THE BORE
General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: Jabberwocky on July 31, 2009, 08:47:29 AM
-
I'm not 100% I'll take it yet, as I was kind of hoping it wouldn't come to this. Over the past few months I've noticed a few compulsive tasks that I can't help but do, and if these tasks aren't done, I'll stress about it. What's worse is that if I can complete these tasks, I absolutely will, even if it's at an inappropriate time (like even if I'm in a hurry, I'll complete the mundane task anyway).
An example of some of the minor compulsive acts...
Before leaving my room, I have to check under my bed to see if any of my damn cats got under there while I briefly open my door (don't want them locked up in my room while I'm gone, they might poop everywhere). Sometimes I'll do this more than once.
Before leaving the kitchen I have to check if everything I took out (to make, say, a sandwich) is back in the refrigerator and sealed. I'll usually check to see if it's sealed more than once (such as the lid being on the milk jug, turkey bag is sealed, cereal bag is rolled up well enough, etc.).
This next one I feel is more justified, because my car does randomly unlock itself (no idea why). After parking, I must check all four doors of my car to see if all of them are locked. I often check more than once after parking. This has lead to me literally breaking off my driver's door handle. :duh :duh :duh :duh
In some RPG's I check my inventory frequently. Why? I fear, for whatever reason, my stats have permanently changed or I've lost some of my items. ???
These are more minor cases. I'd rather not list the stupidly ridiculous compulsions that I obsess over because they really are absurd.
These symptoms only showed up for the last few months, so I guess this case has only developed and gotten worse. I joked with my friends about having OCD but now I think I might actually have it. Anyway, I went off a bit too long on that. All I want to know is how expensive psychotherapy is (I'd rather not take medication, as I feel it's unnatural plus I don't want to become dependent on something). Would anyone here know?
-
titties
-
I think it's OCD when it starts interfering with your life.
Do you miss deadlines because of doing these things?
EDIT: Chipopo, what's up with all the editing today?
-
Currently: $0
In the past: over $120 an hour.
All compulsive acts are connected to obsessive thoughts. The best way to stop the acts is to change your distorted thoughts, most of which seem to be centered around "fortune telling." You're predicting negative outcomes when there's no reason to believe such outcomes are likely. So I guess the cheap alternative is to examine each prediction and ask yourself whether it's likely. Then ask, even if it my predictions do turn out to be true, how bad will things be. So what if the cat takes a shit under the bed? So what if the sandwich is unwrapped? etc.
-
Just be happy, guy. Things will be okay!
-
Thanks for the responses. And yeah, I do live a very "what if" lifestyle, not in a good way.
I think it's OCD when it starts interfering with your life.
Do you miss deadlines because of doing these things?
Not that I recall. I'd say it still interferes with my life in a way, though.
-
Normal people worry. You're worried about small stuff. Really small stuff, and it is annoying you, but it's not interfering with your life, except where you broke off your car door handle. Unless you are having trouble going to sleep because you're checking the front door a dozen times, or missing a lunch date because every time you touch a public door you have to wash your hands, you're fine.
Personally I think borderline OCD behavior is part of what defines me, part of what keeps me on top of shit at work. So I just accept its bad parts along with the good.
-
This really doesnt sound like OCD, just a normal person worrying about normal stuff. It sounds like a routine check.
That, or YOU'RE OCD and you just don't realize it! Like the end of The Sixth Sense, except instead of dead, you have A MILD NEUROSIS! (bum-buh-BUM!)
-
Thanks for the responses. And yeah, I do live a very "what if" lifestyle, not in a good way.
I think it's OCD when it starts interfering with your life.
Do you miss deadlines because of doing these things?
Not that I recall. I'd say it still interferes with my life in a way, though.
The worrying about it is probably taking up more time right now.
-
I used to have extreme OCD. Wash my hands with a certain number of presses of the soap dispenser (15) and always wash up to the elbow. Counting every single spot that I wash (29 I think) when I showered. And then when I went outside, I had eating rituals and trying to walk in even numbers. I tried not to make it noticeable, but I felt a need to put a pattern on all parts of my daily routine. I chalk it all up to adolescent anxiety problems but it really is amazing how much time and energy I ended wasted on that.
To the OP, you don't have real problems but it is a good idea not to stress yourself on useless things. Whenever you catch yourself doing something frivolous, just stop. If your cat has diarrhea problems, maybe it's a good idea to check under the bed but don't check every time.
-
You can take Lexapro but I would be careful about the side effects. It can do some serious shit if you have tendencies like the inscription says.
-
xanax
eat it
thats it
trust me
im a doc
-
Uhh, I thought OCD wasn't something you necessarily develop all of a sudden.
A pyschologist in my area was 140ish/hour. He has a rate of 70ish for uninsured clients. Just open a phonebook and call around. Be prepared to go for many months with an appointment maybe every 1-2 weeks.
If you're looking for meds, the psychiatrist in the same building is like 350ish/hour.
-
After seeing a few episodes of that A&E show Obsessed, I feel I am qualified to say you definitely have OCD.
-
Maybe I just have hypochondria instead. :lol