now I feel like I can never do anything just once or leave over just one thing - it always needs to be more than one, but since I don''t like even numbers, it needs to be at least 3! She made me crazy!!!

 

[Steel]

I organise numbers as I look at them. To see can I make them equal any set of numbers like 3's 5's etc. For example I just saw a property price which was £225k I looked at the number and saw that 2 is repeated but is the same number. It is one (1) number. 2+2+1 = 5 which is the third number. I never questioned it until I opened this thread.

I use this to remember numbers too; like phone numbers or amounts for exam questions.

Actually, when I was doing my exams I always referenced one fact by another so am used to seeing patterns when perhaps there are none.

 

[lulu]

I think it''s mild ocd. I had a lot of those behaviors as a child but when I started taking antidepressants they disappeared. I thought I was the only one who did this kind of stuff. I think it develops in childhood to make yourself feel safe ie: if I say all these nightime prayers in the same order every night then everything will be fine, no one will get hurt. The worst one was touching everything an even number of times. And I went back to the house a million times to make sure the stove was off. Glad they''re all gone. Although on occasion I still do type words in my head.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 6/6/2009 9:11:25 PM
Author: somethingshiny
And, I got to thinking. We''re all on a jewelry forum where numbers mean a lot. We''re obviously number oriented or we wouldn''t find the satisfaction in a well cut stone. Like, we ''see'' numbers more than normal people. So, my bet is most PSers have at least a few idiosyncrasies, whether obsessive or not. (I''ll be glad to run the numbers if you really do want to make a wager...)

I''m not at all obsessed with adding numbers up like some here seem to be

. . .probably why I''m so dependant upon my calculator. . .*however* speaking of being a member of PS and the one way it''s impacted me is whenever I see watch a baseball game and it shows the batting average of say .29 or .35, I always see those numbers as diamond weights!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 6/6/2009 8:14:41 PM
Author: icekid

Date: 6/6/2009 7:52:10 PM
Author: MC

My case use to be much worse, back in my teens, like I''d check the door locks 10 times or the clock alarm multiple times and as I grew older I broke those habits.

I do this with the alarm clock, though not as badly as I used to. These days my husband is even involved. I make him check my alarm too. Then I''ll be trying to sleep for 20 min, sit up, and check it a few more times..

(as if I''ve EVER overslept!)

With the alarm clock, I trained myself that if I did accidently forget to turn it on and my kids were late for school one day, in the scheme of things, it''d be no big deal.

I''m not sure if my checking of things started because of the way I was raised. My dad would yell at the top of his lungs at me if I accidently left the fridge ajar or left the element on the stove on. From there, I developed the need to qualdruple check everything to avoid getting into trouble. As an adult, I learned that none of that matters and haven''t double checked the fridge in over ten years. What is super annoying is the new fridge we have *BEEPS* every 30 seconds once the door has been left open for a minute. So, as I''m picking through food to find stuff for dinner, the d*mn thing beeps over and over. It drives me nuts. I cannot find the off switch!

 

[icekid]

Date: 6/7/2009 2:30:36 PM
Author: MC

Date: 6/6/2009 8:14:41 PM

Author: icekid

Date: 6/6/2009 7:52:10 PM

Author: MC


My case use to be much worse, back in my teens, like I''d check the door locks 10 times or the clock alarm multiple times and as I grew older I broke those habits.

I do this with the alarm clock, though not as badly as I used to. These days my husband is even involved. I make him check my alarm too. Then I''ll be trying to sleep for 20 min, sit up, and check it a few more times..

(as if I''ve EVER overslept!)

With the alarm clock, I trained myself that if I did accidently forget to turn it on and my kids were late for school one day, in the scheme of things, it''d be no big deal.


!

MC- The problem is it WOULD be a big deal if I were to oversleep. The thing that makes this exceptionally ridiculous is that I always wake up before my alarm goes off anyway

 

[Mrs]

Date: 6/7/2009 1:35:14 AM
Author: dreamer_dachsie
You are all crazy! LOL!

I''ve never heard of this and when Court posted I though, ''How funny!'' and then you all chimed in!


I don''t do this but I''m sure I do other strange things. Actually I just thought of it... I pick at my cuticles

That''s OCD too. I''d rather count numbers, it is a less annoying habit.


And Shiny, don''t be too wierded out by the OCD label... ALL forms of mental illness are extreme versions of normal behavior. You all are describing OC behaviour, just leave off the D

(for disorder...)

DD, I pick at my cuticles too! Sometimes so much that they bleed

yuck! I''d rather count numbers as well!!!

 

[icekid]

Date: 6/7/2009 9:44:31 PM
Author: Mrs

Date: 6/7/2009 1:35:14 AM

Author: dreamer_dachsie

You are all crazy! LOL!

