[Saturn]

When I see any sort of number with 3 or more digits, I have to stop everything and try to come up with an insane pattern for it. For instance, I was started a book with 423 pages today. Before reading I thought 4+2=6. 2*3=6. So 4+2=2*3.

I was just wondering if this happens to anyone else.

[Faint]

I have to have 3's of everything ...3 sweeteners in my coffee...3 post it notes i have to buy
3 bottles of juice or 6 of everything
Its drives my husband crazy ... but i feel calm when i do that
i don't add them up or anything like that .

[smu1974]

Hi, I have a similar issue with a number pattern but it comes in fours. It's slightly different than yours. I can't walk across the room, brush my teeth or chew food without counting the number four in my head. This quite disturbing. A lot of the time, I will just try to distract myself by singing a song in my head. Hopefullly someone will response to our post and offer some insight on how we cope or overcome this annoying illness. I'm sorry that this isn't really helping your cause, but sometimes it just makes you feel better knowing someone else is dealing with the same issue.

[Miswimmy1]

association with numbers is common for OCD.

if it is life impairing, I suggest finding a therapist. Exposure therapy is a lifesaver.

[MusicMike]

I don't have that particular obsession, but the thing about OCD is that the specific obsession is somewhat arbitrary, while the underlying illness is very similar among people. So hopefully you can find a sense of resonance with other OCD sufferers even if they don't have that particular obsession.

One of mine is the need to equalize sensations on both sides of my body. If something presses against me on the right side, I have to try to press on my left side in the same place. I had this a lot more when I was a kid. It's mostly better with medication.

It's different than yours, but the underlying mechanism is probably the same for both you and me.

-Mike

[smu1974]

Could you explain a little more in regard to exposure therapy?
Thanks,
smu

Yep I do this too. I have patterns, I need the numbers to feel right, I like the number 11, so I will do multiples of 11 or numbers that make 11- 29 38 47 etc. I find my counting Is more of a control/comfort to stop my intrusive thoughts, well not stop but, make me feel better..... : / but I do so many other things the counting is tolerateable.

[Beautiful_Mess]

I am quite obsessed with the number 3. I like things to be in multiples of 3, I even add digits until they come out that way. An ex. I see the number "36" (which is my favorite btw lol). In my mind that equals 9 because 3+6=9. 9 is the ultimate multiple of 3 because its 3*3. Lol yeah.

Mike, I also have the need for sensations to be equal on both sides of my body.