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Not O.C.D., but.........

(113 Posts)
Daddima Sun 21-Feb-16 17:02:54

My friend has just told me that she can't go to sleep unless she has checked that the cushions on her sofa are positioned with the " zip side" at the bottom.
I cannot hang anything out to dry unless the two pegs are of matching colours, and preferably match the colour of the garment.

Bellanonna Sun 21-Feb-16 21:46:10

I agree ana. Some things are just down to quirkiness or a desire for order whereas at the other end of the scale obsessions can consume a person's life, often causing them to go through hours of ritual before leaving the house, if indeed they can. Maybe Ab meant most of us have quirks but most of us thankfully don't have OCD.

FarNorth Sun 21-Feb-16 21:40:42

A long time ago I used to hang socks on the line in pairs until I suddenly realised I didn't have to sort them out there in the cold - I could hang them up in random twos and do the pairing later on, in the warm!

MamaCaz Sun 21-Feb-16 21:39:55

Whenever I have cleaned, DH always goes around the room adjusting the position of ornaments, cushions, drinks coaster, pictures, chairs - anything, basically - to how he likes them.

Sometimes, if he's been particularly annoying, I will deliberately put a few things skew whiff while he's out of the room ( only slightly, just enough for him to notice), then sit back and wait for him to put them all right. Wicked, or what? grin

Ana Sun 21-Feb-16 21:38:34

There's a huge difference between liking things to be in order and being obsessive to the point where certain procedures or practices are essential to a person's ability to cope with everyday life.

OCD is a seriously debilitating condition and shouldn't be dismissed as 'something that everyone has'.

POGS Sun 21-Feb-16 21:35:40

Ethel

How come you are reikilady again?

Bellanonna Sun 21-Feb-16 21:32:38

MCaz, yes I'm fussy about socks too but only because I hate ending up with odd ones so hanging them in pairs makes sense

Bellanonna Sun 21-Feb-16 21:30:15

As long as it takes Ana. Plus it's a small bathroom and there are not too many floor tiles. Of course, at times I have to count more than once grin

MamaCaz Sun 21-Feb-16 21:29:30

I'm not fussy about the peg colours, but I do have to hang each sock on the line next to its matching partner!

midgey Sun 21-Feb-16 21:28:27

Seems to me that Anniebach has been proved right, huge variations in what people do or don't worry about! My saucepans have to be in size order....

Ana Sun 21-Feb-16 21:22:35

Goodness, how long do you spend sitting on the loo Bellanonna? shock

Bellanonna Sun 21-Feb-16 21:19:12

I count the floor tiles when I'm sitting on the loo, sal but guess it just passes the time

grannylyn65 Sun 21-Feb-16 20:35:04

Your address water ?grinbrewflowerscupcakegrin

shysal Sun 21-Feb-16 20:30:10

When I eat a packet of crisps, I empty it onto a plate. I then separate whole and broken ones, eating the pieces in size order starting with the smallest.blush

Radio volume and air temperature in the car must always be on an even number.

Of course cushion zips must always be at the bottom, and they are plumped the moment someone vacates the sofa. Everything will be covered in dust but must be placed 'just so'.

Oh! and I count the bathroom tiles every time I have a bath.

watermeadow Sun 21-Feb-16 20:23:56

I'm anal but that's not OCD. I have to have straight lines (like a pile of papers) parallel, everything in order and symmetrical. I'm never late, write lots of lists and have to have my life organised well in advance.
I don't keep checking things nor stick to rigid timetables but I hate surprises. Do not drop in unexpectedly, I'll be really upset if I haven't Hoovered or made a cake.

FarNorth Sun 21-Feb-16 20:17:17

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - surely if it's not making life difficult it's not a disorder?

Bellanonna Sun 21-Feb-16 20:03:10

That's not OCD Ethel. Checking is fairly common and I think it comes from our anxiety that nothing should go wrong. There are obviously more extreme versions of checking with ritualistic behaviour but I think careful checking of locked doors is sensible these days

reikilady Sun 21-Feb-16 19:56:08

I have to check the back door several times and look in the kitchen to make sure everything is switched off but apart from that I am pretty much laid back .

Anniebach Sun 21-Feb-16 19:43:07

We agree to disagree Ana , so much is said of it now that it's connected to the most distressing forms only

Ana Sun 21-Feb-16 19:39:43

So you're sticking with your assertion that most people have OCD, ab. I don't agree, but it's an interesting point of view...

Anniebach Sun 21-Feb-16 19:37:22

And it doesn't have to mean one is obsessed with cleaning or tidying up or washing hands countless times

Anniebach Sun 21-Feb-16 19:34:42

OCD has many degrees of severity , if one is compelled to do something one has OCD Only if it makes life difficult do people become aware that they have it , so yes Ana, really

Katek Sun 21-Feb-16 19:18:37

I just use the tumble drier-seemples....no pegs! My father, on the other hand, used to measure the size of the holes in the pegs so that they fitted the clothes line.

tanith Sun 21-Feb-16 18:18:16

oh dear maybe I have OCD and didn't know it. wink

ninathenana Sun 21-Feb-16 18:13:52

I can't think of anything that has to be "just so" in my house.

Greymary Sun 21-Feb-16 18:12:56

I'm with you grannylyn65.
I'm just glad I have enough pegs when I hang washing, try to keep the teatowels hung tidily, make sure all is turned off at night, but I don't count my chips or peas as a friend does.
I will add that OCD is a serious issue and life limiting condition so I would never treat it as a simple 'quirk' of someone's character.