What Do You Do That Is Weirdly OCD?

[Bill Douglas]

Certain things that drive me crazy, but weird habits are hard to undo.

If I put the bathroom towel on the rack with the label facing outward there may be a really bad crash on the motorway and it would be my fault. So I've got to put the towel back the correct way - I mean, why risk it.

[dad911]

Wall plate screws - same as above, but I prefer horizontal.

M&Ms candies, I eat in pairs, matching colors. When the colors no longer have pairs, I match them by related colors (like green = yellow+blue)

On a sandwich, the top and bottom slices of bread need to line up as they were baked.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by masraum

I swear, my wife never seems to put her stuff (keys, phone, etc...) in the same place twice, so I'm always being asked to help her find stuff….

Same here. She never knows where her purse is, or her phone, or her iPad. I don’t mind so much when she leaves her own things in random places, but she uses my tools and just drops them wherever they are when she’s finished.

When I’m looking for something she tries to help by asking me where it is. I try to remain calm when I’d like to throttle her.

“I’m looking for my 2’ level.”
“Is it on your work bench?”
(Pause while biting my tongue)
“Sweetheart, if I knew it was there I wouldn’t be looking for it, I would just go get it.”

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by dad911

Wall plate screws - same as above, but I prefer horizontal.

M&Ms, candies, I eat in pairs, matching colors. When the colors no longer have pairs, I match them by related colors (like green = yellow+blue)

On a sandwich, the top and bottom slices of bread need to line up as they were baked.

There was a thread years ago ... someone (quite correctly) pointed out that horizontal collects dust ... I had to "fix" some & it changed my life forever

M&Ms, Mixed nuts, et al are eaten in a fashion that keeps all of the colors, nuts in close numbers ... I no longer do the countdowns above ten in hex .

The bread thingy is a no-brainer ... who wants a wrong sammich?

[Otter74]

Originally Posted by dad911

Wall plate screws - same as above, but I prefer horizontal.

M&Ms candies, I eat in pairs, matching colors. When the colors no longer have pairs, I match them by related colors (like green = yellow+blue)

On a sandwich, the top and bottom slices of bread need to line up as they were baked.

I do that too with sandwiches, LOL.

When I was a kid (and into my 20s), whenever we went to the movies I would always get a box of regular M&Ms, and I would count them as I ate them. One time, when I was in high school, we went out to a movie with my grandparents, and my grandmother sat next to me. When she asked for some M&Ms, I gave the box to her and then asked how many she took...because I had to know how many were in the box! She, of course, did not know this and was not amused until I explained.

My current main OCD (confession!) is that very often, when I am reading, I start grouping syllables into groups of three or four and then reading the groups sort of rhythmically into sets of 16 or 20. I may reread a passage until I get the rhythm right. This is a totally WTF habit and I have no idea where it came from but I've been doing it for a very long time; it's very annoying because it really slows down my reading. If I pay attention I can kick myself out of it.

[javadog]

The sandwich bread thing is common and makes sense.

The switch plate screw thing is wrong, all you end up with is every screw is either too tight or too loose.

Sorting your money in order of denomination makes sense. Turning all the bills the same direction might be a little OCD.

I hang all shirts and coats facing left. There's a practical reason for that.

Most of what's discussed here is just evidence of an organized mind. OCD is really a bit different.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Same here. She never knows where her purse is, or her phone, or her iPad. I don’t mind so much when she leaves her own things in random places, but she uses my tools and just drops them wherever they are when she’s finished.

When I’m looking for something she tries to help by asking me where it is. I try to remain calm when I’d like to throttle her.

“I’m looking for my 2’ level.”
“Is it on your work bench?”
(Pause while biting my tongue)
“Sweetheart, if I knew it was there I wouldn’t be looking for it, I would just go get it.”

I wouldn't take her comment literally, she's trying to help. Now if she said did you accidentally kick it under the AC condenser when you were leveling it, I'd give that some thought.

Originally Posted by javadog

The sandwich bread thing is common and makes sense.

The switch plate screw thing is wrong, all you end up with is every screw is either too tight or too loose.

I had to explain that about short, small wood screws used on cabinet hinges. "Don't even ask me to clock them."

[Gogar]

Wallet phone keys zipper
Wallet phone keys zipper
Wallet phone keys zipper
Wallet phone keys zipper

[turn9]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I hope you stopped payment on the check to the electrician until he replaced the screw on the top left (slot is grossly off-center) and the screw next to it (slot is not perpendicular)

Other than that, it'll do.

