Published on 12, July, 2020
Hey hey,
does anyone else find that they cannot relax/got to bed without checking everything a certain number of times? If im the last to leave I have to check I’ve locked the door by pressing the handle 3 times. And I have to check the 3, 3 times (so essentially 9times and 1 for luck because I hate odd numbers they don’t feel right) but I also have the take a photo. It’s like my brain won’t tell me the door is locked until I’ve done it so many times. I’m staying elsewhere dog sitting for family and It takes me half an hour to go to bed because I have to do all of my things before I can go. I make sure someone else checks when I’m at home but I can’t go to bed until I see them check! I feel so annoying but then I wish I could just check once and be comfortable I’ve done it. I don’t get people who can!
andi said:does anyone else find that they cannot relax/got to bed without checking everything a certain number of times?
sounds like OCD to me - the compulsion aspect is more than just the repetitive behaviours that come from autism.
This diagram explains the overlap:
I never used to have this issue that I can remember it’s only as I’ve gotten older 18 or so that it’s been like this. I’ve done a little research but it sounds like you can’t have both? I personally feel OCD is an extreme in my case. Like people who have OCD to such an extent they simply struggle in day to day life it must be so hard for them but I feel like that wouldn’t fit me. I was diagnosed at 17 (just before I turned 18) with autism because I was struggling with everything that autistics generally do, the social stuff, the need for routine, my emotional responses to things, the “robotic” persona sort of thing. My college orginally thought I was ADHD. But the OCD behaviours I don’t recall cropping up in my assessment. It started when I got my GAD diagnosis. But it’s just doors being locked and the hob being off that’s the only thing that I get so worked up about.
Ok . I am glad the video was useful for you.
Hi thank you for the video I did watch it! It doesn’t take up an hour it takes max of half an hour that’s why I thought it was just my anxiety
Hi andi
I understand what you mean, I experience OCD but I don’t have the same compulsions as you.
You may relate to this video below as the woman in it experiences the same compulsions as you:
OCD video:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0frgvj8
andi said: I personally feel OCD is an extreme in my case.
I know you feel like this, but it’s the cycle of obsessions and compulsions and the distress that it causes that warrants a diagnosis of OCD, it doesn’t necessarily need to consume your entire day . As other members have said OCD is a spectrum like many other things.
These articles may help you:
https://www.ocduk.org/ocd/diagnosing-ocd/https://autisticltd.co.uk/autistic-dream-realms-project/
https://www.autisticrealms.com/post/ocd-autismI hope this helps!
It’s not that it’s missing I can see it’s there it’s the fact that it’s locked it’s like my brain tricks itself in to thinking in the last 3 seconds I didn’t have my hand on it it’s magically unlocked itself or that I didn’t lock it in the first place. I can feel it’s locked but it’s like my brian is saying no it’s not it’s not locked check it again if it’s not locked you’ll get broken into check it. Do you get what I mean? and the same with the hob that terrifies me in case I’ve left it on and something blows up
andi said:Like people who have OCD to such an extent they simply struggle in day to day life it must be so hard for them but I feel like that wouldn’t fit me
Remember these are both spectrums so you may have some of the traits at different levels to others.
If you feel you are behind a door with the door knob missing then learn to carry a spare knob and connecting bar - let nothing stand in the way if you put your mind to it. It probably won't be easy mind you.
andi said:I’ve done a little research but it sounds like you can’t have both?
https://psychcentral.com/autism/ocd-and-autism
Autism and OCD can occur together. It’s estimated that 17% of autistic people also have OCD
It just makes you even more special