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Old Dec 23, 2015, 08:36 PM
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The number 1 is sometimes very bad for me.

On it's own, as 1, it's fine, no problem.

The number 1 in the beginning of a number is fine.... such as 18, 124, 1450

The number 1 at the end of a number is fine...... such as 241, 3451

But the number 1 anywhere in the middle of a number bothers me very very much.

Unless it is accompanied by another 1; 11 is very good, very lucky for me.

Also, I have no problem with 1 being in the middle, if 0 is the final digit... 1310 and 510 for example are ok

For one thing, I always feel like the number 1 gets lost in big numbers, that someone might miss it if I don't write it clear enough, so then I have to rewrite the number over and over, waste envelopes and forms and such, until it looks unmistakable.

(Don't even get me started about putting a 1 next to a 7...)

But I hate that number combo so much, I don't like that I have to write it in the first place. I can walk into a building, call a number no problem with a 1 in the middle of it somewhere. One of my last addresses had that number combo. But still having to see it gave me the creeps kinda - like I could live at that house without fixating on the address, it didn't bother me unless I was up front and it caught my eye and I physically looked at it - that really made me feel uneasy. Also getting mail was ok because I didn't fixate on how the person wrote my address, I didn't have to since that piece of mail got to my home no problem.

So mostly my problem is a perfectionist sort of issue, I don't want someone to mistake my handwriting for example. But on the other hand, it does give me a bad feeling. Those number combos seem wrong to me, seem bad - but maybe that second reason is a byproduct of my perfectionist issues with it in the first place.
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Last edited by coyotee; Dec 23, 2015 at 08:52 PM.

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  #2  
Old Dec 23, 2015, 10:41 PM
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Hello. I do have some number issues. For me, I must use certain numbers for certain actions. Some things include to press the paper towel thing 5 times, shuffle a deck of cards 7 times, get shampoo from the pump thing 10, 11, or 12 times.

There numbers are good:
1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 30, 33, 36, 40, 42, 44, 45, 48, 49, 50

Some follow a pattern. The same number in a number (22, 77, 99, 5555, 333333). Anything a multiple of 5 (5, 10, 100, 270, 4525). Any square root number (4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 63). Any multiple of 12 (24, 48).

Some things happen with my bad numbers. If 2 comes up, and there are two objects, I'll say what numbers made those two objects. As an example, if I need more shampoo because 12 pumps wasn't enough, I'll do 3 pumps. 3 is good. 12 is good. 3 + 12 = 15. 15 is good. Therefore, I am safe.

Any action that has a specific number to it, and I do more, I get really angry and anxious. Seeing someone else do this makes me anxious too.

This may seem weird but makes perfect sense to me.

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  #3  
Old Dec 24, 2015, 12:14 AM
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coyotee coyotee is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nike007 View Post
Some follow a pattern. The same number in a number (22, 77, 99, 5555, 333333). Anything a multiple of 5 (5, 10, 100, 270, 4525). Any square root number (4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 63). Any multiple of 12 (24, 48).
Yes ^ All of that!! I'm the same way.

Those are very comfortable numbers and easy to organize.

And I too have to do certain things a certain number of times. Often I stop with 3, but I am so much more relieved with 4. So I might do things 3 times in a row, then stop and I might do it just one more time for extra assurance, so it equals to 4. If I ever have to check on something a 5th time, I sometimes get confused and would have to start over again (even though multiples of 5 are good for larger numbers and counting related projects, 5 on it's own is out of the ordinary for me for checks and such)

I try my best not to think about it too much, but sometimes the 3/4 rule is a good allowance - it may sorta suck to give oneself a rule like that, that you "have to do this __ times"... but that ridiculous little rule is usually better than just doing something or checking something over and over again nonstop with no end in sight.
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  #4  
Old Dec 24, 2015, 10:32 AM
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I prefer the Prime numbers to the others. Fractions give me difficulty too - have to convert them into decimals and percentages.

I know what you mean about rewriting numbers in being conscious that they might look like a letter (ie. 2 and Z) or something else. The numeral 8 really bothers me in general. I also have to form it perfectly when I write it out.
  #5  
Old Dec 26, 2015, 10:42 PM
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Prime numbers, three, multiples of three.
I feel you.
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  #6  
Old Dec 27, 2015, 12:38 AM
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I feel you. I used to have such a complex number system that I would be counting in my head practically all day long.
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  #7  
Old Jan 10, 2016, 05:05 PM
Lillith-nightwind Lillith-nightwind is offline
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I know that feeling. A few years ago i could only do things a certain amount of time. Like going to bed was horrible. I had to get to bed like 1 then 3 then 7 then 9 times if i did not get it right then 13 and so on. Then the same with getting under the blanket. If i did not do it right I had to repeat everything and I could not stand the other numbers. Today only the 6 is a real problem. But still it's really annoying :/ glad to hear I am not the only one
  #8  
Old Jan 12, 2016, 02:55 PM
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I don't have issues but I do certain things over and over again. Like, if I'm cooking and cutting something, I will count the number of cuts I do. Or at work, I work as an enginner btw. I will count the number of strokes I do for some of the manipulations I do and I'm lucky I'm extremely good in mental calculation otherwise it would decrease my performances! loll I often stop at 7 because it's supposely a lucky number. If I have to clean something and let's say I cleaned it in 5 shots, well I'll add 2 just to make 7! Often, I stop when I'm typewriting, count to 3 and continue as if nothing happened. As if my mind disconnected for 3 seconds, it's kind of scary when I think about it... I get mad when people can't seem to to calculate properly and that's so in contraction with my very sweet nature. I'm always kind to others but with numbers, I become impatient, it's really weird. lol

