Another member and I were discussing some of our OCD tendencies (we both have the actual disorder), but I suspect that at least some of these OCD, perfectionistic, superstitious, or just slightly bizarre behaviors are present in a significant number of ADHDers, even without comorbid OCD.

So, even if you're not sure whether it's technically a OCD symptom, what are your OCD-ish tendencies? This is mostly for commiseration and for sharing a few laughs. I'm sick of my OCD and what it's done to my life (worse than ADHD, I'd say), but it's always good to know I'm not entirely alone, at least in symptomatology.

I get teased about having OCD (not in a bad way, honest - this is from friends who aren't being critical) but I realized that there are very few of my behaviors that are actually OCD. A lot of things I do aren't repetitive for an emotional reason, they're routines I use to remember things. I'll do things in a particular order so that I don't forget any of the things in that group of tasks or actions.

That's not to say that I don't have certain OCD behaviors, but they are pretty limited, specific to particular triggers, and not enough to qualify me for an official diagnosis of OCD.

The psychiatrist who diagnosed my ADHD concluded that I also had mild OCD - it comes from living many years with untreated ADHD.

I've heard that obsessive-compulsive tendencies sometimes do manifest in ADHD and that the two disorders are actually linked somehow. About 25% of children with OCD also have comorbid ADHD; I'm not sure what the statistic is for what percentage of children with ADHD also have OCD, but I'll bet it's significantly lower, though higher than the prevalence of OCD in the general population (about 2-2.5%).

I'd probably classify my OCD as generally mild, but during periods of stress I've learned it can get quite severe and presents a high level of impairment. ADHD only makes it worse; the two feed on each other. For example, when I quit my job about four months ago to start my own business, I realized I had no idea what I was really doing, or how to go about it (thanks to ADHD, I'd quit my job impulsively). This started a downward spiral and my OCD really reared its ugly face almost immediately, where before it really presented little hindrance to daily life. I was suddenly having very disturbing, aggressive/violent intrusive thoughts, became convinced I was a psychopath, and could not really function. I was literally researching mental disorders for virtually my entire waking life on the computer, totally isolated in my bedroom like a hermit. Whenever I would venture out in public, the violent thoughts would present themselves and I thought I was literally going crazy. Little did I know, at the time (despite my extensive reading), that all of this was caused by my OCD. I eventually figured that out but I still felt a bit like a lunatic. I eventually found a book called Brain Lock (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBrain-Lock-Yourself-Obsessive-Compulsive-Behavior%2Fdp%2F0060987111&ei=-lXxTKmpOcHflgfEycXaDA&usg=AFQjCNFUqLZE3ETMeHW3lfK93roDzL39yQ), which has really helped me when I've remembered to use it. And over time, those thoughts diminished and I no longer really have them. I still have some other intrusive thoughts on occasion, though, and most of my OCD now manifests itself in hyperfocusing on what's wrong with my life and what could go wrong. It's still not a great way to live.

Anyway, feel free to post any real OCD behaviors as well as any "OCD-like" coping mechanisms you've developed to deal with your ADHD. I think that's probably the more common variant of obsessional behavior in ADHDers.

OCD is on my list of misdiagnoses. The meds to treat it were HORRIBLE!

I have quite a few behaviors and even thought patterns that I am reevauating b/c of their tenedency to have OCD-ish qualities. They don't serve me well any longer; in fact they are holding me back!

Some of the ones that come to mind, and aren't overly detailed are my need to touch things. If I am in a rush, stressed, or overwhelmed then I need to touch things so I know I saw what is there. The behavior that got me labeled OCD was getting up in the night to check the locks on windows and doors.

I say "was" because it isn't a problem for me any more. When I was doing this it is thought to be my reaction to living in an inner city neighborhood. The median income was very low and there was a lot of crime. It was also very dense. My attraction to the area was the price of the property. The house we had was so inexpensive that it allowed for my spells of impulsiveness and responsibility. The ultimate emotional toll was higher than anyone dreamed it could be.

Now, the only time I need to touch things is when I am looking for something. I was looking for the stuffing for our Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday. I had to touch everything in the pantry before I would believe that it had somehow gotten lost between the store and home.

OCD is on my list of misdiagnoses. The meds to treat it were HORRIBLE!

I have quite a few behaviors and even thought patterns that I am reevauating b/c of their tenedency to have OCD-ish qualities. They don't serve me well any longer; in fact they are holding me back!

Some of the ones that come to mind, and aren't overly detailed are my need to touch things. If I am in a rush, stressed, or overwhelmed then I need to touch things so I know I saw what is there. The behavior that got me labeled OCD was getting up in the night to check the locks on windows and doors.

I say "was" because it isn't a problem for me any more. When I was doing this it is thought to be my reaction to living in an inner city neighborhood. The median income was very low and there was a lot of crime. It was also very dense. My attraction to the area was the price of the property. The house we had was so inexpensive that it allowed for my spells of impulsiveness and responsibility. The ultimate emotional toll was higher than anyone dreamed it could be.

Now, the only time I need to touch things is when I am looking for something. I was looking for the stuffing for our Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday. I had to touch everything in the pantry before I would believe that it had somehow gotten lost between the store and home.

That does sound like an OCD compulsion, but if the compulsion was mostly limited to that one, it may not have been significant enough to require a diagnosis, and medications, in the first place.

Funny, I have a tapping compulsion where I tap my body repeatedly--may also be an ADHD hyperactivity manifestation (or a combination of the two). I also used to touch things when I was a kid--actually, I would do this crazy thing of feeling walls to see what their textures were like. I must have had sensory integration dysfunction, too (still do have some traces of that, e.g. not liking clothes tags, etc.).

Glad you're feeling better now and that it isn't as big of a problem!

As a kid, it was things like having to feel things, or if I touched something once I had to do it x number of times, whatever the number was that I was fixated on at the time. I bit my nails all the time too. Plenty of tic-like compulsions as well, whether they were vocal or not. I've also had issues with my eyeglasses. For instance, if I had a scratch on them and it blurred the light or something I looked at, I would catch myself doing it over and over again in some sort of compulsion.

I still have tics. On rare occasion I'll do the touching/numbers thing, but once in a blue moon. I do have to go back and check locks occasionally. When playing video games, I sometimes screw up because I'll push a button and like the way something feels or clicks and have to do it again. I have all of the textbook cognitive distortions associated with perfectionism, with the rigidity and control that comes with such, along with the resultant anxiety. I can get a phrase locked in my head and repeat them over and over and over, driving myself nuts.

