Does anyone else out there have compulsive habits? I have (or had) several. When I had long hair, I would compulsively brush it. I HAD to carry a brush with me, and I always brushed my hair before getting out of my car or leaving a restroom. If I didn't, I was EXTREMELY self-conscious of it. I also have bad skin. I compulsively pick at it, to the point where my folks and brother used to slap my hands or tell me to stop picking. Seriously, I've made myself bleed many times. If I get scratches or sores anywhere, I have to pick at the healing scabs until they open up. I also used to be a nail-biter. My fingers are all scarred because I'd chew at the skin around my nails until it bled.

I have been writing my checks with purple ink for over 15 years (came in handy a few years ago when someone stole my checks) my bank did not hesitate to give my money back because the checks were not written in purple ink. . . . sometimes it pays to be a little different :-)

Oh yes good distinction! The shopping - impulsive. The chapped lips thing - compulsive.

I guess that makes me obsessive impuslive compulsive (and to some, repulsive!)

I'm actually looking for a non-destructive compulsion for my 10YO daughter. She switches between: picking at her lips until they bleed, picking at her cuticles until they bleed, biting her nails down so far it's painful, and picking her toenails down so far she's in danger of ingrown toenails. I understand she's a bit OCD and I'd like to find her a compulsion she can adopt that doesn't involve (mild) mutilation of her body. Any ideas?

Probably looking at two different things here. Not being able to have a blank part of the page - totally separate, but doodling, drawing, clicking a pen, etc. while in a classroom setting, meeting, or any situation where you are receiving information inputs is actually demonstration of visual and/or kinesthetic learning. I do the exact same thing. I do not process information well if it's coming to me auditorily. To supplement that input type, I have to create a visual & kinesthetic stimulation.

I was once asked to leave a professional conference because, during one of the lectures, the lecturer noticed that I was doodling and became offended that I was not paying attention to him. And it was a lecturer in the adult learning field -- of all people who should know better.

(Teachers out there everywhere, when you see your kids doodling while you're talking, don't reprimand them for not paying attention -- chances are, this is what they have to do to process the information you're giving them.)

Nah..it's nothing that deep for me. I've done it since I was a little kid in lieu of paying attention when I should be. I've sat in college classes while an instructor was lecturing, doodling the entire time on sheet after sheet of paper, and walked out not being able to tell you one thing he said.

Why not, instead of finding your daughter a non-destructive OCD habbit (is there such a thing? i don't think so), get her to a therapist to help her out?

You may be setting good things in motion for her )))

Why not, instead of finding your daughter a non-destructive OCD habbit (is there such a thing? i don't think so), get her to a therapist to help her out?

You may be setting good things in motion for her )))

Thanks for the thought. I talked to her pediatrician about it and she said there's no need at this point because it's rather benign. Is there a (non-drug) remedy to OCD? I don't know too much about it.

Non-destructive OCD habits I can think of: worry beads, doodling, etc. I'm looking for something she doesn't need implements for.

Gadget Lady,

Well if the pediatrician is not concerned maybe it's an age thing but i've raised three and the only one with a "habbit" (nail-biting) will turn 17 tomorrow and is still at it with full force, so i'm not so sure they grow out of these things without help.

hmm... come to think of it, I never gave him help with that.. so maybe I should munch on what I dish.. so to speak ))

Gadget Lady,

Well if the pediatrician is not concerned maybe it's an age thing but i've raised three and the only one with a "habbit" (nail-biting) will turn 17 tomorrow and is still at it with full force, so i'm not so sure they grow out of these things without help.

hmm... come to think of it, I never gave him help with that.. so maybe I should munch on what I dish.. so to speak ))

LOL! I just don't know if there is a solution or not. It was my impression that you either have these tendencies or you don't, and if they're severe you can medicate or be in long-term intensive therapy, but they never go away.

You could get her a manicure set and encourage her to groom her nails instead of biting and picking at them. Get her some different girlie chapsticks for her lips.

I don't really have any compulsive habits but I do have restless leg - and it drives me CRAZY! When they did the sleep study they said I woke up 27 times - no wonder I'm always tired! I haven't taken any scripts but do take otc sleeping pills for it. Its worse since I'm laid off, I guess I'm not doing enough during the day to make my legs tired. It really irritates my daughters when they sit on the couch with me, they think I do it on purpose.

Eating has always been a bad one, thank goodness for my band. Lately I have swapped that one out for shopping. So I will go in for a few therapy sessions to stop the addictive behavior of shopping.

I count. Things.

I am obsessive when I "get a notion"; and I won't let go of it until resolved.

Oh why did you ask this? I like to pretend I am normal.

I have general anxieties and SAD. I do a lot of stuff to keep myself from stressing out. I bite the sides and front of my mouth. It's to the point here I can't help it now. I used to pick at my ears and someone pointed it out on day and I felt so self conscious about it that I finally stopped. When I get nervous I also fiddle w/my fingers and clean my nails. I guess it takes my focus of my stressful situation. I never have bite my nails, instead I bite my pinky finger.

Oh, I forgot eating. I think my lip gloss is a compulsion too. I use it all day, everyday. I should buy stock w/Bath and Body Works.

Lip gloss? I never used it, or lipstick, until I found Benefit 24K lip glass. And now I am hooked on it. It is gorgeous over any color, or alone. I also have the Benefit 24k lipstick. 24k sexy gold lip gloss : Benefit Cosmetics

I will pick at anything that is "foreign" to my body!!

And when I was a smoker, I had to have at least 5 or 6 lighters in my purse all the time - I am the same way with pens...lol.

But probably my WORST habit - and I really can't stop - is that I can NOT get into a car without a drink of some kind! I have taken cans of soda on a 4 hour trip to town and never opened it, but I had to have it when I left home! lol It drives my DH absolutely NUTS!!

I read the posts from everyone and no one really sounds too crazy...lol

Enjoy!

GadgetLady, I don't know how strong your daughter's compulsions are, but have you tried a reward approach? Is she girly? Maybe you could tell her that if she'll let her finger & toe nails grow out long enough that they can do anything with them, you will take her to the salon for a mani & pedi, she can pick the colors and accents, etc?

I don't really have any compulsive habits but I do have restless leg - and it drives me CRAZY! When they did the sleep study they said I woke up 27 times - no wonder I'm always tired! I haven't taken any scripts but do take otc sleeping pills for it. Its worse since I'm laid off, I guess I'm not doing enough during the day to make my legs tired. It really irritates my daughters when they sit on the couch with me, they think I do it on purpose.

Ohhh, I've had this too on and off. Mostly when I was pregnant. It was AWFUL! I used to have my dh yank on my legs to try to make it stop. Blech.