[vintagexsoul]

Every time I feel like a panic attack is coming on, I organize and fix things. Bookshelves are my favorite. At work making all the boxes in numerical order, tucking in laces, fixing shoe displays and boxes is what keeps me sane since I have pretty intense social anxiety. I'm just lucky enough to get paid and appreciated for doing it all. In fact, the hard line manager found me organizing and fixing his ammunition and was so ecstatic he called all the other employs over and told them how amazing my work was and how he wanted them to do the same. So really, having OCD tendencies isn't always a bad thing. They don't know it all keeps me composed, sane and chipper at work. I do get picked on a bit though!

The more intense OCD revolves around my appearance. If I "feel" a hair out of place, I go to my locker at work, pull out hair product and fix my hair. Otherwise I can't handle feeling like its out of place. It stresses me out. I'm meticulous about coordinating my make-up with my clothes, shoes and accessories. If things don't match, I have to start over. I will check my reflection a million times just to ensure its perfect. That there wasn't a smudge. To re-affirm everything coordinates and looks perfect. I usually have to pick out my outfits the night before otherwise I'm a mess in the morning and can't function.

And yet...I can wear mismatched socks. Lol.

[Skeezyks]

Hello vintageexsoul: Thanks for sharing your experiences. A psychiatrist once saw told me that use of the hands & fingers requires a large amount of the brain's capacity. So she said, if I felt depression or anxiety coming on, if I could find something to do with my hands & fingers it would help to prevent the depression & anxiety from spreading into larger-&-larger areas of my brain. Anyway... I'm glad you are able to realize some benefits from OCD tendencies.