I think that pretty much sums it up. Perhaps not all of those things are indicative of OCD type behaviors, but I think they may be. Both of my brothers had lots of similar issues as well.

I have OCD, anorexia and anxiety along with ADD,ADHD, NLD, visual perceptual motor disability. I have obsessive thoughts and rituals but I am very disorganized and messy. My OCD turned into anorexia, I have these obsessive thoughts and obsessions and stuff and things I have to do. A lot of people with ADD, ADHD and NLD have OCD as a comorbid disorder. My anorexia is really a form of OCD. I am not a perfectionist, I'm very messy and disorganized, my OCD is really obsessive thoughts and behaviors, not stupid handwashing crap you read about, I don't care about germs, it's other stuff. No one knows I have OCD because I hid it well, my disorganization because of my ADD / ADHD and NLD (Nonverbal Learning Disorder) really hid it well. the anorexia is really what they see more of. I am so disorganized and messy and still have OCD and anorexia.

When playing video games, I sometimes screw up because I'll push a button and like the way something feels or clicks and have to do it again. .

I will have a compulsion to press a button because I feel urged too or I like the way it clicks


I can get a phrase locked in my head and repeat them over and over and over, driving myself nuts.




i hate this. i will do this in spanish also!

I have OCD, anorexia and anxiety along with ADD,ADHD, NLD, visual perceptual motor disability. I have obsessive thoughts and rituals but I am very disorganized and messy. My OCD turned into anorexia, I have these obsessive thoughts and obsessions and stuff and things I have to do. A lot of people with ADD, ADHD and NLD have OCD as a comorbid disorder. My anorexia is really a form of OCD. I am not a perfectionist, I'm very messy and disorganized, my OCD is really obsessive thoughts and behaviors, not stupid handwashing crap you read about, I don't care about germs, it's other stuff. No one knows I have OCD because I hid it well, my disorganization because of my ADD / ADHD and NLD (Nonverbal Learning Disorder) really hid it well. the anorexia is really what they see more of. I am so disorganized and messy and still have OCD and anorexia.


I can completely understand. I've been there done that. To look at just one issue, my OCD... can be mild at times, and at other times drive me to distraction. However, I have become so good at hiding it, that no one has any idea. Eating disorders are easier to see, and family and friends react to what they see, worrying about every morsel you eat. And they should. But what is more important, is dealing with the all of the issues, so that things can become less overwhelming and you can be in the moment with your issues and begin dealing with them.

Having said all of that, my OCD is considerably better since taking the latest in a two and a half decade search for the right anti-depressent. And now that I know I have adhd-i the combination of meds like adderall, an anti-depressent and therapy I know things can be better...not perfect, just better. Oh and by the way I'm totally messy, worst desk at work, messiest car, I'd for sure fail the white glove test at home.

As a kid, it was things like having to feel things, or if I touched something once I had to do it x number of times, whatever the number was that I was fixated on at the time. I bit my nails all the time too. Plenty of tic-like compulsions as well, whether they were vocal or not. I've also had issues with my eyeglasses. For instance, if I had a scratch on them and it blurred the light or something I looked at, I would catch myself doing it over and over again in some sort of compulsion.

I still have tics. On rare occasion I'll do the touching/numbers thing, but once in a blue moon. I do have to go back and check locks occasionally. When playing video games, I sometimes screw up because I'll push a button and like the way something feels or clicks and have to do it again. I have all of the textbook cognitive distortions associated with perfectionism, with the rigidity and control that comes with such, along with the resultant anxiety. I can get a phrase locked in my head and repeat them over and over and over, driving myself nuts.

I think that pretty much sums it up. Perhaps not all of those things are indicative of OCD type behaviors, but I think they may be. Both of my brothers had lots of similar issues as well.

I share a lot of your childhood (and current) behaviors in common! I had some tics as an adolescent, mostly throat-clearing which was pretty bad. I've also chronically picked my nails, but that may be genetic: my dad has chronically and compulsively bit his since he was a child, and he has no known neuropsychological issues. I also had a mumbling issue for a few years, where I'd unconsciously mumble, but I'm not sure what caused that. I believe all of these behaviors are related in some way and are far more common in people with a disorder like ADHD or Asperger's than in the general population. It seems that neurologically, in general, we just aren't wired to fit the mold that the rest of the population seems to fit.

The other behaviors you describe are ones of which I'm also guilty, and I believe they all, or mostly, point back to OCD. ADHD often comes with some odd sensory integration issues, however, so the line when the former is present is often quite blurry. Where one disorder starts and another begins is hard to differentiate in that case.

Also, tics are pretty common in OCD and are present in about 35% of people with the disorder.

I have OCD, anorexia and anxiety along with ADD,ADHD, NLD, visual perceptual motor disability. I have obsessive thoughts and rituals but I am very disorganized and messy. My OCD turned into anorexia, I have these obsessive thoughts and obsessions and stuff and things I have to do. A lot of people with ADD, ADHD and NLD have OCD as a comorbid disorder. My anorexia is really a form of OCD. I am not a perfectionist, I'm very messy and disorganized, my OCD is really obsessive thoughts and behaviors, not stupid handwashing crap you read about, I don't care about germs, it's other stuff. No one knows I have OCD because I hid it well, my disorganization because of my ADD / ADHD and NLD (Nonverbal Learning Disorder) really hid it well. the anorexia is really what they see more of. I am so disorganized and messy and still have OCD and anorexia.

Very sorry to hear about your anorexia; that must be an unpleasant condition. I've read some about NVLD and, from what I've read, it seems to be a somewhat milder and different variant of Asperger's Syndrome? Have you gotten treatment for your OCD and anorexia?

Yeah, it annoys me how people think OCD sufferers are compulsively clean. That is simply not the case. Some people with it are, but I'd actually a venture a guess that the majority aren't. It all depends what your obsessions and compulsions are. It just so happens that many, for whatever reason, relate to sanitation or hygiene in some way or another, perhaps because that's one of the most glaringly obvious issues that most of the non-afflicted population simply don't consider for long enough to get worked up about. But the etiology of particular O-C combinations is hard to decipher and probably is caused by a combination of genetic, neurological, psychological, and environmental/experiential factors. For instance, I had violent/aggressive obsessions mostly, where another person will have sexual obsessions or religiosity obsessions, or philosophical obsessions--or all or any combination of the above...or others!


