How To Stop Ocd?

How can I stop doing this weird OCD thing with my fingers?

• So I started play the alto saxophone this year:) acouple of months ago I had this big thing happen in my life, I'm not going into detail but its family issues... I am not sure if that triggered it, but... I can't sit still. We played this song called "simple gifts" for our first concert. There is a couple of measures I memorized, and I pretend to play that part with my fingers tapping on any surface. I have begun to tap with my feet too. I hum it in my head subconsciously. I don't even know I'm doing it! My mom has to stop me when we sit on the couch together, because my whole body is like, moving to the "music" in my head. I am doing it right now! The only time I don't tap to the music, is when I am asleep, and I am convinced that I do it in my sleep too. How can I stop tapping! I have barley made it through 5 minutes with out doing it! (also I have gone to councling for the family issue and we are solving it but I still tap tap tap to the "music") HELP! I can't stop it! What can I do!

• Answer:

  From experience I can tell you that you need to redirect your thoughts. That's where the movement and the 'playing' of the music begins. My deal was counting or spelling. When I began doing either of those things I would sing aloud. It occupied my brain and it's just about impossible to sing and count in one's head at the same time. I sang The Star Spangled Banner. Honest to goodness, I did. It's a complicated song and not something that you can sing very timidly. Now I will tell you that I'm retired, so this didn't interfere with school or work. I would recommend that you find something to do with your hands as well. Find some productive thing you can do with your hands and fingers when you find yourself tapping. Take a few lessons in knitting or crocheting. I know that sounds goofy ... you could also do a video game or whatever will occupy your fingers when you feel they can't stop the tapping. Finally, if your family is still seeing the therapist, bring this up with him or her. You may find some good hints there that I've not had to implement. Good luck. I know how distressing this can be.