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Avatar universal

As long as I can remember

As long as I can remember I would count things.. Like for example.. When I was walking to school I would count each pole, or side walk space. If a car was coming up the street, I'd tell myself that I was racing to get to the next pole before the car passed me. Even when I was in a car, I would look at every pole or tree I was going passed. I never thought anything of it until the topic of OCD came up and someone mentioned the counting things.. But then I realized the OCD is other things also and I notice that I do other odd things, like if my right big finger is itchy, I always have to itch my right big toe also. And I'm not sure if this has anything to do with OCD  but I also always find myself freaking out inside thinking that someone is watching me. Not to the point that I'm going crazy or anything, but a few times my heart has been racing quite a bit thinking someone was looking in my window. But I've always felt like someone is watching me ever since I can remember.  Is all of this stuff related to OCD?
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1294091 tn?1312707301
I had a similar thing when i was younger with the scatching your toe after scratching your finger. I also used to count things as i walked past them, and raced cars to (point A) oh and tried not to step on the cracks (no reasoning behind it, i didn't think i'd get cursed or anything)

Another thing i did inexplicably was let's say i did something involentary like made a weird noise when i yawn for example. i'd purposely immitate the yawn 4 times without making the weird noise. or lets say i did something wrong i'd do it 4 times correctly. I was obsessed with the number 4 at that age (early teens) i think now for my mind it it was like making a box (square) out of the correct action to contain the wrong action. maybe... if that makes sense..... it made sense at the time yet i didn't know the reason.

I never took meds or had counselling nor did i TRY to stop, but as i got older its one thing i just grew out of.

so just because you have these things/actions/thoughts doesn't mean you'll have them for life. but if your worried they won't disappear and you want them to stop then by all means seek help
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Avatar universal
It sounds like a mild case of OCD. I think it's pretty normal to count all the crevasses in the ground or side walk before you get to school. I used to try and step on them by counting the number of steps it took.

I have never been under OCD watch but it does frighten me that I have the same problems as you.
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Avatar universal
Yes, it sounds like OCD, but not severe.  If it's not a nuissance to you, I wouldn't seek treatment for it.  Do you find that you have anxiety issues as well?  My anxiety is triggered by OCD.
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Avatar universal
Yes, it sounds like OCD, but not severe.  If it's not a nuissance to you, I wouldn't seek treatment for it.  Do you find that you have anxiety issues as well?  My anxiety is triggered by OCD.
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299889 tn?1257339377
A lot of what you said sounds pretty normal to me, since I also have OCD but it doesn't bother me as it did.  It was all tied in with anxiety and how I chose to handle it.  Perhaps it is mild and doesn't warrant medication.  I only know what worked for me, identifying, which you have and trying to change my thinking with self help, therapy and ect.  The truth is, and it has been a hard road for me, fear is the emotion that keeps us from being happy.  At some point, we just have to let it go.  Good luck
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