Little OCD Rituals - Counting

Whenever I am running water or walking I find myself counting to myself. Counting seconds that the water is running or counting each step I take. I automatically do this and when I catch myself, I force myself to stop.

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When I am riding as a passenger in a car, I have to clinch my teeth between every light post we pass. This better than it was, it used to be every 3rd car we'd pass I would do it. I have been doing this since I was about 12 years old. I am 30 now.

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i dont like odd numbers, everything i do, i try and incorporate even ones. the volume of the music, how many seconds i heat something up for, even how many stairs i do at a time.

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Whenever I applaud (at the theatre, etc) I can only clap in certain numbers. These are 6, 11, 18, 29, and 36. After 36 I can "start over", if it is the final ovation or whatever.

Even if I "misjudge" and everyone else stops clapping before I get to, say, 29, I must still "finish it off" by clapping very quietly to myself.

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When I conscieously swallow I have to make sure I swallow twice or an even number of times. Not sure what will happen if I don't but It'll be bad.

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When i close something like a cupboard i have to tap it 3 times

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This is actually about a customer I had when I worked in a photo lab... I had developed his film the previous day and found it odd that he wanted 3 copies of everything. None of my customers had ever wanted more than doubles of a whole roll. Anyway, when he approached the counter, he pulled out his cell phone, looked at the time, and when I asked if he needed anything he said, "Just a second, I'm not ready."

After a minute or so he looked at his phone again, then explained to me that he had gotten too many pictures and he needed an exact amount. By now I understood what was going on, so I helped him count out how many pictures he wanted a refund for. The trick was the refund just enough pictures that the number of refunded photos was a good number, as well as the refund money. He explained to me that he couldn't handle numbers 1 and 6, or if any two numbers in say, the time added up to 6. Needless to say he was in and out of the store right at opening time!

After awhile we figured out how many pictures to refund, so I took him to the customer service counter and tried to perform the refund myself, but found that my employee account didn't have the right to do refunds, so I had to get one of the other people to help me. She rushed right through it, looking at him the whole time like he was a moron. I watched the clock on the screen while he fussed and fretted nervously while looking at his cell phone.


I told her to wait to print the receipt but she wouldn't listen, and it printed right as one of the numbers in the time turned to something with a six. I knew it was bad, and the guy looked like he was about to cry, but when I looked at the receipt there was still a five in it! I showed it to him and he was overjoyed. He shook my hand gratefully and then left. I was happy I could help him.

A few minutes later he came back and gave me a bag of fancy cookies, after writing, "Jaden, Thank you for your patience and understanding. -Wildcat." I was so touched I had to fight to keep myself from crying!

Those were the best cookies I've ever had.

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