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Arithmomania - Not often mentioned here - Am I the only one diagnosed with it?

Ben

I have a diagnosis of ASC, OCD and Arithmomania. 

I've discussed ASC at some length on the threads here, but Arithmomania has only come up a few times - and quite some time ago.

Am I the only one here who compulsively counts? When I'm stressed I need to count the number of letters in words, especially the longer ones. I count them forwards and then backwards.  It's a damned nuisance but just has to be done.... over and over again.  When stressed, I will repeatedly count up to a hundred and back again to zero. I never do actual arithmetic, just counting.

Am I alone?

Ben

Parents

  • I count stuff all the time and nothing can have the same value as something else. 
    I don’t count or increase/decrease numbers in my head, but I am counting the amount of times I do certain things. I put anything I can into a squirt bottle, so I can count how many specific pumps to use and do the same amount. I also will count steps as I’m walking. Im very very aware of numbers, and notice them all around me and do things accordingly. (am awful at maths though!) 

    I did always assume this was an OCD thing and not an autism thing? I don’t know how to differentiate! 

  • in reply to Sloan

    Sloan, I was diagnosed simultaneously with the three conditions I list in my opening post. It was after a pretty lengthy and comprehensive assessment process, so I don't attempt to differentiate.   I think that as the conditions overlap one another, there is not much point in trying.

    Ben

  • in reply to Ben

    Yeah, I’d agree. I think there is so many conditions that come alongside autism that affect each other that it’s hard to distinguish what is what and what causes what, I guess it doesn’t actually matter!

    That must have been hard for you to get multiple diagnosis at one time. I found it difficult enough to process and had about two years inbetween my OCD and autism diagnosis. 

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  • in reply to Ben

    Yeah, I’d agree. I think there is so many conditions that come alongside autism that affect each other that it’s hard to distinguish what is what and what causes what, I guess it doesn’t actually matter!

    That must have been hard for you to get multiple diagnosis at one time. I found it difficult enough to process and had about two years inbetween my OCD and autism diagnosis. 

Children
  • in reply to Sloan

    I'd always known I had OCD, it was easy to recognise, but I'd never heard of Arithmomania -  yet I'd been counting for years. Both conditions, however, were completely overshadowed by ASD. I had suspected it, but getting it confirmed by a professional was a shock, a relief and a worry.  Now,  knowledge has brought understanding which, in turn, has brought relief. I just wish I could have known earlier - I was 67 when diagnosed.

    Ben