Obsessive Compulsive HABITS, Paranoia or just plain dumbness?

[bspeers1000]

Please don't call your obsessive habits OCD's.

OCD is a constructed disorder used to sell drugs, but it has real implications for people, and is deeper than one or two unbreakable habits.  It's a pattern of obsessive compulsions that go beyond the "have to do" to the point where it may be harmful to the self.  And not just one but a series.  It's actually a fairly clinical description, whether invented or not. You can't have "an OCD" but you can have "OCD" if you have a persistent pattern of obsessive compulsions that endanger yourself or others.  The guy in "As Good as It Gets" probably does not have OCD, other than the extremely dulled down version hollywood uses.  He's compulsive, yes, and obsessive, yes, but that doesn't mean he has OCD.

It's like when kids don't like food and say it's an alergy.  The metaphor has taken over the reality.


Oh, and also, Sczicophrenia (spelled wrong) is also a precise condition and is not synonymous with 'multiple personality syndrome'.

Hey look!  I've got some more wet blankets over here!

[OneThinkingGal and ._.]

That's a pretty good point, although like some of these people are saying, they had gotten to the point where it was bordering on OCD(eg the washing hands till they bleed bit).

I don't think either of what I said I do are part of a disorder, they're just habits. I'm pretty sure many people double-check locks, anyone who lives alone and is careful. If one day I find that I get to the point where I go somewhere and come back just to check if all the cabinets in the house are closed, then it'll be OCD time.

[Robert Eric]

* Robert Eric checks to be sure he is wearing pants.  When he is convinced, he checks again.  When he makes it an absolute fact in his mind that he IS wearing pants, he checks again.  Then, he puts some on.

[DGMacphee]

Debating the existence of OCD is like debating the existence of stress.

Or any other psychological condition.

[Femme Stab Mode >:D]

Lets not call obsessive habits OCD.  My obsessive habits are -
I have to check every 10 seconds that the train ticket is still in my pocket even if it has no way of getting out of there.
I have to wash my hair after someone else than me touches it.
I have to step only on white lines on zebra crossings.
I keep at a distance from other people, I have a bigger personal space and I hate if it's invaded.
I used to feel watched all the time, especially I hated my alarm clock, since it's digital it looks like a pair of eyes staring at me at 10:01. I got over it.
I necer buy anything from a McDonalds unless I'm dying of hunger and if that happens I buy orange juice because I don't trust them fast food restaurants...
Everyone has habits like these. Does that mean that everybody has OCD? After all, if everybody has it it's no longer a disorder...

[agsking]

Man, I know EXACTLY what some of you mean. Its weird, I thought I was the only one that had to even out the number of times I spun around each direction. Sometimes, I look like a total idiot when I do this because I end up spinning around constantly.

I also know what you guys mean about the alarm clocks, and how random objects MUST be where you think they should be.
I usually end up not sleeping with a knife in my hand sitting up in a chair late at night because I hear the smallest sound and think someone might me trying to kill me or break into my house. I know that it won't happen and its usually just my dog, but I still do it for some reason.

I  check my alarm clock 5 times, espescialy the volume knob. Then, seven minutes later I check it again.

I also do the thing where you check your lock 3 times but then when you leave you come back and check it again. Just to make sure.

When someone yawns, I have to yawn, but it has to be a real yawn.
Why do I have these stupid habits?

[Femme Stab Mode >:D]

Actually, yawning like that is natural and not a stupid habit. I don't know the details, but if you yawn the person next to you is likely to yawn too.

[DGMacphee]

Whenever I go to a public toilet, I always wipe the seat before sitting.

I don't think there's any OCD drugs for my condition.

Maybe a placebo would work.

Mmmm..... placebo.....

[agsking]

Femme, when I read your post I yawned. Is that natural? Just yawned again.

I do that do DGMacphee  .

[Timosity]

Yawning just means you need more oxygen,  so yawning let's you get a larger breath of air, hoping that there is some oxygen in it and not a vacuum.

[Squinky]

My crappy vampire joke was lost on you guys....

Why do I feel compelled to poke fun all the time?

* Squinky goes to get some form of trendy medication

[SSH]

Yawning just means you need more oxygen,  so yawning let's you get a larger breath of air, hoping that there is some oxygen in it and not a vacuum.

Ahaha, but that doesn't explain why yawning makes other people yawn.

My theory is that yawning is an involuntary mechanism to equalise air pressure inside and outside the body. As one yawns, the air pressure inside you increases or decreases to match the ambient surroundings. However, this also has an (smnaller) effect on the ambient air pressure. Therfore people who were maybe close to yawning now have a greater air pressure difference and are also compelled to yawn. This can again cause the first person to yawn, as the ambient air pressure may chnage again.

What do you think?  

[Timosity]

something like that possibly or similarly, maybe there is less oxygen in that particular spot (or more CO2) which inturn effects people in that immediate area.

But coughing is a similar thing, like when your in a lecture theatre and one person coughs , so do many others all over the room, I just think people decide subconciously 'well they coughed so I won't seem odd if I do too', also it probably just reminds you to.

[SSH]

But coughing is a similar thing, like when your in a lecture theatre and one person coughs , so do many others all over the room, I just think people decide subconciously 'well they coughed so I won't seem odd if I do too', also it probably just reminds you to.

I coughed when I read your post   Seriously!

[AGA]

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_309.html

[agsking]

Stop making me yawn!  

[Goldmund]

I have an OCD when I have to touch my penis when I watch porno movies.

[agsking]

Haha Goldmund.

[earlwood]

Seem just like that one book "Kissing Doorknobs"

But I have to do the same thing..

:If I'm cleaning my nails I have to do it at the same time and it has to have the same sensual feeling or I get distracted from what I'm doing.
:If I see something different I have to touch it, and if it's dangerous.. I touch something that might feel the same.

OBD..probably..but that shirt thing..that's just weird..