Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

So, I met this girl recently. I commented on her walking pattern and it really freaked her out. She thought she was the only person who did stuff like this. What I'm talking about is doing things like:

Not stepping on cracks.

If there are square patterns, stepping in the middle of the squares, never on the lines.

If there are lines/grooves on the sidewalk (like, at a corner), orienting your feet/steps in the same direction.

If there is a painted line on the crosswalk, either walking only on the paint or not on the paint.

Who here know WTF I am talking about and/or partakes in such obsessive compulsive walking quirkiness?

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

i don't want to break my mother's back though [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img].

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

[ QUOTE ]
So, I met this girl recently. I commented on her walking pattern and it really freaked her out. She thought she was the only person who did stuff like this. What I'm talking about is doing things like:

Not stepping on cracks.

If there are square patterns, stepping in the middle of the squares, never on the lines.

If there are lines/grooves on the sidewalk (like, at a corner), orienting your feet/steps in the same direction.

If there is a painted line on the crosswalk, either walking only on the paint or not on the paint.

Who here know WTF I am talking about and/or partakes in such obsessive compulsive walking quirkiness?

[/ QUOTE ]


heres what ive always done since I was a kid. imagine nyc sidewalks, with fairly large squares/rectangles. in my mind i draw diagonals from the 4 corners, and i also avoide stepping on those imaginary lines as well as the real cracks. i started doing this as a little kid, probably just ADD and needing something else to focus on while walking.


also, great idea for an OOT thread.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

Nicholson did this in As Good As It Gets.

OCD is a very strange disease. In extreme cases, some people will repeatedly circle around the block to make sure they didn't run anyone over.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

I used to do this alot when I was a kid, probably some sort of ADD/OCD/POP physchobabble. Not so much now. I also used to stare at the power lines on the side of the road during car rides and pretend there was some guy doing crazy acrobatic stuff on them running along to keep up.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

i used to do that stuff. im still pretty neurotic and i probably need to be institutionalized

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

I always try to step in the middle of tile squares, and try to always walk on the same color tile, with every step.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

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Who here...partakes in such obsessive compulsive walking quirkiness?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

I dunno if I do this when walking too much, but I definitely have some OCD tendencies in general.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Who here...partakes in such obsessive compulsive walking quirkiness?

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Yup.

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Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

i actually try to step on the cracks, i don't know why i do it.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

If you do step on a crack, do you feel the need to step on an equal-sized crack with the other foot to even things out?

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

Ok does anyone else do this:
I prefer not to step on cracks when i start thinking about it, but if i'm already walking and talking to someone i won't make a big deal of it etc. However, sometimes, i'll be counting in my head the number of steps between the cracks and then trying to make a pattern out of it and if i go out of that pattern it feels a bit strange. like 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 (steps between each crack).

Anyone else do something like this?

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Ok does anyone else do this:
I prefer not to step on cracks when i start thinking about it, but if i'm already walking and talking to someone i won't make a big deal of it etc. However, sometimes, i'll be counting in my head the number of steps between the cracks and then trying to make a pattern out of it and if i go out of that pattern it feels a bit strange. like 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 (steps between each crack).

Anyone else do something like this?

[/ QUOTE ]

yes. almost word-for-word.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

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If you do step on a crack, do you feel the need to step on an equal-sized crack with the other foot to even things out?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

[ QUOTE ]

Anyone else do something like this?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ok does anyone else do this:
I prefer not to step on cracks when i start thinking about it, but if i'm already walking and talking to someone i won't make a big deal of it etc. However, sometimes, i'll be counting in my head the number of steps between the cracks and then trying to make a pattern out of it and if i go out of that pattern it feels a bit strange. like 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 (steps between each crack).

Anyone else do something like this?

[/ QUOTE ]

yes. almost word-for-word.

[/ QUOTE ]

same here...

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you do step on a crack, do you feel the need to step on an equal-sized crack with the other foot to even things out?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes.

Also, I'm sure that the fact this is an internet forum skews the results towards people being neurotic, etc.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

Thats pretty strange. Ok, so anyone got a clue as to why we're doing this?

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

yes

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

those r mild examples of OCD...

