It's kind of hard to explain but it goes along with anxiety. When I was younger I used to have to do something a certain number of times or my day would be a bad one or something bad would happen. Such as turning the light switch on and off three times.. and if I forgot to do it that meant something bad was going to happen. Or having to take something with you everyday (small stuffed animal, school schedule). Even going up stairs and counting by 5's to make sure it won't be a bad day. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? I know there's a name for it but I can't think of it right now. If anyone knows anything about it, do you know why it happens and why we think if we do certain things we won't have a bad day or something bad won't happen? Thanks!

Obsessive compulsive disorder?

Superstition. :)

You can be just a superstitious person or you can have it as part of OCD.

If it is an OCD then what you are doing is mistakenly believing that you have control or power over certain events. By doing the little rituals, you are trying to relieve anxiety before it happens.

This type of OCD is the easiest to get rid of by cognitive behavioral therapy. Unfortunately it's also the quickest one replaced!

Yes Ashley, I know exactly what you mean because I have it too.
The other poster is right, it's OCD.
I've had it since I was a little girl.

I've counted every set of stairs I have ever climbed...even esculators(SP?)...I can't just stand there and let them take me up, I have to walk up so that I can count the steps....but I always skip the number between 12 and 14.....I won't even type it!
I check the door locks a certain number of times every night...the list for me goes on and on.
I'm what the Doctor calls a "Counter and a Sorter"...I do have to clean my house from top to bottom every single day and even if I'm sick as I dog I have to take a shower and wash my hair everyday.
I know some people have to wash their hands all the time...that's about the only thing I dont' have to do.

I really have no idea why it happens or why we think the way we do...all I know is that my Doctor told me it's a part of panic disorder.
I don't have panic attacks any more, but I still have all of my compulsions.
Like I said I've had them since I was a very little girl, I'm 37 and I've just learned to live with them.

They claim that some of the SSRI's do help to control these thoughts...but I won't touch an SSRI with a ten foot pole...had allergic reactions to Paxil and Zoloft, but apparently they do help with the OCD.
So at least for me, unless they go away on their own I'll always have them.

Make an appointment with your Doctor and talk to him about how your feeling.