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Am I the only one who......?

(74 Posts)
shysal Thu 25-Apr-13 20:57:09

Only sets the car radio volume or air temperature on an even number.

Always eats the best bit on the plate first.

Lays out the next day's clothes the night before despite having all the time in the world in the mornings now I am retired.

Counts the bathroom tiles each time I have a bath.

The list goes on....... What odd little things do you find yourself doing?

absent Thu 25-Apr-13 20:59:53

None of those. hmm

Greatnan Thu 25-Apr-13 21:32:09

Sounds like mild OCD, like me. I have made a conscious effort to stop counting things but I still have to deal with any correspondence as soon as it arrives and put anything I have used back in its place before I go to bed. It doesn't affect my life, it just means I am very tidy and organised!

Sook Thu 25-Apr-13 21:40:59

When I walk the dogs I often count my footsteps up to a 100 and then start again, this continues throughout the walk. I can never remember how many times I have counted up to a 100 though confused grin. I'm the opposite to you shysal I always save the best bits on my plate to eat last.

messenger Thu 25-Apr-13 21:58:04

Hi Shysal the next time you go into the bathroom take the daily paper with you, I reccomend the Daily Mail,it beats counting the tiles as bathroom time although nescessary is time wasted. In the days of yore sqares of newspaper hanging on a nail sufficed when your`e retired you have more time to peruse.wink

tanith Thu 25-Apr-13 21:58:30

None of those shysal, I am very tidy and like things in their place and I can't bear to come down to any dishes left on or in the sink.
I do talk to myself when I'm out walking I find it helps me get any problems sorted out in my head.. oh and I always put my swimsuit on at home when going swimming grin I don't really know why.. once I forgot to include my underwear in my bag and had to walk home without bra or knickers grin

messenger Thu 25-Apr-13 22:24:15

Wish I could have been there then Tanithgrin(leer)

j08 Thu 25-Apr-13 22:31:20

shock Watch it! You'll get told off! grin

gillybob Thu 25-Apr-13 22:33:39

I am with you Shysal I too count things like tiles and footsteps. I also set myself ridiculous challenges ( getting from A to B in however many steps, finishing having a pee before I have counted to a predetermined number etc) my latest is counting the "prongs" on a modern/futuristic light fitting which either drives me to distraction ( I never get the same number twice) or soothes me and sends me to much needed sleep. smile

BAnanas Thu 25-Apr-13 22:42:12

I always double check I have my keys before I go out and I have to lean against front door a couple of times because I once went out without shutting it properly.

Sel Thu 25-Apr-13 22:48:16

I'm worried. I don't have anything I just have to do. I never count things. I eat randomly. I am uncompulsive. (is that a word?) I am now thinking I'm just too laidback. confused

janeainsworth Thu 25-Apr-13 22:51:05

I always check I've put the handbrake on properly before leaving the car.
This dates from an occasion about 20 years ago when I had taken the children to Hadrian's Wall for a little outing, leaving my trusty Fiat Uno parked on a slight incline.
When we returned from the Wall and the Gift Shop etc, as I walked towards the car I saw a little group of people staring at me and heard someone say in a slightly menacing tone, 'This is probably her now' and was dismayed to see that in my absence, the Uno had rolled down the slope into another car shockshockblushblush

Ana Thu 25-Apr-13 23:01:37

Sel, I'm a bit worried about me, too! confused

Greatnan Thu 25-Apr-13 23:02:44

I realised my walking had become obsessive when I got back to my car after 1 hr 55 mins and walked round it for the remaining 5 mins because I wanted to walk for at least two hours a day. If I set out to do something, like getting to the summit of a mountain, I won't rest until I have achieved it. I am sure it stems from a need to be in control of as much of my life as I can.

harrigran Thu 25-Apr-13 23:07:25

I don't have any rituals either, counting tiles ? thereby lies madness grin

Ella46 Thu 25-Apr-13 23:10:53

I feel really laid back now smile

Greatnan Thu 25-Apr-13 23:16:02

Yes, harrigran, it is called obsessive compulsive disorder for a reason!
When it is severe, it is certainly not funny and can have a huge impact on the sufferer's life.

merlotgran Thu 25-Apr-13 23:21:25

I make up my rules rituals as I go along. They change on a daily basis grin

BAnanas Thu 25-Apr-13 23:30:40

Forgot to say I have to check handbrake and that the car is locked. Only got an electronic key when I bought my current car new a couple of years ago and the novelty hasn't worn off yet, having spent years locking previous cars manually.

Sel Thu 25-Apr-13 23:48:38

Ana I blame Margaret Thatcher.

Maniac Fri 26-Apr-13 14:48:21

I also check to make sure the boot of my car is firmly shut before I leave it.Soon after I got this car (Nissan Micra) had to call AA to home -turned out battery was completely drained as boot light was on due to me not closing boot firmly

Greatnan Fri 26-Apr-13 15:33:27

I find that doing things in the same order means I don't forget anything important. I check my backpack every time I am going on a walk to make sure I have everything I need.
I allow 'breakdown' time when travelling to an airport, and I don't mind spending a couple of hours waiting for my plane.
My sister, whom I love dearly, is always leaving things in taxis or on buses (she regularly left her bag, umbrella, shopping in telephone kiosks, but at least she now has a mobile phone) She has left her handbag on her shopping trolley several times. She has caused me a huge amount of inconvenience and cost by missing planes and coaches after I have given her a detailed schedule of what time she needs to be anywhere. I wish she would develop a bit of OCD!

When I was working full time, studying and looking after my family, I found it vital to be organised and do things on time.

cathy Fri 26-Apr-13 22:14:03

Hi shysal I think its brilliant that you set your clothes out the night before, why not, I did have a touch of OCD when I was little but weaned myself away from it because it just drove me bonkers (smile)

I don't think you have OCD though, just little habits and we all have them don't we..

Ana Fri 26-Apr-13 22:20:33

Being organised is a far cry from having compulsive habits.

The only thing I do compulsively is check the gear's in neutral before I start my car -if DH has been driving it he has a habit of leaving it in first and it gives me a horrible shock!

Flowerofthewest Fri 26-Apr-13 22:54:43

I have to do things in fives. First time I have gone public with this. If I have two sweets I then have to have 1 than another two. It's always fives, goodness knows why.

I had a work colleague who used to have to touch her BiLs pillar which stood in the middle of the kitchen on each side. She had to quickly do this before her relatives noticed.

When I am walking along the street and see an object out of, say, my left eye on the group (piece of paper, dog poo whatever) I have to also see it out of my right eye.

And one more: I am obsessed with picking up dropped clothes on shop floors. I have to stop myself picking up just one otherwise I have to pick up all clothes that have been dropped.

My dear very good friend on here will think I am absolutely bonkers. But hey, join the club.

Oh yes and one I share with my daughter, biting woollen gloves or jumpers. eeeek!

Promise I won't post this five times grin