[canadian_orchid]

Sorry for the long post but here goes!!!

Here are some symptoms I've experienced for as long as I can remember.

If I touch one side of my body, I had to touch the other side to "make it even". Sometimes if I look at one end of a symmetrical object, I have to look at the other end of it to "make it even". Severity comes and goes. Sometimes it will drive me nuts until I "even things out". Other times I can hold it in and eventually forget about it.

Can't stop picking the dry/rough skin around my fingernails. Done variations of this since I was a child. Actually, any dry skin anywhere has to go. I have to pick things.

Second guessing myself/don't trust myself.
Lock the door...POSITIVE that I locked the door...did I lock the door? Go check the door again.
I have to read, read, and read my forum posts/emails/texts over multiple times before I can hit 'send'.
Things like that.

Extreme perfectionist. Things have to be JUST right. Nobody else does it right.

Grossed out by strange things, that squeaky feeling (like from soap). Also the slimy feeling from soap. I have to fold paper with my fingernail because the feeling of your finger running across paper is awful. These sensations make me want to gag.

Can't have sex without my hubby and I first having a shower and brushing teeth. Grossed out by sweat.

Wash my hands a lot. Sometimes my hands just 'feel' dirty.

Phobia: absolutely terrified of seeing anyone vomit or vomiting myself (not sure if this is relevant.)

Racking my brain and can't think of anything else right now.

[kaliope]

to determine if it is ocd you would have to know how much it interferes with your life. everybody has a few quirks. talk to a psychiatrist or therapist about it if you are really concerned. some just sound like phobias. take care.

[BeaFlower]

Some symptoms are similar to mine (also if neither I have been diagnosed), for example the need of perfectionism. Now I'm more able to control it, but if you feel that you can't control it and this causes you a lot of anxiety the best thing that you can do is talking with a therapist, he'll give you advices. I have to say that also the fact to be in this group helps me a lot...I hope that it will be the same for you.

It could be a mixture of OCD, Germaphobia, and Perfectionism after looking at your symptoms. I would suggest that you see a psychiatrist though if you haven't already to check for sure. I hope things get better!

[plausibleriver]

Please contact a psychotherapist as soon as possible and although it becomes too hard to take the first step...

and there's a way to combat things right away and its great, you are helpful to yourself and aware!

Some steps I would suggest if u could manage..
1. Write all things down in a notebook..evrything comes to ya mind
2. Possibly try to write steps that can help to combat your symptoms
like...."if i wouldn't do that check..it's fine ...it will be..."
and leave the situation...think someting else
3. Say to yourself eveytime..(preferably write) about 21 times that
" I am a perfectly fine person...i don't care about the situation"
( Actually in human scale perfection is quite different from the situation of material world around..and we can't fix it evrytime)
4. Try to accept things....write affirmations...positive

Many times it will be frustrating..but do it slowly..it will help