Your own OCD

[Ashley]

Here's a question I thought I'd add: While perhaps not falling within the DSM-IV criteria for OCD, don't we all have little quirks that consume a strange amount of our attention? Anyone care to share?

[Cheryl]

I COUNT THINGS BY 5, NEVER EAT THE ENDS OF BANANAS, AND ONCE I START A PROJECT, I ABSOLUTELY MUST FINISH IT. WHEN I FILL THE GAS TANK, THE TOTAL COST MUST BE IN WHOLE NUMBERS, DIVISIBLE BY 5. WHEN WE ADJUST THE VOLUME ON THE TV, IT MUST BE DIVISIBLE BY 5. THAT'S ABOUT IT.

[Carol]

Weird, here I come. I have this thing against blue food, artificial blue that is. I like natural blue like blue corn enchiladas, blue berries, etc. I would love some of Cheryl's UFO Compulsion (Unfinished objects). Since I had my mouth totally redone three years ago, eating just isn't as much fun as it used to be. I find myself really liking graham crackers (easy to eat). Eating is such a challenge, that it takes so much of the joy away. I'll probably think of more, will add if I do.

[Lauren]

I never eat the ends of bananas either! (Although that's partially due to having a dog in childhood who loved bananas and always got the ends of bananas. Even though he's been gone for years, I still cannot bring myself to eat the ends of bananas.)

I would list all of my neuroses, but then I will sound like a complete nut. But two in particular:

I have to, at all times, have an even number of books checked out from the library. If, for whatever reason, I have to return an odd number of books, I will go into the library and check out one book so it's an even number. I like to tell myself it's because it's easy to keep track of how many books I have checked out, but let's be honest, that's a ridiculous excuse.

I always switch back to the same preset on my car's radio before turning my car off. Always. If my mother borrows my car, she frequently leaves the radio on either another station or playing a CD.

Ashley, you asked the question but did not answer. Care to join in?

[Alisha]

I've been trying to think of my OCD. Came up with a few things.

1. I cannot wear pants to bed. Just a tank top, when its cold out, socks. I will start with pants on, and kick them off before I fall asleep.

2. Another sleep thing- cannot be touched while I'm sleeping. Kinda feel bad for my husband on this one...I'll cuddle up before I'm ready to sleep, and then as soon as I'm ready to fall asleep, it's like something switches in me and I need to be left alone.

3. I am a bit compulsive about the orderliness of books on a shelf. This was tested yesterday when I was in a school library, and the librarian had been absent for a couple of weeks. I assisted in returning our classes books to the shelves, but couldn't stop at that- had to go around making sure the books were straightened, facing the right direction, etc. and really, if time permitted, I would have been quite happy to check every single shelf to make sure every single book was in its exact order. But- had to let that one go!

[Julie]

I didn't read the book but I am plenty OCD!

I love M&Ms but have to eat them in a specific way. First all the brown ones, then two at a time in pleasing color combos (ie blue and green is good, but not red and green because too Christmassy) until 5 in the rainbow are left, then I eat all those at once.

I also used to have to touch the stove before leaving the house until I burned my hand the one time it was actually left on! Now I just check the "hot" light which I never had before.

Those are my main ones :). Besides being majorly anxious about pretty much everything and always thinking I left all the doors unlocked while driving to work. Even doors that I didn't use.