Instead of fearing that something bad will happen, the person with Counting OCD feels the need for something to be done the “right” amount of times or according to some rigid rules. Sometimes the obsessive concern is more vague. Annie, the girl from the scenario at the beginning of this article was an example of someone with fear-related counting. The obsessive concern might be that something bad will happen to themselves or to someone they care about. More often, counting is a compulsive behavior, meaning that it is in response to an obsession that creates anxiety. Instead, it can trigger an obsessive fear like: “ What if I can’t ever stop counting?” This is similar to obsessive fears people have about being distracted by something like swallowing or blinking, or maybe a ringing in their ears. The counting is not often in response to an obsessive thought. People with Counting OCD might count anything at all, including thoughts, actions, or simply numbers on their own. Learn more What might people with OCD compulsively count? You’re not on your own, and you can talk to a specialist like me who has experience treating compulsive counting. Adding to or repeating behavior sets as many times as necessary to avoid “bad” numbers.ĭo these symptoms sound familiar? Learn how you can overcome them.Īs an OCD specialist, I know how overwhelming compulsive counting can be-and how quickly these symptoms can spread to every part of your life.Doing actions in sets of a particular number (e.g., looking at things or performing other behaviors in a specified series, like sets of three).Counting to whatever number happens to feel “right” at that moment.This can be done once, or over and over again. Some common, specific forms of counting that I’ve helped people deal with through treatment include: Common Counting BehaviorsĬounting OCD can manifest in a variety of ways. The worry and anxiety that Annie felt in the moment were enough to overwhelm her rational beliefs and understanding. She did things like tap her hand on the armrest of the couch seven times, click her heels together seven times, and move her head to one side and back again seven times.Īnnie knew that none of this made sense rationally, but there is nothing rational about OCD. In response, she started her familiar ritual of mentally counting to seven over and over again. In one instance, when she learned that her mother was on her way home from the airport, Annie’s mind shifted to a familiar obsessive thought: “ What if mom gets into an accident?”Īnnie felt the pit of anxiety in her stomach and noticed her heart beating faster. One person I’ve worked with in therapy-let’s call her Annie-saw her Counting OCD triggered when she feared her mother would get in a car accident during her commute home. For example, if you assign special meaning to the number three, you might count your steps by threes, or lock and unlock your car three times before driving, or any variety of other actions ruled by this “magic number.” In some cases, people may feel a responsibility to prevent something bad from happening to themselves or to others and they count to try and guarantee safety-even though they know it doesn’t make sense. Sometimes Counting OCD is driven by attaching meaning to particular numbers where certain numbers will induce anxiety, while others will reduce anxiety. Sometimes the counting is automatic-without thinking about it, a person finds themselves counting random things around them. People with Counting OCD count for a variety of reasons. Many, many people have successfully found relief from the same symptoms you’re experiencing. I want to emphasize that you’re not alone, and that if compulsive counting is interfering in your life, your symptoms are not simply “the way it is” or part of your personality. People with Counting OCD may count to achieve a state of feeling “right” or “good” and to avoid the anxiety of something feeling “wrong” or “off.”Īs a specialist in OCD treatment, I know that people with counting symptoms may not recognize the full impact that compulsive counting behaviors can actually have-and how much relief can come from learning to manage their symptoms. Ever found yourself regularly counting the number of steps you take, counting and recounting the number of items in your grocery cart, or holding out for the clock to switch to a particular time to perform a certain task? These behaviors could all be a sign of Counting OCD, sometimes referred to as arithmomania.Ĭounting OCD is a common form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, characterized by a strong urge to engage in repetitive and ritualistic counting behaviors.
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