[B][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=4]Having said all of that, my OCD is considerably better since taking the latest in a two and a half decade search for the right anti-depressent. And now that I know I have adhd-i the combination of meds like adderall, an anti-depressent and therapy I know things can be better...not perfect, just better. Oh and by the way I'm totally messy, worst desk at work, messiest car, I'd for sure fail the white glove test at home.

I'm glad your OCD is so much better! Would you mind sharing which anti-depressant you've settled on that's helping you so much? I think a lot of us could use the benefit of your experience! It's too bad it took so long to find it, though...that seems to be the case with so many people. Maybe in the future, they'll be able to compare the psychopharmacological differences in drugs to determine which one would be optimal for a given person.

I share a lot of your childhood (and current) behaviors in common! I had some tics as an adolescent, mostly throat-clearing which was pretty bad. I've also chronically picked my nails, but that may be genetic: my dad has chronically and compulsively bit his since he was a child, and he has no known neuropsychological issues. I also had a mumbling issue for a few years, where I'd unconsciously mumble, but I'm not sure what caused that. I believe all of these behaviors are related in some way and are far more common in people with a disorder like ADHD or Asperger's than in the general population. It seems that neurologically, in general, we just aren't wired to fit the mold that the rest of the population seems to fit.

The other behaviors you describe are ones of which I'm also guilty, and I believe they all, or mostly, point back to OCD. ADHD often comes with some odd sensory integration issues, however, so the line when the former is present is often quite blurry. Where one disorder starts and another begins is hard to differentiate in that case.

Also, tics are pretty common in OCD and are present in about 35% of people with the disorder.



Very sorry to hear about your anorexia; that must be an unpleasant condition. I've read some about NVLD and, from what I've read, it seems to be a somewhat milder and different variant of Asperger's Syndrome? Have you gotten treatment for your OCD and anorexia?

Yeah, it annoys me how people think OCD sufferers are compulsively clean. That is simply not the case. Some people with it are, but I'd actually a venture a guess that the majority aren't. It all depends what your obsessions and compulsions are. It just so happens that many, for whatever reason, relate to sanitation or hygiene in some way or another, perhaps because that's one of the most glaringly obvious issues that most of the non-afflicted population simply don't consider for long enough to get worked up about. But the etiology of particular O-C combinations is hard to decipher and probably is caused by a combination of genetic, neurological, psychological, and environmental/experiential factors. For instance, I had violent/aggressive obsessions mostly, where another person will have sexual obsessions or religiosity obsessions, or philosophical obsessions--or all or any combination of the above...or others!



I'm glad your OCD is so much better! Would you mind sharing which anti-depressant you've settled on that's helping you so much? I think a lot of us could use the benefit of your experience! It's too bad it took so long to find it, though...that seems to be the case with so many people. Maybe in the future, they'll be able to compare the psychopharmacological differences in drugs to determine which one would be optimal for a given person.


Just filled up my pill box for the week so that I could answer your question. I only get the generic as that's what my insurance will pay for so I don't know the real name, but the generic is called Sertaline HCL and I take 100 mg once a day before I go to sleep.

Hold on I can look it up for you...be right back...Zoloft, and I had no side effects when I started unlike many of the others and it has certainly helped decreased the OCD and panic attacks. Hope that's helpful.

Just filled up my pill box for the week so that I could answer your question. I only get the generic as that's what my insurance will pay for so I don't know the real name, but the generic is called Sertaline HCL and I take 100 mg once a day before I go to sleep.

Hold on I can look it up for you...be right back...Zoloft, and I had no side effects when I started unlike many of the others and it has certainly helped decreased the OCD and panic attacks. Hope that's helpful.

Zoloft is definitely among the more popular SSRIs and I've heard of its efficacy for SSRI. Luvox is generally the most popular for OCD. Did you try that one?

The annoying thing is one of the therapists I had gone to only knew about my OCD and not my ADD, even though I was diagnosed ADD and they attributed all my ADD stuff to OCD and they knew nothing about ADD. The therapy didn't work because of my ADD, I would lose all the cards of the things to work on and forget to do the things, this professional only knew about OCD and gave unhelpful advice.

People with ADD and OCD really should not see a therapist or psychiatrist who only knows about OCD. A psychiatrist I once saw put me on all the wrong meds and atone point, even though I had been on stimulants for msot of my life, at one point refused to prescribe them because he had no clue about ADD and said my issues I would "just have to deal with" and "try harder" and "That doesn't seem like such a deal" and then offer more anxiety meds even though I had been getting stimulants from this same doctor for a long time.

Nonverbal Learning Disorder is a visual processing disorder. People with NLD have difficulty picturing things in their head or seeing visual stimuli accurately. People with NLD have difficulties with visual-spatial skills, fine motor skills, organization, visual memory, visual motor integration, executive functioning, art, sense of direction, math and science. It's kind of like a more severe version of ADD. It's not really like Asperger's Syndrome at all, in fact it's quite the opposite in many areas. That's like saying ADD is a mild form of Asperger's Syndrome.

It's really kind of a spectrum, there;s ADD/ADHD, NLD/NVLD then AS. I have ADD/ADHD and NLD, Attention Deficit Disorder and Nonverbal Learning Disability or Nonverbal Learning Disorder, but do not have AS's at all. I know some people with AS and they are really the opposite of me. I am very creative and empathetic and am bad at math, have a poor visual memory, bad at driving, bad at science, disorganized, did horrible in school, had bad handwriting, was terrible at anything visual, I got lost all the time. I had no special talent or skill I was good at. I also was able to have normal relationships and enjoy them. I also had normal interests, I liked teen drama sand soap operas and romance and loved relationships, I always had a strong interest in people and a lot of compassion.

That's really a significant difference between NLD and ADD and AS. With NLD, you have difficulty with math and visual memory and sense of direction and driving and science, I was horrible in those areas, people with AS are often gifted in the areas where people NLD have the most difficulty. I also do not have all the signs of NLD, my case is more mild, I can decode nonverbal signals and the like, the people I know with AS often have very eccentric interests, do not have the difficulties with organization, math science, visual memory, sense of direction, visual-spatial skills, driving, art and motor skills I have, they also often say some very inappropriate, rude, awkward and uncomfortable things. I have the social knowledge to know what not to say in certain situations, it's intuitive, someone I know who has AS does not, that's reallt the difference between ADD and NLD and AS. I did not know I had NLD until one day when I was 21, almost 22 I found out about it on the internet and self diagnosed myself right away, believing i had it and no one believed me because I didn't fit all the symptoms, so finally a year later, after wondering whether or not I had Nonverbal Learning Disorder I finally got tested. Before I was classified as perceptually impaired or visual motor integration disability or visual perceptual disability.