Oh, I also sometimes count for no reason in my head and I love to calculate my heartbeat when I work out. I once almost injured myself because at 6 repetitions on the Bench Press, I should have stopped but I wanted to make 7 at all cost and thank god a friend came to help me because I was stuck with the barbell!

I contradict myself a lot so now I realise numbers DO give me trouble, from time to time.

When I was in elementary school, I'd sort of do light jumps, kick one of my boots with the other and count. I was so obsessed by this behavior and I still can't explain why I'd do that.
  #9  
Old Jan 16, 2016, 04:06 AM
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I was thinking of changing my allowance on checks now from 3 (sometimes 4) to 2.

I'm dealing with other things now so I'm not exactly making a commitment to it or really acting on it, but I've been trying to rationalize the number 2 and why it might be better. It might be less time consuming, it might be less embarrassing to onlookers to do something twice rather than three times - like it might just look like a double take instead of a ritual. But then I'm having all sorts of issues about how 2 is a duality type of number so that it might not fit for checks - I want to reinforce something not put it in two parts.

So anyway the inner debate is raging on a little bit in my head. I'm not sure if 3 is so ingrained in me or not at this point. Even if it is a bit, might be better to change now rather than later on when it's even more embedded.
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Old Jan 23, 2016, 10:59 PM
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I've been attached to certain numbers since before I knew what numbers were. I am a 4 kinda person. 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512................ And I experience every bit of anxiety that goes along with my numbers.

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  #11  
Old Jan 25, 2016, 08:30 AM
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Even numbers (preferably mult of 4) or ending in 5
The even not mult of 4 and ending in 5 still bothers me a tiny bit
I don't even know why
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  #12  
Old Jan 25, 2016, 08:41 AM
TishaBuv TishaBuv is offline
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I only count steps I take. I don't even realize I'm doing it until I get near the end. I recently went down into a cavern and told the guide when I came out how many steps there were, also did that climbing Chimney Rock.
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  #13  
Old Jan 26, 2016, 02:02 PM
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I have counting rituals, only certain numbers are "safe".
Thanks for this!
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  #14  
Old Jan 26, 2016, 04:32 PM
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Yes, safe is a great way to describe it.
I always used "magical".

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  #15  
Old Feb 15, 2016, 11:54 AM
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The only numbers that are acceptable to me are numbers that are deliverable by 2 or 5.

So 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, etc.

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  #16  
Old Feb 15, 2016, 05:30 PM
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This was a great thread thank you for reminding me of it.


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  #17  
Old Feb 21, 2016, 12:20 AM
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I have always had this urge for things to simply be even numbers. I find myself counting things all day long! Even while watching televisions with subtitles on, I'll be counting the words to make sure it adds up to an even number.

I even do this thing where if there isn't an even number of particular objects, I will count one of them twice, just to force it to be an even number!..
  #18  
Old Feb 27, 2016, 12:09 AM
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Most of my OCD revolves around counting so I have plenty of number issues lol.

Whenever I do something, it has to be a 4 or 8. Whether it's petting my dog, walking, even breathing, I count it every day. 1-2-3-4 or 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8, it just depends on what I'm doing. If something takes longer in general, its 8; if it's shorter, then 4.
If it's really long I can count to 8 four times.

Also, when I'm looking at a number i.e. the microwave counting down, or a streetlight walk sign counting down, i have to keep watching it until it hits a multiple of five or 0. so if it's at 19, I have to wait until it's at 15 before I can look away. if it's 3, I wait until 0. And I can't even blink until it hits that number.

It's literally physically painful to not go to that number. I've tried to look away at a 6 before and I started feeling nauseous and dizzy. Same thing if I stop like petting my dog at a 5 rather than 8.

Also, when I'm speaking, I can usually speak fine, but sometimes some words don't sound right the first time, so I have to repeat the word three more times and if it doesn't sound right by the fourth time, then I have to go to 8.
It was so bad a few years ago, everyone thought I had a speech impediment.

2 is also an okay number. it's not my favorite but it still gives me some satisfaction when i do certain things.

so like if i have to crack my neck, i have to do the other side too to make a 2. and then once I start cracking my neck (2), I then have to crack all my fingers (10), my wrists (2), my neck again (2), my shoulders (2), my ankles (2), try to crack my toes (10), then my neck one more time (2) to make an even 32- or an 8 four times.

It's an entire routine. It's a ritual.
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