Yes,... how do you know if you have it and from someone who has it preferably and has managed to get rid of it how did you do that?
If you wash your hands at least once as day, you have OCD. Watch Monk on USA (I think). He has an extreme case of OCD. If your life is not affected by obsessions (like counting/touching a lot of things) then don't worry about it. Everyone obsesses about some things. I can never stand still. I always have to be chewing something. I always have a phrase or short snippet of a song stuck in my head. I have the urge to touch a lot of things. But I am fine.
There is a BIG difference between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Obsessive/Compulsive Personality Disorder! Look up criteria for both!
I get these little sweat blisters on my arms.. when its real hot and i wear sunscreen... they are no big deal.. and go away with a shower... just clogged pores. but... i dont like em... i see them... and i am compelled to do something. so... naturally.. i take a knife or pen cap, or anything, and i press and slide the tool, until it pops.. they are always very small.. almost invisible.. but i see them. so.. what happens when you pop them.. is they become a scar wound. as if i have been poking myself with needles... this OCD behavior.. resulted in about 10 or more small red wounds.. on each arm. for months... disgusting.. i would wear a long sleeve shirt... for a long time.. months.. i thought maybe i had a condition... which i of course I needed to self treat... with my own brand of minor surgery. i was wrong. it took along for me to admit it... but i was the cause of the wounds. for along time.. i had the mind set that i was making it better. i was lieing to myself. finnally,, i recognised this.... and i have forced myself to stop. mostly. and after a few weeks.. my arms cleared up. and now look normal. no more self surgery. if you have some disorder.. which is compelling you to do things. the first things that you must recognise is what lies you are telling yourself to justify it..... then when you have identified the lies in your mind... you must do battle with them. when I think... hey.. little blister.. im gunna pop you. i stop myself... and say.. no... im not gunna do it. i still do it sometimes... as i have one tiny wound on each hand. but... i am in charge of my behavior.. and my OCD'S will be reined in. but only the bad ones. some OCD'S can be good.. like being clean.. or neat.. or tidy.. or a hard worker... or successful.. if your going to be obsessed.. pick good ones. -MT
Actually, the obsession are rarely good. Often people who are that obsessed with order/perfection, rarely get anything done because they are so focused on details. It is often maddening for them as well. Talk to someone who truly has the diagnosis and I guarantee they are distressed by the "cleaning" or perfection.
it is also true... that many musicians.. and other famous people... are such... only because they were and are, obsessed with doing that. i.e.. if you play a guitar one hour a day.. you will be very good. but if you sleep with it, and play it 7 hours a day... you are likely to be extremely good..... -MT