People with NLD are very bad at puzzles, mazes, video games, driving, art, reading maps, math, sense of direction, drawing, handwriting, tying shoes, stringing beads, organization, finding objects in a room, finding your way around a room, building or new location, anything visual or spatial.

It's really a spectrum, ADD/ADHD. NLD/NVLD, AS. People with NLD have the most difficulty with visual-spatial skills, fine motor skills, organization, math, art, sense of direction, handwriting, science and executive function. People with AS have more difficulty with social skills and sensory integration. NLD is kind of like severe ADD. I have ADD and NLD, but not AS and the people i know with AS are just very different from me in many ways. Every disorder has a spectrum, not everyone can fall enatly into one category. My core issue is ADD, that's the issue the neurologist said was my most main problem, the NLD was really categorized as a visual processing disorder, I was never told "You have NLD", I was diagnosed with ADD and a visual motor integration disability as a child, then as an adult I diagnosed myself with NLD when I found it on the internet, some symptoms fit, some didn't and then went to a neuropsych a year after to finally have ti confirmed after testing, they called it a "visual processing disorder" I also have a math disability, Dyscalculia. It's really a spectrum of disorders that are connected in some ways and the opposite in other ways.

I always had OCD with obsessive thoughts, I was very messy, disorganized and not neat or clean at all, because everyone stereotypes OCD as clean, organized, neat, no one knew I had OCD unless they told them and I never told anyone. I had many relationships in the past and they would be shocked to know I had OCD because there was never a need to tell them, my OCD symptoms weren't visible, they were thoughts.

My anorexia is really my form of OCD. Doctors see anorexia and don't get that it's not like most cases, it's really ADD/OCD. I can only eat once a day, have to wait the latest, have to do treadmill every morning, can only eat safe foods and developed an obsession with everything thin, can only wear size 0, everything extra small, only the skinniest clothes, have to show thinness everywhere, have a fear of bad foods and get anxious around bad foods or seeing pictures of someone on the other end of the spectrum, have a compulsion to show everyone how thin I am, follow the routine, constantly wonder if everyone who asks me out before they get to know me just likes me because I am thin, have to be thinnest in room, and it's very difficult to break a routine. Thinnest is good, anything else is bad, can only view pictures of other thins, it's like OCD manifested as anorexia.

People normally think of OCD as just someone who washes their hands a lot, which isn't me, so they don't see that my anorexia is really OCD manifested as anorexia. It's also about my ADD/NLD, I am so disorganized, messy, forgetful, lose and misplace things, that sometimes I check to make sure I haven't lost something and get anxious and stuff, also because of NLD, I have a visual memory deficit and cannot picture clear images in my mind, because of ADD I have a poor working memory, so sometimes I forget if I did something, like I can't remember if I washed my hair or not so I do it again and it can look like OCD. Also, OCD is like a way of coping with ADD/NLD to the extreme, like because of ADD, I forget things, so I sue OCD to fix it, like write a million notes of things I must do, make sure I do them, Like basic tasks, because of ADD I forget things, so I worry like what if I forget to shave my legs and have to become obsessive and establish routines to do things because I often forget things and get sidetracked. My OCD and anorexia is kind of functional in a way because it's a way of coping with ADD and NLD, without structure, I am eternally disorganized, messy and spaced out. My anorexia is kind of like coping with NLD and ADD. Because of NLD, I have very poor attention to visual detail and because of ADD I am not detail oriented and don't notice things, that's why my anorexia is different, I don't count calories or keep track of detailed things, I just only eat safe, low calorie foods like apples and only once a day and do treadmill every morning, because all the other details are confusing and it works.

Because those of us with ADD or NLD are very disorganized and messy, we use OCD as a way to cope with ADD or NLD. Therapists/Psychiatrists who just only treat the OCD in someone with ADD or NLD will fail because significant issues are not being dealt with, someone who just treats the anorexia in someone with ADD, NLD and OCD will fail because they are ignoring the core issues.

The annoying thing is one of the therapists I had gone to only knew about my OCD and not my ADD, even though I was diagnosed ADD and they attributed all my ADD stuff to OCD and they knew nothing about ADD. The therapy didn't work because of my ADD, I would lose all the cards of the things to work on and forget to do the things, this professional only knew about OCD and gave unhelpful advice.

People with ADD and OCD really should not see a therapist or psychiatrist who only knows about OCD. A psychiatrist I once saw put me on all the wrong meds and atone point, even though I had been on stimulants for msot of my life, at one point refused to prescribe them because he had no clue about ADD and said my issues I would "just have to deal with" and "try harder" and "That doesn't seem like such a deal" and then offer more anxiety meds even though I had been getting stimulants from this same doctor for a long time.

Nonverbal Learning Disorder is a visual processing disorder. People with NLD have difficulty picturing things in their head or seeing visual stimuli accurately. People with NLD have difficulties with visual-spatial skills, fine motor skills, organization, visual memory, visual motor integration, executive functioning, art, sense of direction, math and science. It's kind of like a more severe version of ADD. It's not really like Asperger's Syndrome at all, in fact it's quite the opposite in many areas. That's like saying ADD is a mild form of Asperger's Syndrome.

It's really kind of a spectrum, there;s ADD/ADHD, NLD/NVLD then AS. I have ADD/ADHD and NLD, Attention Deficit Disorder and Nonverbal Learning Disability or Nonverbal Learning Disorder, but do not have AS's at all. I know some people with AS and they are really the opposite of me. I am very creative and empathetic and am bad at math, have a poor visual memory, bad at driving, bad at science, disorganized, did horrible in school, had bad handwriting, was terrible at anything visual, I got lost all the time. I had no special talent or skill I was good at. I also was able to have normal relationships and enjoy them. I also had normal interests, I liked teen drama sand soap operas and romance and loved relationships, I always had a strong interest in people and a lot of compassion.