I''ve never heard of this and when Court posted I though, ''How funny!'' and then you all chimed in!



I don''t do this but I''m sure I do other strange things. Actually I just thought of it... I pick at my cuticles

That''s OCD too. I''d rather count numbers, it is a less annoying habit.



And Shiny, don''t be too wierded out by the OCD label... ALL forms of mental illness are extreme versions of normal behavior. You all are describing OC behaviour, just leave off the D

(for disorder...)

DD, I pick at my cuticles too! Sometimes so much that they bleed

yuck! I''d rather count numbers as well!!!

meh.. I suffer from this affliction, as well

 

[chrono]

I've never heard of such a thing and am surprised to learn of people actually doing this.

I suppose it is done unconsciously and when the numbers are even or rounded, you get some sort of internal satisfaction?

 

[indypitty]

Date: 6/7/2009 2:10:24 PM
Author: lulu
I think it''s mild ocd. I had a lot of those behaviors as a child but when I started taking antidepressants they disappeared. I thought I was the only one who did this kind of stuff. I think it develops in childhood to make yourself feel safe ie: if I say all these nightime prayers in the same order every night then everything will be fine, no one will get hurt. The worst one was touching everything an even number of times. And I went back to the house a million times to make sure the stove was off. Glad they''re all gone. Although on occasion I still do type words in my head.

Yes, I think so, too. I remember doing it when I was a kid. I''ve also noticed that I tend to do it a lot more when I am stressed or have a lot going on in my life. It definitely has something to do with feeling safe and in control.

 

[mia1181]

Wow interesting....

I think it sounds like mild OCD, but only if it is an actual compulsive routine (meaning you feel like you HAVE to do it, or if it makes feel better when you do). Like if it would be hard if you tried not doing it. Otherwise, it's just a quirky habit.

I get some satisfaction out of numbers that go together like if a bill comes to $30.30 or if it is 2:22, or even 1:23 o'clock. As you can see in my SN, my B-day is 11/11 so I get especially excited when I see 11's or 1's in a row. I think it just came from being aware of my birthday as a child.


HAHA- Oops I just realize my SN is 1181.... well you get the idea my b-day is 11-11-81!

 

[AdiS]

I do things like that all the time.

I''d count the windows of a building when we''re in a traffic jam, for example, and if we move forward before I''d finished counting I''d scowl at DH and say "I wasn''t ready yet!" lol

I also have really good photographic memory and sometimes it just drives me insane because I''d turn the page of a book back and forth like 100 times. The reason - I can place each letter of the previous page in its right position but I just CAN''T recall exactly where the comma on the last but one line was.

There are many, many more examples. In turn, DH counts his steps sometimes, or he''d walk just on black tiles and not the white ones... I don''t think it''s OCD, not really. I agree with doodle - if you really believe something bad will happen if you''re unable to complete the ritual, then maybe that''s a sign of something deeper.

Most of all, I think we are all just a little bit crazy in our own way.

 

[Courtneylub]

That makes sense Mia and Adis. I don''t ever feel like I have to do it and I don''t do it every time I see numbers or letters. Maybe it''s just when I''m bored or something? I think it''s a just a quirky thing I do and I DO like math so that may explain it.

I didn''t realize so many others have similar habits. I find the typical OCD habits interesting. Has anyone seen the new show on A&E - Obsessed?

 

[princesss]

Date: 6/6/2009 6:22:41 PM
Author: packrat
I do weird counting things and things with words too, and wondered if it was a form of OCD.

If I''m out walking and step on a crack in the sidewalk with one foot in a specific spot-like the ball of my foot or in the middle..I have to alter my stride and do the same thing on the other foot. I can ''feel'' the spot on my foot and it irritates the heck out of me until I ''even it out'' by doing the same on the other foot.

Oh my God! I thought I was the only one that did that! I *have* to have things even. BF will sometimes only do something like rub one shoulder just to see me squirm. I have to ask him to even me out. It''s ridiculous, but I''m SO uncomfortable until things are even.

 

[Delster]

No counting here but I do spell everything in my head, and usually to a musical beat. It''s no exaggeration to say I''m constantly spelling. If I pause while reading I''ll spell the last word I read over and over in different rhythms and patterns. Oh and ever since I got a mobile phone, oftentimes I visualise the spelling on an alpha-numeric keypad. I guess I just don''t like my head being ''empty'' so I fill it with all these spellings! I''m aware other people don''t do this, but it''s never really struck me as odd. Now I also have this piano-playing visualisation thing in my head that involves imagining my teeth being the keys... I admit that one might be a bit out there!!!