![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jo U.K on February 26, 2007, at 5:48:58
I'm having a teeny problem here. I saw a bit of a trailer for the film 23. My OCD's were mainly centred around numbers. As I've said before, I used to obsess about certain ones, I added everything up, I couldnt get outta bed unless my digital clock added up to a certain number. At its worst I couldnt get out of a chair without looking at my watch. The volume on the car radio, car number plates, peoples names (the position of letters in the alphabet determined if they were good or bad)etc etc. This film....... it's started me off, I havnt felt my heart hammer like this in years, in the clip I saw he was adding everything up. It was like it was real. Funny the first thing I thought was, well 2 and3, thats five, that was always one of my 'best' numbers, so it must be ok. It keeps sneaking back in to my head, those wrong numbers. Phew, keep a grip, it was years ago, nothing has happened to me or mine since I stopped doing it, so I CAN stop this.
Gonna distract myself.
I know it's ridiculous. I'd hate anyone else to know this is happening. So embarassing.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on February 26, 2007, at 8:53:07
In reply to That new Jim Carrey film, posted by Jo U.K on February 26, 2007, at 5:48:58
Is the film about OCD then? I'm sorry it was triggering for you. How did you get over your OCD if you don't mind me asking? I'm struggling with OCD tendancies myself.
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by Phillipa on February 26, 2007, at 11:43:05
In reply to Re: That new Jim Carrey film, posted by Meri-Tuuli on February 26, 2007, at 8:53:07
Jo I add numbers too. License plates. Each letter of the alphabet is numbered to coincide with its number in the alphabet. It's horrible. But I like four. And I have a number theory every number eventually equal nine. Adding and subtracting. Merri it's OCD anxiety related. Love Phillipa
Posted by Jo U.K on February 27, 2007, at 6:34:36
In reply to Re: That new Jim Carrey film, posted by Meri-Tuuli on February 26, 2007, at 8:53:07
I dont think the film is about OCD. Actually I'm not sure of the story line. The Clip I saw had him adding numbers like his date of birth and it all adds up to 23. Glad to know I'm not the only number freak Phillipa. My best number is 5. The one I hate most is 2. I have actually traced where I got my fear of this number from.
Meri, i dont think you ever totally get over OCD's and mine were related to feeling out of control of my life, which is how I felt until I was about 27ish. I can only see all this now, as I look back at myself.
Through my teenage years I had a lot of problems, parents split, I had no where to live at 17, started dating husband at 19,mortgage and kids swiftly followed along with a life that seemed a series of chaotic events-I felt like I lurched from one crisis to another and I couldnt deal with it very well - I come from a family and am married to a man who dont talk about anything - you put your chin in the air, put your back in to it and soldier on,so it came out with number obssessions,handwashing,phobias!
As I got to late twenties,things started to settle a little, it was like a got perspective on things, I could see a bigger picture. I dont know if I can explain it very well. Without my hardly noticing, the OCD's died down, to nearly nothing.
Well, I still have drawers lined in bubble wrap etc!How do you cope with yours Meri?
Jo
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on February 27, 2007, at 13:20:02
In reply to Re: Meri/Phillipa, posted by Jo U.K on February 27, 2007, at 6:34:36
Hello Jo!
Thanks for the reply. Well, I'm quite similar to you really (except I don't have kids/morgage) and I'm a student, but I don't feel as if I have control over my own life either. I was just thinking that today in fact!! I'm 26 and have felt rather like this all my life really although to some extent when was younger, I played it off by thinking I was really cool, I mean like I was abit of fluff in the wind or something. Anyway, yes I've got my little foibles, although nothing to do with numbers actually. So I don't control them at all. I find it quite exhausting actually.
Yes handwashing, and 'contaiminating myself' fears. I actually constantly think something really bad is about to happen to me. I hope mine will die down when I'm settled somewhere with my understanding bf and things like that. Oh well.
Meri
Posted by Jo U.K on February 28, 2007, at 3:39:15
In reply to Re: Meri/Phillipa » Jo U.K, posted by Meri-Tuuli on February 27, 2007, at 13:20:02
I totally agree it is absolutely exhausting, and I think one of the most tiring things about it is trying to live an outwardly 'normal' life. Sorry I couldnt give you a definitive answer.
I guess life is never controllable as such, and trying to accept that is part of the battle.
I completely understand about feeling like something bad is about to happen. I absolutely felt like that for most of my life. I thought that if I avoided certain numbers then nothing bad would happen. Like a superstition about number 13 but a million times more exagerrated.I really hope you find some peace with your compulsions Meri, life is too short isnt it?
Warm regards to you
JO
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.