I know...i've called him several times to come back and fix it ...

[RANDY P]

Second guessing if I closed the garage door as I drive away, oh and unfinished or pending projects. I'm a hit NOW kind of guy. I work until it's done. I cannot stop if I have a pending or due task.

People can't stand it- I take no breaks.

rjp

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Have no OCD urges left after working

Definitely used up many lifetimes of my OCD allowance

Perfectionism I struggle with more than OCD, been accused of being a perfectionist many times at work and home which I think is a different affliction to OCD

[Brian 162]

Being OCD bit me today. I was switching out my summer wheels/tires for the winter. I went to clean the wheels on the inside but there was grease on one rim. I wound up spraying it with brake clean. I had no idea it would ruin the finish on the wheel.
Now I have to get one rim powder coated.
Rant over

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Brian 162

Being OCD bit me today. I was switching out my summer wheels/tires for the winter. I went to clean the wheels on the inside but there was grease on one rim. I wound up spraying it with brake clean. I had no idea it would ruin the finish on the wheel.
Now I have to get one rim powder coated.
Rant over

Good PSA…Brakeclean has its place but it’s generally the last thing you should use to clean anything. IOW, if you can clean it with something else, do. And always start with the least aggressive product that you think will work and go stronger from there, as opposed to starting out with the nuclear option.

I do not mean this to pile on your misfortune, I’ve absolutely done similar things in the past but if this can save someone else, it wasn’t a total waste.

[Brian 162]

Originally Posted by speeder

Good PSA…Brakeclean has its place but it’s generally the last thing you should use to clean anything. IOW, if you can clean it with something else, do. And always start with the least aggressive product that you think will work and go stronger from there, as opposed to starting out with the nuclear option.

I do not mean this to pile on your misfortune, I’ve absolutely done similar things in the past but if this can save someone else, it wasn’t a total waste.

No worries
I couldn’t believe it. I think the finish is pooched. I will try but it bubbled in a couple of areas
Being OCD it will make me crazy
I had them powder coated when I bought them so I’ll send the one back.

[Por_sha911]

You may be OCD if you understand this:

[billybek]

Drive out of the garage.
Watch the garage door close.
Drive off, looking in the rear view to confirm it is closed.
Drive down the lane.
Stop
Did the door close?
Back up.
Confirm door is closed.
Drive to work...

At least once or twice a week.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by billybek

Drive out of the garage.
Watch the garage door close.
Drive off, looking in the rear view to confirm it is closed.
Drive down the lane.
Stop
Did the door close?
Back up.
Confirm door is closed.
Drive to work...

At least once or twice a week.

That’s my ritual and I use the camera in the garage on Blink the app to check again

[dad911]

Originally Posted by billybek

Drive out of the garage.
Watch the garage door close.
Drive off, looking in the rear view to confirm it is closed.
Drive down the lane.
Stop
Did the door close?
Back up.
Confirm door is closed.
Drive to work...

At least once or twice a week.

My smart garage door and app have saved me a few return trips. I also have a security camera in the garage that can see the door.

[Por_sha911]

Watch this:


You'll laugh and nod your head all at the same time.

BTW, what most of us are describing as OCD is technically not correct as per my daughter who is a licensed counselor with a Masters Degree specializing for the Autistic community.

Here is more clinically correct info from my daughter:

~ OCD = having an obsession and/or compulsion that
1. impedes the individual's typical functioning (ex. A checking behavior or ritual that takes up so many hours that the person is fired from a job, fails a class, loses relationships, isolates physically or mentally, etc.),
2. causes physical harm (ex. Excessive washing resulting in damaged skin), or 3. causes distress (ex. Horrifying intrusive thoughts).

~ Not OCD = having a strong preference, reoccurring thought, or hyperfixation, BUT it does not hinder normal/typical functioning (they can still go about their day, keep up with responsibilities, relationships, etc.), their safety is not in question, and it does not distress the person that they think/do it (whatever "it" is).

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Wallet phone keys zipper
Wallet phone keys zipper
Wallet phone keys zipper
Wallet phone keys zipper

Yep, every time I leave the house it’s “wallet phone keys glasses.” That’s not OCD in my opinion, it’s the moment I slow down that keeps me from rushing out and forgetting other things. Zipper? I don’t mind being the shambling old man at the hardware store with his pants half zipped as long as people don’t start giving me money for a bowl of soup.