[Sayu]

In September I'm going at university and I'm going to live away from home with a roommate I haven't yet met. As I usually get on really well with other people, I'm quite OK with that, but I'm concerned about my OCD problems. I know I won't be able to hide some rituals of mine and I don't want the roommate to think I'm a nutter Also, I don't want to bother her, but I know some of these things I just won't be able to control...

I don't think she will mind my hands washing (I don't do that that often) or my urges to touch random objects; the other rituals she may not even notice. But, I'm 100% positive, however, that she will notice my lights switching. I switch the lights on and off before I go to bed a lot (usually 10-15 times) and there is no chance she wouldn't notice this as we will be sharing a room together.

Maybe I could have some control over it, but when I tried not to do this in the past, I always felt so bad afterwards, that I eventually did it

So, anyway, what should I do? Should I tell my roommate that I have these struggles and that I just need to do it to comfort myself? I don't want her to feel weird about me but I also don't want her to think I'm weird.

Thanks in advance for your advices!

[Phobicperson]

I think you should tell her. Better that she knows, right?

[ocdwifeofsociopath]

I would tell her. She will appreciate knowing what to expect and what needs compromise on her part.

[spondiferous]

Yeah, just be honest. If she knows she's got a better chance of being okay with it instead of you not saying anything and then her noticing the behaviors and getting weirded out about why you didn't say anything.