Really bad OCD?........?

Question

So, I've always been a little bit "obsessive" but now I think I'm really developing OCD. I'm 17, and I've heard that girls are supposed to develop it when they hit 20 or 21...so I feel like it's just going to get worse from here. I don't want to tell anyone about it, because my mom already makes fun of me for being "OCD" enough as it is, and I don't want to prove her right. If people could tell me whether or not I have OCD, and if so, how to fix it, that'd be great :)

Ok, so here's what I do:
Wake up at 5:03 (5+3 = 8, 8 is a power of 2.)
Get out of bed at 5:29 (5+2+9 = 16, 16 is a power of 2.)
Get dressed, run 4 miles. Leave at 5:47.
Back around 6:45.
Shower for 8 mins, get dressed, leave for school at 7:36.
(At school, schedule's pretty normal. No control. Go home, some days stay after school for certain things.)
10:07 lay out clothes for bed, brush teeth, get ready for bed. Room has to be spotless before I go to sleep. Backpack in corner, eight pencils, alarm clock set to 5:03. Go to bed at 10:52.
I have other things that I have to do during the day...for example, I practice my flute for 62 minutes. Running every morning. I haven't missed a day since November when I flew to California. I drink 4 cans of diet coke a day.

In case you haven't noticed, everything has to be a power of 2. When I was little, I thought that powers of 2 were the only "good" numbers and that by doing things in that number I was "keeping monsters away." Now I'm older, I know it's ridiculous, but I can't stop counting to powers of 2. I flick lightswitches or close doors 2 or 4 or 8 times. I always count to 8 in my head. If I mess up a word or phrase, I'll make it so I've said it 4 times; for example, I'll be talking, and I'll say, "Well, I think that we'll have got to...I mean, got to, got to, got to go tomorrow." I don't know why. I can't stop. There's so many other things, too. But this has gotten really long. I don't want to tell anyone, because I'm afraid people will think I'm weird. How do I cure myself without telling anyone, especially my parents?

Thanks........

Naguru · Accepted Answer

Take proper guidance and try to convert bad OCD. Take proper treatment.

Anonymous · Answer

This definitely sounds like it could be signs of OCD. People with OCD are big on numbers and rituals and repetition. You still go to school fine, it sounds like and don't freak out over the disorder and "no control" there. (although you mentioned the "no control" part like you notice it and thing about it.

The problematic part about OCD is when people can't leave the house, or they can't touch things, or they was there hands 100 times a day, LITERALLY until the skin is a lighter color. I've seen this with my own eyes. 

It doesn't sound like it's affecting your life that much right now? But I'd definitely pay attention to it in the coming of years. Don't let it snowball til the point where you don't even leave the house. Because it is a real, serious disorder. 

The therapy for this is called exposure therapy, and most people with OCD hate it lol. It involves disrupting your schedule, falling asleep with cloths all over your floor, and only 5 pencils on the desk. Yes, 5 *GASP*. lol. 

How is your relationship with your mother? You should probably tell her. Screw the fact that you'd be "proving her right" like I said above, it's a real, serious disorder. Tell her. i wish you the best of luck!

K · Answer

This does seem like OCD, I'm not a professional psychologist so don't quote me on this. It could also be a mild form of aspergers or something else along the autistic spectrum. It's definitely worth visiting a psychologist to see if they can give you a full diagnosis.

On 'curing' I would assume that it's all about baby steps. You already appear to know why '2' is such an important number to you, so why not back track and make a small journal mind-mapping and discussing with yourself why other numbers can and can't be considered 'good' try going to bed ten minutes later than usual or say something three or five times until its no longer uncomfortable. I'd advise you talk to your parents about whether you'd like to see someone about it, or maybe even just like to talk with them about it.

Also, mental patterns like this are more common then you'd think, everyone has a minor OCD or autistic 'quirk' that they deal with (I personally find that I can't have doors open and usually find myself arranging stuff in rainbow order, while one of my friend has to go a certain route to the shop and wash cups before drinking from them) so don't think people will find you weird, it's just a 'quirk'.

Anonymous · Answer

When I was younger, I had a slight OCD. I didn't tell anyone except my parents. But, they didn't really take any note of it because I was so young, and I had a tendency to lie. A lot. So, I was on my own. How I got rid of it: I though to myself "What would happen if I didn't do this particular thing?" Nothing. "Who cares really?"  It takes a lot of motivation but I urged myself not to do whatever my OCD "was telling me" and after time, it vanishes away. As a first step, I would advise you to wake up at 5:00. Set your alarm or whatnot. It would be really hard but it will feel good when you wake up on a non-power of 2 number. Good Luck! If this continues to happen, please just tell your parents, its for the best. Who knows they this small thing could lead into something terrible just because you didn't tell your parents?

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Really bad OCD?........?

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