Why am I counting everything just lately? 🤔

When in the docs waiting room, i count all the vowels in all of the notices to pass the time.
E's usually win.

Ladyleftfieldlover

I count things in my head all the time. Also, when I set the volume of my car radio it has to be an EVEN number.

Same here except that five is also an acceptable odd number.

FGT
Because you and your husband are in a situation that neither of you have any control over your brain is searching for anything that you Can control.
I wish you well. ❤️

Thank the Lord, we are all normal.

Yes! I do it all the time and thought everyone did!

We always used to do ‘scout’s step’ on the way home from school 20 paces running alternating with 20 walking.
I’ve counted paces ever since, though usually to a hundred walking now, and then keep a tally by folding a finger down for each hundred. Always pleased when I get to a thousand!

It’s the little things that keep you going I think, when everything else is just too big to deal with.

I do this too when under stress. Maybe it’s a mechanism to protect our mental health when we find coping with our thoughts unbearable.
Not surprised this is happening to you FGT, sending a big fat virtual hug.

With my dodgy knee I find myself walking with my walking poles and counting my steps out loud. Dread to think what people passing me must think. It somehow takes my mind off my knee hurting.

Oh blimey - I’ve never counted anything😳.

Although I have lists of stuff, like jobs for the day, menus etc. I am governed by lists!

Foibles - such a descriptive word.

Yes I also count anything, particularly when in the Drs or waiting for trains. I think the mind is dealing with stress

I’m a counter.
It’s often the telephone lines from the pole to the houses in my road.

Neither stress nor control. I think it just stops boredom. While waiting for a bus I estimate that one will arrive after 5 red (unusual colour) cars have passed. Or, say, 50 black ones.
Walking home from the bus stop I estimate the number of paces to the next lamp post ,or a parked car. It just passes the time! I haven’t played the number plate game while driving but I might try that now, although the “boring” element doesn’t really happen while driving

I always count steps. I don’t guess those. If there are 13 I just do No 12 twice.

Interesting to know other people do this!

I find counting up in prime numbers is quite a good way of getting to sleep.

I've always counted things - when I empty the dishwasher I count the knives, forks, plates... no idea why. I once asked DH if he did that and he was very confused. Now he reports the number of knives and forks to me as he puts them away 😄 Count steps, coins, people, cars...

Someone once told me it's a sign of autism, no idea if that is true.

Not a bad idea to count the cutlery as you know when something is missing instead of one day thinking where are most of my teaspoons with a particular pattern on the handle.

I have literally never done this.
I check with myself whether I have done sufficient exercise , so,
had a walk round our local lake today ; biked to the post office and back: been for a swim.... I don't however have the 10,000 step counter or however many steps it is these days.
I'm OCD about turning off appliances before we leave the house and checking I know where my bank cards are.......
All these odd and even numbers and counting all sorts of things must keep people very focussed and " in the moment".

I had to count in 4s all the time when I was a child.I think it was because there were 4 of us in the family. Mum died when I was 11 and I knew...as well as I could...that she was incurable ill for a long time and not going to recover, and I wonder if the counting was me trying to keep her with us? I don't do that now but I do have other obsessive habits. Crazy mixed up grannies. Functioning OK ish!

Yes. I have been told that it is because of my OCD.

I thought it was just me did this counting business. Anything repetitive like cleaning my teeth I religiously count. I count myself to sleep and also know exactly where I am in my accounting because my subconscious takes over

Yes I've always counted my steps when walking . Sound on the tv or radio has to end with a 0 or a 5 ..no idea why !!

I have done this for years! The most irritating is counting the 15 garden steps while sitting on the sofa looking out. I also count the bathroom tiles every time I have a bath. I do like even numbers and dislike my air fryer's 11 beeps when finished.

If I get up in the middle of the night and go downtairs, I always count the stairs down to the ground floor. The number is 13. This is so that I don't fall down the stairs in the dark. I have always been practical, not supersticious!!

I suppose I could turn on the light on the landing, but then it would wake up my OH, or my DD or DGD when they are staying here overnight. Easier just to count!

Doesn't everyone count stairs...?

Another counter here.