Counting syndrome - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

soadnirvana · 02-09-2005, 12:01 PM

I dont know what it is I'm experiencing. While sittting in class, or just about anything I see, Ill count out the letters it has, backwards and forwards... And I have this silly thing where capital letters equal 2. I saw this same thing on Discovery Health or something, this young girl had it as well and she was diagnosed with OCD. I wonder if thats what it could be? Its extremely annoying, and distractive. When in junior high I was so much worse, I would actually miss out on half the lesson counting out stuff... hmmmm

bm28 · 02-09-2005, 01:21 PM

Oh this is so strange because this is similar to what I did when I was little. Every word I came across I had to trace it over in my head and it would make me crazy! Road signs, posters, books etc.! Another thing I did similar to you is that every letter of the alphabet would have a color that I had assigned to it. For example: A is green, B is read, C is yellow D is read E is green F is orange G is blue well, you get the point. Isn't it strange how our minds work?

dgold · 02-09-2005, 04:07 PM

yes your have OCD. Your not crazy you just have OCD. big difference.

Try to delay the compulsions as much as possible. Start by doing a couple of minutes then gradually work up to 5 min and 15 min and 1 hour and longer and longer.
When the problem flares up in class dont panic. Just accept them and be ready for the worse. When the problem flares up let them be. However, try to delay the compulsions and try to break up the pattern. Try to change the pattern around to break it up and make it alittle different. Start gradually by mixing up your response and words. Also when the OCD flares up too much dont do this exposure but immediately engage in some active activity like reading or physical exercise. Anything but be active.
However, you should contact the national OCD foundation for a referral in your area. A psychologist who specializes in behavoral therpay for OCD. somebody who does ERP or exposure response prevention.
let me know.

Pillowtalkk · 02-09-2005, 06:46 PM

Dgold is right. My son has OCD and lot of them are at school things . Like thinging he has to face a certain way or he wont make it home his medicine helped alot but he did gradually start sitting in his chair the right way and when he seen he changed something and nothing happen , it was like a relief to him. I am proud of him he used to have to tell me good bye see you AFTER SCHOOL right at 3:30 i mean at least 20 times, now we are down to 2 times , somedays its 3

Wolfareen · 03-14-2005, 08:51 AM

I know what you mean about the tracing, I used to do that to!! I couldn't believe it when I read what you'd put. I used to have to write out in my head the channel number on TV every time it changed and the digital clock numbers as well. I also do it with, well like you said, road signs, posters, books, etc. It used to drive me crazy too. Wow. Weird.