That's really a significant difference between NLD and ADD and AS. With NLD, you have difficulty with math and visual memory and sense of direction and driving and science, I was horrible in those areas, people with AS are often gifted in the areas where people NLD have the most difficulty. I also do not have all the signs of NLD, my case is more mild, I can decode nonverbal signals and the like, the people I know with AS often have very eccentric interests, do not have the difficulties with organization, math science, visual memory, sense of direction, visual-spatial skills, driving, art and motor skills I have, they also often say some very inappropriate, rude, awkward and uncomfortable things. I have the social knowledge to know what not to say in certain situations, it's intuitive, someone I know who has AS does not, that's reallt the difference between ADD and NLD and AS. I did not know I had NLD until one day when I was 21, almost 22 I found out about it on the internet and self diagnosed myself right away, believing i had it and no one believed me because I didn't fit all the symptoms, so finally a year later, after wondering whether or not I had Nonverbal Learning Disorder I finally got tested. Before I was classified as perceptually impaired or visual motor integration disability or visual perceptual disability.

People with NLD are very bad at puzzles, mazes, video games, driving, art, reading maps, math, sense of direction, drawing, handwriting, tying shoes, stringing beads, organization, finding objects in a room, finding your way around a room, building or new location, anything visual or spatial.

It's really a spectrum, ADD/ADHD. NLD/NVLD, AS. People with NLD have the most difficulty with visual-spatial skills, fine motor skills, organization, math, art, sense of direction, handwriting, science and executive function. People with AS have more difficulty with social skills and sensory integration. NLD is kind of like severe ADD. I have ADD and NLD, but not AS and the people i know with AS are just very different from me in many ways. Every disorder has a spectrum, not everyone can fall enatly into one category. My core issue is ADD, that's the issue the neurologist said was my most main problem, the NLD was really categorized as a visual processing disorder, I was never told "You have NLD", I was diagnosed with ADD and a visual motor integration disability as a child, then as an adult I diagnosed myself with NLD when I found it on the internet, some symptoms fit, some didn't and then went to a neuropsych a year after to finally have ti confirmed after testing, they called it a "visual processing disorder" I also have a math disability, Dyscalculia. It's really a spectrum of disorders that are connected in some ways and the opposite in other ways.

I always had OCD with obsessive thoughts, I was very messy, disorganized and not neat or clean at all, because everyone stereotypes OCD as clean, organized, neat, no one knew I had OCD unless they told them and I never told anyone. I had many relationships in the past and they would be shocked to know I had OCD because there was never a need to tell them, my OCD symptoms weren't visible, they were thoughts.

My anorexia is really my form of OCD. Doctors see anorexia and don't get that it's not like most cases, it's really ADD/OCD. I can only eat once a day, have to wait the latest, have to do treadmill every morning, can only eat safe foods and developed an obsession with everything thin, can only wear size 0, everything extra small, only the skinniest clothes, have to show thinness everywhere, have a fear of bad foods and get anxious around bad foods or seeing pictures of someone on the other end of the spectrum, have a compulsion to show everyone how thin I am, follow the routine, constantly wonder if everyone who asks me out before they get to know me just likes me because I am thin, have to be thinnest in room, and it's very difficult to break a routine. Thinnest is good, anything else is bad, can only view pictures of other thins, it's like OCD manifested as anorexia.

People normally think of OCD as just someone who washes their hands a lot, which isn't me, so they don't see that my anorexia is really OCD manifested as anorexia. It's also about my ADD/NLD, I am so disorganized, messy, forgetful, lose and misplace things, that sometimes I check to make sure I haven't lost something and get anxious and stuff, also because of NLD, I have a visual memory deficit and cannot picture clear images in my mind, because of ADD I have a poor working memory, so sometimes I forget if I did something, like I can't remember if I washed my hair or not so I do it again and it can look like OCD. Also, OCD is like a way of coping with ADD/NLD to the extreme, like because of ADD, I forget things, so I sue OCD to fix it, like write a million notes of things I must do, make sure I do them, Like basic tasks, because of ADD I forget things, so I worry like what if I forget to shave my legs and have to become obsessive and establish routines to do things because I often forget things and get sidetracked. My OCD and anorexia is kind of functional in a way because it's a way of coping with ADD and NLD, without structure, I am eternally disorganized, messy and spaced out. My anorexia is kind of like coping with NLD and ADD. Because of NLD, I have very poor attention to visual detail and because of ADD I am not detail oriented and don't notice things, that's why my anorexia is different, I don't count calories or keep track of detailed things, I just only eat safe, low calorie foods like apples and only once a day and do treadmill every morning, because all the other details are confusing and it works.

Because those of us with ADD or NLD are very disorganized and messy, we use OCD as a way to cope with ADD or NLD. Therapists/Psychiatrists who just only treat the OCD in someone with ADD or NLD will fail because significant issues are not being dealt with, someone who just treats the anorexia in someone with ADD, NLD and OCD will fail because they are ignoring the core issues.

Thanks for that thorough explanation and your account of your experiences.

Have you been treated for your anorexia? That's certainly not a good condition.

I haven't been diagnosed, but I have some behaviors that I think could be OCD, but I haven't told anyone about them.

I pick at my skin, like a crackhead, until it bleeds, and scabs, trying to make something I think is a flaw, better. But in reality it's only making it worse. I can't think that way when I'm doing it though, I just see it, and unconsciously pick, scratch, squeeze...whatever. I have had folliculitus on my stomach/chest for over 10 years. And this past year I have been non-stop with the picking at it, which only worsened it. I don't have acne or anything on my face, but I still get the occasional pimple, and when I do...it's non-stop picking at it until I can stop for a second and look at myself in the mirror and realize, holy **** it looks way worse, and everybody can see this now.

I also have this thing where I have to empty the recycle bin on my computer if it has anything in it, if I delete something, it goes to the recycle bin, and I instantly go there and empty it. Same goes with updates for software on my computer. I constantly check for updates, and if there is one, I will get it, and if it requires a restart or something of my comp. I will do it right away, even if I am in the middle of something. And after I finish, I am like, wtf! that was so annoying

So idk, maybe these are just weird habits, and could have nothing to do with ocd, but it never hurts to wonder ;]

I definitely have OCD. Mine has manifested into an eating disorder. I must journal all of my food, I eat the same things because I know the calorie content. I will NOT drink calories. I won't eat beef. I exercise excessively if I overeat or think I over eat. Food is always on my mind. It is very troublesome. Going out is painful, or holidays, where I can't weigh my food, or measure it. I am also obsessive about cleaning my kitchen. I have stainless appliances that must never have prints. And I have a toddler. So I am forever cleaning, cleaning.

i have a ton of them, but as they don't (in my opinion) hinder me and i have no desire to rid myself of them, thus i've always fallen below criteria. oddly enough though, i was assessed for ocd as a really little kid...even before being diagnosed with adhd...and a couple of times since.

