Part time O.C.D?

[bekkyboo]

Strange question i know.


But since my PND got worse i have found little things that would resemble OCD behaviour, so i was curious if it is something that you can have part time or is it only something that takes over everything.

The thing that it seems to be the worst with his G's bottles. I have have all the colour co-ordinated lids - and when putting them on the rack they HAVE to be in order - like each bottle with its bits in front. They have to be taken off it a certian way as well.

It wasnt always like this - i went through a stage where i liked it all mix matched -but the thought now makes me sick.

And if Jase puts the wrong lid with the wrong bottle - it literally takes all my strength to not go off at him for it....

Any advice?

[the_queen]

Yeah I am like this about some stuff too Bek. I often say I have borderline OCD but you wouldn't know it from the state of my kitchen!!
It is a serious disorder that I shouldn't make light of. :shame:

But I have to have plates stacked a certain way, I have to have nappies stacked a certain way, I have to put the shopping on the checkout in a certain way (once I went shopping with mum, and she was putting it all on higgledy-piggledy, and I couldn't watch it because it was really really stressing me out, I had to go and sit down outside the shop because I couldn't watch the frozen stuff next to the washing powder, and cans and boxes in the same bag....

Dr Phil would say it's something to do with having a part of your life that is out of your control, and so you feel the need to control the parts that are within your power to control. :detective: ain't I smart :laughing:

[bekkyboo]

Im the same. Its the odd little things that i go nuts over... And when they arent done how i need them - i almost break down.

I spose it makes sence.... You cant really control PND or a teething childs temprement...

Thanks Queenie - So im not going completely batty?!

[Seekrit]

I have little habits - like if I touch one part of my finger, I have to touch each of my fingers at the same part.. in particular the base of the nails.. thinking of me has me wanting to do it
Okay, done it. *nod*

I don't think I have OCD.. but it's a compulsive habit I have... sometimes I do wonder...

[bekkyboo]

Hmmm Nikk - something in that??

Its odd - cause it only started prob when G started teething bad a month or so back now. When everything else started going down hill and i wasnt coping with him or my PND... hmmmm

[MrsMiggins]

OMG Seek!! I do exactly the same thing!!!

I have (I don't know how you would describe it exactly - so these are my own words) mild OCD. It doesn't completely take over my life, but has come close when I was younger. I don't really suffer that much from it any more, but have found it sneak back in once or twice after having DD, out of fear of anything bad happening to her.

As far as I know, it can definitely come in degrees & be more prevalent at certain times (high stress being right up there).

Clarabelle gave me some great info on it a while back. Maybe she'll pop in here?

[Shanaynay]

Bekky - OCD is something that can definately affect only a tiny part of your daily routine, such as bottles :yes:

It can very quickly generalise to other behaviours and make your day completely unmanagable so keep tabs on it ok? :hugs:

[bekkyboo]

Thanks Zoe :hugs: - At the moment is only really the bottles. But even that is annoying enough...

[reAllytee]

I could be wrong but this doesnt sound like OCD.

With OCD the idea is you Obsess over things which means you are constantly in turmoil over specific routines & needing to do them & wondering whether you have done them right.

[bekkyboo]

With the bottles Ally, I have to do them in this exact way. If i dont i honestly feel sick and freak out. If they get used in a different way (taken off the rack wrong, or used with a different lid) I have to stop myself from going mental at the person who did it.... The bottles thing is only one thing - there are others but its the one that stands out the most...

[reAllytee]

Yeah i get what your saying & as i said i'm possibly wrong but it's really hard to explain to people what it is like having OCD.
Many people think they have it because of certain behaviours they have after i was diagnosed with it my sister assumed she had it because of the way she organises things her psychologist advised otherwise.
I would suggest if you think you may have a problem seeking help my going & seeing a psychologist for them to assess you.
I was only diagnosed after being with my counsellor for 5mths who decided i was showing specific behaviours that needed to be assessed. I then saw a psychologist for another 2mths before being diagnosed with it.

[reAllytee]

This gives you an idea :



Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder; more specifically, it is an anxiety disorder. OCD is manifested in a variety of forms, but it is most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive, distressing, intrusive thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.

The phrase "obsessive-compulsive" has worked its way into the wider English lexicon, and is often used in an offhand manner to describe someone who is meticulous or absorbed in a cause. Such casual references should not be confused with obsessive-compulsive disorder; see clinomorphism. It is also important to distinguish OCD from other types of anxiety, including the routine tension and stress that appear throughout life. A person who shows signs of infatuation or fixation with a subject/object, or displays traits such as perfectionism, does not necessarily have OCD, a specific and well-defined condition.

To be diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, one must have either obsessions or compulsions alone, or obsessions and compulsions, according to the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. The Quick Reference to the diagnostic criteria from DSM-IV-TR (2000) describes these obsessions and compulsions:

Obsessions are defined by:

1. Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress.
2. The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems.
3. The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action.
4. The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind.

Compulsions are defined by:

1. Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.
2. The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive.

In addition to these criteria, at some point during the course of the disorder, the sufferer must realize that his/her obsessions or compulsions are unreasonable or excessive. Moreover, the obsessions or compulsions must be time consuming (taking up more than one hour per day), cause distress, or cause impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (Quick Reference from DSM-IV-TR, 2000). OCD often causes feelings similar to that of depression.