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ok does anyone else do this:
I prefer not to step on cracks when i start thinking about it, but if i'm already walking and talking to someone i won't make a big deal of it etc. However, sometimes, i'll be counting in my head the number of steps between the cracks and then trying to make a pattern out of it and if i go out of that pattern it feels a bit strange. like 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 (steps between each crack).

Anyone else do something like this?

[/ QUOTE ]

yes. almost word-for-word.

[/ QUOTE ]

same here...

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

i do something very similar, but i would say it isn't a hardcore ocd thing for me, maybe a lower severity case or something

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

From when I was like 6 to 12 I used to have this OCD thing I'd do where everything I'd do had to be in factors of three.

If I'd swallow once, I'd have to do it two more times. If I'd tap my finger four times, I'd have to tap 2 or 5 more times to even it out. I literally did this on every time I did. Gum chewing, spitting, etc.

On the bright side, I'm a [censored] whiz when reciting factors of 3. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

I was messing around on Google and found this survey.

my results:

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Based on your score on the screening device, it would appear that you probably do not have OCD. However, only a mental health professional can make an accurate diagnosis and if you are experiencing psychological distress it may be advisable to see a clinician for further evaluation. You may also want to keep in mind that most so-called 'normal' people have some obsessive thoughts and some ritualistic behaviour in their lives. It's only when their obsessions and compulsions start becoming an overwhelming primary focus in a person's life that a person has clinical OCD.

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Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

[ QUOTE ]

heres what ive always done since I was a kid. imagine nyc sidewalks, with fairly large squares/rectangles. in my mind i draw diagonals from the 4 corners, and i also avoide stepping on those imaginary lines as well as the real cracks. i started doing this as a little kid, probably just ADD and needing something else to focus on while walking.



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I've done the same thing since an early age. I concluded a few years back that it had something to do with wanting to find patterns and order in the world. I went a bit farther however in that I would draw these imaginary lines in other situations as well - like looking for patterns of alignment between tables and desks etc. in classrooms.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

I'm glad you met a girl.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

ok i doubt anyone else shares this particular neuroticism but... say we're driving down the highway and someone else is driving and i'm in the back seat. Often i'll click my teeth (just kinda bite down or something lightly ) for every one line and try to do it for each white line and then stop eventually when i realizei t would be impossible to do it for all the lines.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

I used to but I've basically stopped now, although I occasionally feel the need to even out the number of cracks I've stepped on with each foot.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

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I'm glad you met a girl.

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Heh, my first thought too.

This thread has shocked me, you all seem rather weird.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

I used to do this, but then realized how stupid I must look taking an extra large step every once in a while to avoid steping on a crack... or doing a little shuffle step.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

I do nothing anyone's mentioned in the thread.

On a similar note my wife will often worry for some time about whether she locked the door and/or left the stove on and has never messed up that I recall (it's possible that it happened once or twice with the door but I'm sure the stove's never been on after we left). She will often check as we're leaving and then while we're out will ask me if I remember he checking these things or if I checked myself. Anybody do this or have experience dealing with someone who does? I'm used to it now but I still don't know the best response because I normally can't remember and she can normally tell if I'm lying (saying I remember her doing it) and gets more worried when I say I can't remember.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

On a similar note my wife will often worry for some time about whether she locked the door and/or left the stove on

Yeah I have gone back to my house to check I locked the door and found it's locked and I quite frequently check things before I leave to make sure I've done them.

People are ridiculous.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

[ QUOTE ]
From when I was like 6 to 12 I used to have this OCD thing I'd do where everything I'd do had to be in factors of three.

If I'd swallow once, I'd have to do it two more times. If I'd tap my finger four times, I'd have to tap 2 or 5 more times to even it out. I literally did this on every time I did. Gum chewing, spitting, etc.

On the bright side, I'm a [censored] whiz when reciting factors of 3. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Often when I see a billboard, sign, phrase on TV, etc. I'll count the words and try to make the total number a multiple of 4. Sometimes I'll count hypenated words as 1 word, sometimes 2, sometimes I'll include extra words nearby, always trying to find a group that is a multiple of 4. I think I am OK with a multiple of 2, but prefer a multiple of 4. Will do this with letters in phrases occasionally too. I think I do it much less now than I did as a kid.

