Serious topic....Would my classwork be making me obsessive-compulsive?

[beer]

This is a legitimate question. I have already planned a visit with our campus health center but it is still a week away and I am searching for logical explanations now.....

I really think that in the last two months I've begun developing OCD tendencies. I made a list of some of them....the most significant ones are:

1) I cannot have dishes in the sink. If I am making a meal and I get the cookware dirty I put all the food on the table and clean off all the dishes and put them in the dishwasher before I eat. If I don't it bothers me the whole meal.

2) Before I go to sleep I have to lock every door and then close all the closet doors/bathroom doors/bedroom doors that lead into my bedroom or I can't sleep.

3) Before I go to bed I have to have everything ready for the morning, as much as I can without ruining the quality. I usually eat bacon/eggs/oatmeal with my girlfriend, and before I go to sleep I have to:
- fill the coffee pot with water and coffee so you just flick a switch in the morning
- take the bacon out of hte package and put it on the plate, cover it with a paper towel and put it in the fridge so the only thing done in the morning is take the plate straight from the fridge to the microwave
- Set the table, and put all the coffee cups by the coffee machine face down
- Put my oatmeal into a bowl and have the one cup of water I use for it next to it (but not mixed)
- Have all my clothes by the bathroom

I do this because I am afraid that I might wake up late and run out of time getting ready and be late to an 8 AM class....

4) Routine decisions like deciding where to eat lunch have become difficult that I put off eating until I can decide

I DID NONE OF THESE THREE MONTHS AGO!! I don't know why but if I don't do them then I can't sleep at all. The only cause that I can think of is that the stuff I do in my classes is getting so advanced and I have to constantly check, re-check, and triple-check every single step of every single problem or I have a good chance of getting them wrong that it's starting to carry over into my personal life. Is that a reasonable explanation or is it something else?

What is likely to happen if I don't have this figured out?

 

[Vortex22]

Maybe.
Maybe your classes are just making you crazy and you will drop the habits once you're done with school

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

will you come live in my basement? my wife and I could use the help.


Seriously though, you sound like you have some anxiety, and there might be some explanation to this other than OCD.

however, here is some info on OCD.

The average age of onset for OCD varies among men and women. Men may experience childhood onset, between ages 6 and 15, while women typically experience adult onset, between ages 20 and 30. Two-thirds of all adults with OCD had symptoms before age 15, 80% of whom also had symptoms of depression. Given the likelihood of early onset, it is alarming that the average age that a person seeks treatment is 27.
Although OCD usually develops gradually, psychosocial stressors like changes in living situations, relationship problems, or work problems can cause sudden onset. About 70% of people experience a chronic and lifelong course, with worsening and improving symptoms. About 5% have episodic symptoms with partial or complete remission between episodes.

Regardless of a person?s age at onset, the content of obsessions does not determine prognosis. The factors associated with a good prognosis include the following:

Milder symptoms
Brief duration of symptoms
Good functioning before full onset
Some people have only obsessions and do not behave compulsively. These people may attempt to suppress their disturbing, intrusive, or inappropriate thoughts by thinking healthy thoughts. This may lead to mental exhaustion, distraction, or concentration problems.
Complications common to OCD include anxiety (see also generalized anxiety disorder) with panic symptoms (see panic disorder), depression, and suicidal thoughts. Roughly 80% of people who suffer from OCD experience depression. These people typically have a hard time maintaining relationships, do not marry as often as others, and have occupational and school problems. Though suicidal obsessions are common in OCD, less than 1% of people with OCD kill themselves. In fact, people with OCD rarely become completely incapacitated.

OCD is associated with other disorders that often involve excessive attention to the body and distorted perceptions of it. About 13% of people with OCD suffer from eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Slightly more, about 15%, suffer from trichotillomania, which is the irresistible urge to pull out one?s own scalp, facial, or body hair. Between 10% and 15% experience Tourette?s syndrome, which causes involuntary muscle movements and tics, and repetitive uncontrollable speech that is often disruptive and profane. Tics are apparent in some people, especially during childhood, before OCD is diagnosed. Although its prevalence is not known, some people are affected by body dysmorphic disorder, in which they fear a certain body part is abnormal or misshapen, regardless of what others tell them.

 

[Lizardman]

I knew a person who was like that but it was just a habbit for him. He was able to break it. The way you make it sound, it seems as though you could use some professional help.

 

[eigen]

Dude I totally hear you.I have always had anxiety about the stove being on (like to the point where it has made me an hour late for work).But recently as my workload has increased and as my courses become more abstract (I am a math major), I have found me doing even weirder stuff.When I get up now I go right to the sink and do the dishes if the clothes are not in the basket...watch out ...The stove thing has gotten to he point that I ask my wife to check mutliple times for me before we leave.

 

[Ausm]

OCD is a form of Panic/Anxiety disorder that numerous people suffer from. They usually treat the disorder with Paxil. Here is a link that could help you out and also I would consult your Doctor.

OCD

Good Luck,


Sysadmin

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: eigen
Dude I totally hear you.I have always had anxiety about the stove being on (like to the point where it has made me an hour late for work).But recently as my workload has increased and as my courses become more abstract (I am a math major), I have found me doing even weirder stuff.When I get up now I go right to the sink and do the dishes if the clothes are not in the basket...watch out ...The stove thing has gotten to he point that I ask my wife to check mutliple times for me before we leave.

Has your wife said anything to encourage you to have it checked out? My girlfriend finally told me that it was putting a lot of stress on her because I would freak out about small things like what to eat for dinner....that's why I'm doing this

 

[sobriquet]

If your profile is still accurate, check out The Austin Center for the Treatment of OCD. They'll be able to tell you for sure.

Edit: ACTOCD uses Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, which is considered by many to be the most effective means for treating OCD and other anxiety disorders. I went through the same procedure at OCDLA and was in and out (in a much better state) within 7 months.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: sobriquet
If your profile is still accurate, check out The Austin Center for the Treatment of OCD. They'll be able to tell you for sure.

Well I'm going to the campus center first....they might refer me as needed. I don't think it's serious but I do feel like I waste a lot of time for an additional .1% increase in relative accuracy

 

[LordSnailz]

I think before you take any drugs talking to ppl. and friends about would be helpful. During college, a few of my friends including myself showed some sort of OCD, well especially during midterms and finals; I think it understandable given all the stress of school. Doing something routine helps ease your mind and gives you a sense that you can control things in your life.

Do you have any extracurricular activities aside from just school that you do regularly? It'll help keep your mind off school ... for example, I had bball every wednesday or sunday and mondays would be like starcraft night or something.

good luck!

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: sobriquet
If your profile is still accurate, check out The Austin Center for the Treatment of OCD. They'll be able to tell you for sure.

Edit: ACTOCD uses Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, which is considered by many to be the most effective means for treating OCD and other anxiety disorders. I went through the same procedure at OCDLA and was in and out (in a much better state) within 7 months.

OK this scares me. I started reading about some of their psychological technics on their 'treatments' page and I started breathing hard, almost hyperventilating. It almost scares me.....that can't be a good sign.

 

[DougK62]

It does not sound like you have OCD at all. You just sound really stressed out.

I do 1, 2, and 4 on your list. I am not OCD.

 

[beer]

I am wondering if this is more OCD or pure anxiety....the more I read the more I think it is not OCD but in fact j ust signs of anxiety.