i have a lot of sensory gross outs and i have issues with clutter.

stickers make me sick to think about, as does still water, wet metal, anything small in clusters, anything engraved, metal in general, jewelry, food/beverage in plastic containers, carpets, basketry, knick knacks/figurines, sofa cracks freak me out...etc. i avoid all such items like the plague. i

also have an aversion to multiples in use, i guess you could say. what i mean is that i have *one* fork (no engraving), *one* bowl, *one* cup...and so forth. i also get overwhelmed by too many choices (i've always been told this is adhd related), but my solution is to purchase identical things that work and so there's a lot of stuff that i'd say i'm 'brand loyal' to...not so much because of the brand itself, but i know ___ trail running shoes fit well, so i only buy those. it's actually quite distressing when something goes out of stock, so i'll buy six at a time, store 5 away and hope for the best.

i also do the tapping/clapping (and some other, less 'normal sounding' things), but that's more adhd related too--a manifestation of the h/i half of my symptoms.

finally, (and i've been told this is yet another adhd-related issue) i can't handle being in a room with tons of clutter. it feels like it's attacking me constantly. i have a very hard time shutting out the external stimuli and when combined with the internal thought maelstrom...it's too much. so, in short, i'm fond of throwing things away. VERY fond of it. not so much scouring/cleaning...just removing items from view however necessary and ideally permanently.

I also have this thing where I have to empty the recycle bin on my computer if it has anything in it, if I delete something, it goes to the recycle bin, and I instantly go there and empty it. Same goes with updates for software on my computer. I constantly check for updates, and if there is one, I will get it, and if it requires a restart or something of my comp. I will do it right away, even if I am in the middle of something. And after I finish, I am like, wtf! that was so annoying

That's so funny. I do the exact same thing with my computers. I finally hid my trash box (I run Linux and can heavily customize things) so I wouldn't be emptying it all day. Is this really OCD? If it is, I have a ton of other OCD type issues with computers.

I do weird things that drive people around me crazy. They might be OCD behaviors. There's usually something compulsive that has to do with my body. This year it's mostly been about the hairs on and around my ears. I spend a bunch of time each day feeling for them with my fingers and pulling at them (yes, men in their 40s can get hairy ears, but at least mine never stay hairy). Other years it's been different things. I still do some of all of them: skin picking, playing with eyebrows and eyelashes, pulling nose hairs, and chewing skin.

I have compulsive issues with cleaning certain things (I hate any spec on a computer monitor or TV).

The biggest thing, and I don't know if this is OCD, is how rigid my thinking gets about certain things. I'm actually really easy going in many ways, but I latch on to certain thoughts and can't get them out of my head.

People tell me I repeat the same thing in conversations over and over. I think it's because I'm rewriting aloud. Trying to get the words just right.

I've never been diagnosed with OCD, just ADHD combined. I don't think any OCD behavior of mine gets in the way of living, although they can be frustrating.

Someone to whom I'm blood related has been diagnosed with OCD. She sometimes starts a compulsive cough or facial tic thing. If her latest tic involves rubbing or touching, she'll get sores. The biggest problem is a huge toilet paper issue. She can go through several rolls a day. She uses a beday now, but runs the water forever and ever and ever. I don't have the exact same issues, but I know she's a lot like me in many ways. We're working with some of the same genes.

Damn that's crazy. I could of swore I was the only one String! Then again, when I am in that psycho obsessive mode, my thoughts can't even get out of the corner of the box, let alone outside of it.

My OCD tendences:

Light Switches - all must be in the same position

DVDS - alphabetical by genre

Money - must be facing the same direction in my wallet

Those are just what came to mind - I'm sure there are others!

BTW - Subfighter - I LOVE my e-cig - saved my life!

BTW - Subfighter - I LOVE my e-cig - saved my life!


Is there a minimum age requirment for it? My friend is 16, just got back from a "camp" so hasn't smoked in two months. She is getting an E-Cig tommorow. Her mom would rather her be smoking that than cigs.

So is legal for her to be walking down the street with one of these things?

Okay, got to be careful here. Number one, smoking/nicotine products are illegal for anyone under the age of 18 period. It would be no more legal for her to use an e-cig that to walk down the street smoking a real cigarette. It is illegal for ANY e-cig company to sell ANY of their products to anyone under the age of 18. So, while I know my own success with the product, I just can't encourage it for a minor. The situation really is up to your friend and their parent. If she went that long at camp without smoking then she is not physically addicted, she just wants to smoke. I understand this, because I was the same way. I just liked it, it calmed me down and helped me deal with stress. I wish your friend all the best because cigarettes are one of the worst paths some one could go down! I really don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but I just can't encourage it for a minor. The parents are just going to have to do their research and decide what is best for their situation!!

I just posted something on that subject. http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93541

Obsessive thinking is the worse OCD type thing I have.Along with ADHD anxiety and depression. Alot of times I almost feel like I'm on the edge of OCD because of the urges I get to do things a certain number of times. Or tell myself what order I should have done that in even tho I know it dosent matter. Do you get obsessive thoughts to?

When I was young I would do OCD things. Do things a certain number of times, get certain phrases stuck in my head too. I got rid of them. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone about them. So, I played my mind against itself, and then it no longer fit the logic my mind was using for doing them - had to do it for each thing. After getting rid of half the things all the rest dropped - haven't come back after 14 years.

I definitely have OCD in addition to ADD. There are some things that I think may be obsessive-compulsive reactions to ADD, and other things that overlap. But my really OCD stuff is definitely OCD.

OCD is characterized by obsessive thoughts. They're obsessively thought about specifically because they provoke anxiety. For example, a religious person might obsessively worry that they're going to have a blasphemous thought. If they weren't a religious person, this thought would not provoke anxiety, and so it would not become an obsession.

If I have a thought that gets repeated but is NOT provoking anxiety, it's more likely to be related to my ADD. And the compulsions are specifically in reaction to those obsessive thoughts, in order to make them go away. If I do something repeatedly but it's not aimed at easing my anxiety over an obsession, it's more likely to be related to ADD than OCD.

Some of my OCD-related behaviors:

* Checking the oven. I have this horrible fear that something will get in there and someone will turn on the oven, and it will get burned. Specifically, cats. This is a completely illogical fear, which is part of what clues me in how OCD it is. How would the cat get in the oven? You see, I checked the oven for cats even when we didn't own a cat. I also check the dryer, and I have to listen near public garbage cans. I'm afraid someone threw an animal away and it will end up in the garbage compressor.