As far as sidewalk cracks go, I'm in the even out both feet crowd. I also try to make them hit the same place on each foot. If my left foot hits a crack near the toe, and my right foot hits one near the heal, I'll try to balance them out. I tend to do this when out running, and will also even out things like my left arm brushing my hip, right foot stepping in grass, etc. Sometimes it gets ridiculous and I shake my head and force myself to stop.

Neither of these things really bother me, but evening out my feet on the cracks can be annoying, because if I think the wrong part of my foot has hit, it gets worse (both feet then need to hit).

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

[ QUOTE ]
So, I met this girl recently. I commented on her walking pattern and it really freaked her out. She thought she was the only person who did stuff like this. What I'm talking about is doing things like:

Not stepping on cracks.

If there are square patterns, stepping in the middle of the squares, never on the lines.

If there are lines/grooves on the sidewalk (like, at a corner), orienting your feet/steps in the same direction.

If there is a painted line on the crosswalk, either walking only on the paint or not on the paint.

Who here know WTF I am talking about and/or partakes in such obsessive compulsive walking quirkiness?

[/ QUOTE ]
I used to do that same kind of thing. I've mostly grown out of it, but I do have a couple weird things left. If I, say, brush my left hand against a wall or something, I usually have to brush my right hand against the other wall or something strange like that. I don't know why.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

I do everything you mentioned and everything that was mentioned up to this point in the thread except the "factor of 3" thing. I also have a few other weird quirks that are probably related.

I do them pretty infrequently so they never interfere with my life, but once I get caught up in one, it really bothers me. For example, if I don't even out the cracks stepped on with each foot, I will be left with the feeling that something is wrong for maybe 20 minutes.

I think the frequency and intensity of this has diminished somewhat with age. (I am 31.) Also, I think it has been more pronounced during stressful periods in my life.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

I do most of these things while walking. I don't have problems with doing things in sets so much, but I kind of get upset if things aren't symmetrical. ADD drugs help though.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

I generally do these sorts of things when I'm walking alone or bored.. make a pattern out of whatever is on the ground.

However, I justify this to myself (in other words, reassure myself that I'm not Woody Allen) by the fact that when I'm actively participating in a discussion (or even just thinking about something), I don't feel any sort of compulsion to step in any pattern.

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

I generally just follow patterns in steps while either stepping on no cracks or stepping on every one. I usually step on the cracks though and try to get it right on the arch of the foot.

It's all about the walking patterns guys...

Re: Obsessive-compulsive walking patterns / cracks / lines / etc.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
From when I was like 6 to 12 I used to have this OCD thing I'd do where everything I'd do had to be in factors of three.

If I'd swallow once, I'd have to do it two more times. If I'd tap my finger four times, I'd have to tap 2 or 5 more times to even it out. I literally did this on every time I did. Gum chewing, spitting, etc.

On the bright side, I'm a [censored] whiz when reciting factors of 3. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Often when I see a billboard, sign, phrase on TV, etc. I'll count the words and try to make the total number a multiple of 4. Sometimes I'll count hypenated words as 1 word, sometimes 2, sometimes I'll include extra words nearby, always trying to find a group that is a multiple of 4. I think I am OK with a multiple of 2, but prefer a multiple of 4. Will do this with letters in phrases occasionally too. I think I do it much less now than I did as a kid.

As far as sidewalk cracks go, I'm in the even out both feet crowd. I also try to make them hit the same place on each foot. If my left foot hits a crack near the toe, and my right foot hits one near the heal, I'll try to balance them out. I tend to do this when out running, and will also even out things like my left arm brushing my hip, right foot stepping in grass, etc. Sometimes it gets ridiculous and I shake my head and force myself to stop.

Neither of these things really bother me, but evening out my feet on the cracks can be annoying, because if I think the wrong part of my foot has hit, it gets worse (both feet then need to hit).

[/ QUOTE ]

Uh yeah I do that too....cept with factors of 3 again. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Glad that phase is over that used to annoy the [censored] out of me.