[Tam-I-Am]

Allyoo is absolutely right. As with most psychiatric disorders, the thing that most pyschologists/psychiatrists judge mood and anxiety disoders on is how much disruption it causes to your functioning, and how much distres it causes you and/or your family.....

The fact of the matter is that MOST people have some "obsessive" or "compulsive" behaviours - ie checking the locks on the doors at night before they go to bed, even if they know they've already locked them. This doesn't describe obsessive compulsive DISORDER though - it describes a level of normal human behaviour.

I guess firstly - What thoughts are associated with making the bottles match? What will happen if they don't? Are you able to put it out of your mind at all? Distract yourself?

If you're truely concerned about it - I would go speak to your GP, who can do a further evaluation and refer you to an appropriate psychologist or psychiatrist. If its simply an odd quirk that doesn't distress you overmuch, I'd put it down to that - a quirk - and not worry too much about it.

HTH - feel free to PM me for more info :)

[poodysmum]

Dont worry Bekky, you're not alone. Ive always had that problem-have to do things/check things about 12 times before I can leave it alone (god, I sound loopy). I like to call it being a perfectionist:rolleyes: . Mine has got worse since Ive had PND-but Im starting to get it sorted. Maybe you need to go and talk to someone who specialises in PND/anxiety. Just a thought-hope this helps :)

Alli

[westerner]

im the same with the bottles bekky but i wouldnt call it ocd..

its just that it looks better when they match and if they dont it looks tacky imo.. red pictures on bottle = red lid.. baby blue pictures = baby blue lid etc etc.. its just wanting it to look nice and neat and orderly..

and it really sh!ts me when my partner doesnt match them up.. he just doesnt understand why its so important and i always have to change it so its "correct".. its the way the bottles were purchased and i like keeping them matched up..

i think its more of a habit and desire to be "perfect" in some way.. thats how i see it.. i dont want people thinking less of me iykwim.. even though it doesnt REALLY matter but to me they MUST be matched..

[Lambie]

Hahaha Bek...you must have caught it off me.

You know I still have a problem with water on the kitchen sink. And the rug that used to drive me nuts because it wrinkled up by the sub....GONE!!! could'nt deal with it anymore.

[danielle13]

I do the same thing with the bottles... And if DP's put them together "wrong", I get really peeved... I hadn't thought anything of it until now :eek:

We're probably just subconciously trying to regain a bit of control over our now hectic lives.... (or that's what I'm telling myself at least :thumbsup: )

[Seekrit]

Hmmm Nikk - something in that??

Its odd - cause it only started prob when G started teething bad a month or so back now. When everything else started going down hill and i wasnt coping with him or my PND... hmmmm

Yeah, 'tis a comping mechanism. Probably not OCD but, as stated, a way of controlling and coping with something that you can.

And yeah, there could be something in what I do but it doesn't disrupt my day so it's nothing I've thought too much about... I figure it's just a habit rather than a disorder.

Another thing I do is if I pick up a glass and hit my front tooth with it, I have to hit the other front tooth so they feel the same.

I have a few things like that.. I'm just weird ;)

[bekkyboo]

Thanks girls :hugs:

I never really meant that i thought i had OCD... I know i dont - as it doesnt really take over my life - but it was the best way of describing it so others understood - and it also caught more attention so i could get some more answers.

I think that your guys are prob right in that its a coping mechanism at the moment. With all the stress of PND - i think that those small things i can control and maybe its a distraction for me.

I just found it strange that it got progressively worse lately - and i wasnt really sure why - till i posted this and got some responses. It isnt something that has always been there - Just cropped up.

Son - I blame you :p - Its all your fault with your bloomin mat and water on the sink! :laughing:

[reAllytee]

Sometimes stress & anxiety make us do weird & wonderful things !
Plus remember being organised & tidy isnt a bad thing, tell your man to get his act together :p

Not having OCD is a fabulous thing btw lol.
I cant not remember what its like anymore which makes me quite sad actually.

I hope i didnt seem rude by saying that you probably didnt have it btw i wasnt trying to belittle what your going through. I hope things settle down soon :hugs:

[Veritas]

The fact of the matter is that MOST people have some "obsessive" or "compulsive" behaviours - ie checking the locks on the doors at night before they go to bed, even if they know they've already locked them. This doesn't describe obsessive compulsive DISORDER though - it describes a level of normal human behaviour.

That's me.... one of my worst habits.... I sometimes check the doors upwards of half dozen times... will ly in bed and stress about it til I get up and check again... hate it.... that and constantly checking the house for spiders... weird....

Bek - I'm a bit pedantic on the organisation front too.... everything has to have its place and be in it.... and if it starts to get messy it usually ends up really messy cos its just to much to bear sometimes the thought that its not in the right place, so its easier just to leave it and try and ignore it!! Hopeless I know...

[bekkyboo]

Sometimes stress & anxiety make us do weird & wonderful things !
Plus remember being organised & tidy isnt a bad thing, tell your man to get his act together :p

Not having OCD is a fabulous thing btw lol.
I cant not remember what its like anymore which makes me quite sad actually.

I hope i didnt seem rude by saying that you probably didnt have it btw i wasnt trying to belittle what your going through. I hope things settle down soon :hugs:
Nah - Its ok Ally - I wasnt offended. I just thought that it might have been taken wrong - hence the rexplaination.

:hugs: It must be tough!