* I am afraid I will be unable to resist the urge to horribly maim myself, such as cutting off a limb or jumping in front of a car. This is actually the obsession that got me into therapy in the first place as a teen. It's an obsession because I worry I will do it, like it will just happen and I can't do anything to stop it.

* I have a lot of little ones, such as touching the corner of a certain bookcase. I need to make sure it's smooth so it doesn't hurt anyone if they bump against it while walking by.

* I have some obsessions with things that in my mind are "dirty". I feel like they contaminate me. It isn't even necessarily a specific germ obsession, just a dirtiness obsession. The compulsion in reaction is to wash, sometimes repeatedly. I can't take a bath or go in a swimming pool, or wash dishes that have been in the sink; standing water is a huge no-no for me. There are certain things I absolutely can't touch, such as any part of a bus (poles or the handle things for standing), door handles to public places, or elevator or crosswalk buttons. Cigarettes absolutely FREAK me out. I can't stand looking at them, touching them, stepping on them (even with shoes), and so on.

OCD is probably a more difficult diagnosis to wrap my brain around, as the obsessive thoughts have, at times, been grotesquely sexual, violent, or otherwise similarly morally depraved. Losing hours trying to fix problems that are out of my control simply by analyzing scenario after scenario after scenario. Then, if situation presents itself, I have picked skin raw, have plucked out hairs till none are left.

The thoughts and compulsions change and are certainly confounded by ADD symptoms. Like others, I have tics that can happen either randomly or with an impetus (e.g. one hair on my head being touched, touching or imagining chalk and chalk boards, etc). Other times I need to touch things, or will have the "this isn't right" feeling and need to continue what I'm doing. This drives me insane, as well as others, but I do find it nearly impossible to stop clicking a pen (it never ends right). I have troubles starting to enter the code to the alarm system while the alarm system is gives warning beeps -- I have to wait till the rest in between (god forbid if I don't enter it before the beeps start again.)

It's been weird actually realizing that yes, yes I am "afraid" of food and smells -- yes, yes I am creeped out by lots of stuff. I won't eat left overs older than 2 days. I refuse to even smell milk if its questionably spoiled.

If I try to straighten and make something even, it is never ever perfect and I will try for much too long. The disappointment is so bad that I have resigned myself to not even trying and purposefully having "clutter" so I won't freak out when something is "messed up."

Hair. I can't do wet hair --- in a comb, on a brush, on the wall, in the shower, in a drain, on a sink, on the floor etc. Quite disgusting. For a long time I found it so disgusting it was easier to ignore it than deal with it.

I check things. I count things. I won't say things for fear saying will make it reality -- I never knew that other people didn't have "magical" thinking... It also makes me feel better to knock on wood.

Grocery stores and driving are nightmares for obvious ADD reasons, and exceedingly painful because of OCD ones. I am dreadfully afraid of hitting a pedestrian or getting into an accident, thus obsessive thoughts have ramped up anxiety so bad that I won't drive somewhere to get groceries or food. I am very particular about driving and how to drive. At the grocery store I compulsively look at the backs of all products and read the labels (I didn't realize not everyone was so label savvy... doesn't everyone know which chemicals are preservatives, or which fruit cup brand uses 100% fruit juice vs. fruit juice from concentrate???) as well as compulsively compare prices and quality. Being ADD and dyslexic and OCD, lets just say, I've spent over 2 hours picking out tooth paste.

Strangely enough, I am also very drawn towards things that are typically held as gross -- I don't mind wading through nasty boggy water (if there's cool stuff to find/see), I like insects, I don't mind dissecting cadavers, maggots and dead things aren't really creepy to me, I like spiders...

immina stop now.

finally, (and i've been told this is yet another adhd-related issue) i can't handle being in a room with tons of clutter. it feels like it's attacking me constantly. i have a very hard time shutting out the external stimuli and when combined with the internal thought maelstrom...it's too much. so, in short, i'm fond of throwing things away. VERY fond of it. not so much scouring/cleaning...just removing items from view however necessary and ideally permanently.

If I order a couple of dumpsters will you come visit for a weekend? Our house is starting to look like an episode of Hoarders.:(

I have the opposite problem - if I put something out of sight it doesn't exist for me anymore.

I have adhd and my worst ocd type behavior is obsessive thoughts. I believe that over the years I developed this thinking about one thing obsessively, because its the only way to not think about the hundred things a minute that pop into my head. I think that my obsessive thoughts are a workaround that I made for the way I really think. Ive been diagnosed by a psychiatrist with adhd, high anxiety and depression. Not ocd tho. The people on hear have been a big help to me. Lots of info on these pages.

I do not have OCD.

I need to have things a certain way or I am not comfortable. I still don't sleep in my bed, but it must be clean and fresh. Period.

Dishes need to be rinsed and put in the dishwasher as soon as they are done serving their purpose. Dirty dishes next to the sink makes me crazy. Dirty dishes anywhere else in the house makes me crazy.

Ashtrays need to be emptied in a timely manner. I need air fresheners in smelly rooms.

My house has been upside-down through my husband's illness and since his death. I am trying desperately to make it functional again. That means developing new ways to manage. When I find something that works, it HAS to be adhered to. Otherwise, I am lost in dysfunction land again and I refuse to permit that.

If something is in the wrong place, I have no problem with introducing it to the rubbish.

There are things in my house that a casual visitor should never touch. If you will be here longer than an hour, I will try to point them out.

My walls are covered with things that are important to me. I hung them for me. I don't care to hear your opinion of them, they are there because they are important to me.

Angora- I can toss with the best of them. Just not in my house. Here, I need help to let go of things.

I have ADHD and mild AS and tics and now I'm beginning to wonder if there is some OCD in me too.

I do have some of the traits.

Selena

Not true OCD, but lot's of small habits that I do to feel better. For years in college I had to have a full breakfast and then read some magazine (Time/Atlantic/GQ) for an hour or more. I would feel terrible if I didn't do it, so I would skip class to do that sometimes. I would take my eggs a certain way, get a favourite brand of coffee, etc.

I really think that there's a fine line between OCD and OCD-like behaviors that are a byproduct of ADD.

I like to have my towels folded a certain way, my bed made a certain way, my toilet paper hanging a certain way, and I will re-do stuff like this just because it bothers me, but I don't consider that OCD. I want it that way because it's a visually sensory thing - I do certain things in a particular way because I find the end result to look neat and organized. That's a rare thing in my life, so I'm pretty picky about keeping those few neat things consistently neat. If they aren't, I'm able to leave them as is sometimes because at least the person who did them "wrong" was helping without being asked, and the last thing I want to do is criticize them and get no help at all!

A lot of other things I do in very particular ways are done so not because I'm obsessive, but because my ADD predisposes me to forget things that are not part of a routine. I have a morning routine that guarantees that the pets have food, water, and clean litter boxes. If I change the order in which I do them, one or more might not get done. I have a routine in the shower so that I don't get out with conditioner still in my hair or one leg shaved. A casual observer might see OCD in a lot of things I do, but it's actually mnemonics.

The OCD comes out with the self harming behaviors. Skin picking, hair pulling, emotional eating, and back in the past, heavy smoking and drinking. Even that has ADD components that are nearly equal contributors to the behavior. With all the meds I've tried in order to address these, the most effective remedy so far has been to take my Adderall and get busy doing something productive. The better I feel about myself, the less obsessed I am about "fixing" my imperfections by damaging my body, or escaping my guilt about unfilled obligations by being busy eating or drinking or smoking. Once I start any of those behaviors, though, they do become compulsive and uncontrollable, and I find it nearly impossible to stop them until I reach a point where somehow I feel I'm "done".

I'm still trying to come up with a more concrete, generalized explanation for what I feel is the difference, but for me I think it's somehow related to whether the behavior serves a positive, practical purpose rather than being emotionally driven and uncontrollable. I can't put my finger on a good way to classify the two, but that's kind of my jumping-off point.

I have always had OCD issues. Mainly reoccurring thoughts and major debilitating stress over rather minor issues in life. I have always been very concerned about what others think. Also I have been afraid to try new things due to a fear of failure or letting someone else down. My main thoughts are related to the following...If I don't know the answer to something from a past event or doubt what I hear, as to why something happened, or what actually took place because i was not there, even if someone tells me the answer, I have to rerun the scenario over and over in my head trying to convince myself I am right and they are wrong. This is horrible to have and gets in the way of daily life due to pre-occupation with these thought patterns. One major issue is my wifes sexual past before me. One night when young we began asking questions and giving pretty detailed answers. She let them go...however they have been with me ever since (going on 20 years now). I just sit and visualize her with the other guys (who were teenagers back then), based on the pics I saw of them. Talk about a life of torment.

I was also once told by a doc that I had melanoma. Later to find out I did not have it when an expert looked at the mole. This put me into a cancer related phobia that every ache and pain was the cancer spreading (which I think really put my OCD into full throttle). I am now a classic hypochondriac, meaning if I read about an illness I feel like I have it. Needless to say internet research is not my friend. :)

Lastly, due to my pessamistic outlook on everything, when something bad comes my way, I over manafest it into a world ending situation. This goes back to my wife and her past. Even though I have been with numerous girls before her and never had a complaint, I automatically assume they were better then me. When my mind is set in a certain direction, no one can change it regardless what they say. I am currently on Lexapro. I was also recently diagnosed with ADD due to confusion, inability to focus and depression. I still say it is due to my OCD. Anyway, I was put on Adderall but it made my negative thoughts race at about 100mph so I had to go off it. Now on Focalin, which is better but still making my normal negativity worse. Seeing pdoc next week...hope he has some answers.

ADD and OCD are most certainly comorbid. I know I don't have OCD but sometimes I've wondered because I've my need to "check" things.

I learned from an ADD coach that "it's hard to trust ourselves." She had ADD too. I think this struggle to trust ourselves in terms of what we do throughout the day makes us wonder "Did I get that done?", Did I empty the ashtray before I left the house?". If we aren't sure of something, then this is what makes us worry. When we worry, we have a need to check.

This is where our healthy habits come into play and is something that I know is important for me to keep up on.

When I'm taking an exam, I always want to look back and see if I did a problem correct. Again it's hard to trust ourselves.

I'm constantly craving reinforcement. I have a blog and will check it several times throughout the day to see if someone posted a comment. LOL. But, I always try to say to myself that I need to keep busy and remember to expect less from people (I carry a notecard with a quote on it about expecting less from people).

Yes I do try to be perfect when I am working on something. It's frustrating for me when I can't do it perfect!

Thanks for the post!

I do not have OCD.

I need to have things a certain way or I am not comfortable. I still don't sleep in my bed, but it must be clean and fresh. Period.

Dishes need to be rinsed and put in the dishwasher as soon as they are done serving their purpose. Dirty dishes next to the sink makes me crazy. Dirty dishes anywhere else in the house makes me crazy.

Ashtrays need to be emptied in a timely manner. I need air fresheners in smelly rooms.

My house has been upside-down through my husband's illness and since his death. I am trying desperately to make it functional again. That means developing new ways to manage. When I find something that works, it HAS to be adhered to. Otherwise, I am lost in dysfunction land again and I refuse to permit that.

If something is in the wrong place, I have no problem with introducing it to the rubbish.

There are things in my house that a casual visitor should never touch. If you will be here longer than an hour, I will try to point them out.

My walls are covered with things that are important to me. I hung them for me. I don't care to hear your opinion of them, they are there because they are important to me.

Angora- I can toss with the best of them. Just not in my house. Here, I need help to let go of things.

im the exact same way about dishes , ashtrays , a messy house in general


i can not be comfortable unless my house is clean


but like you , i dont think this is any type of mental disorder

Someone saw me lining things up and said I was OCD.
I said no.

So my bed must be made the same way every day. Towels must be straight. My book shelf is lined up neatly and split into categories. I hate creases in my shirt so iron them even if I ironed them yesterday. I like to straighten things up around me if they are crooked. When I worked in a clothing shop and had to put all the clothes in order by colour and size it was pretty fun.

Not OCD at all.

I have to do some things in a particular order. I run my tongue over my teeth in a certain way depending on my mood. Other things along those lines. Does that mean I have OCD tendandicies

I have to do some things in a particular order. I run my tongue over my teeth in a certain way depending on my mood. Other things along those lines. Does that mean I have OCD tendandicies

im not sure routines are obsessive compulsive disorder

Only when they are accompanied by anxiety. I fall into routines all the time without noticing, but they make me feel more comfortable. I have no anxiety. It'd just the way my brain works.

So what do routines fall under then? I am clueless

So what do routines fall under then? I am clueless

anything, adhd, autism,ocpd,human nature, anxiety


or maybe ocd


i just think of ocd as more obsessive thoughts accompanied by, what you know to be irrational rituals