Do i have OCD or something?

Do I have OCD or something like it?

• I am 19, and I feel I have some symptoms of OCD or something related, but I'm not sure if they qualify. For example, ever since I was 7, I have felt the need for evenness. If my left arm brushes against a wall, I need to touch the wall with my right arm. If I step over or on a crack in the sidewalk with my left foot, I need to step over or on one with my right, and so on. (Because of this, I always have to look at the ground when I walk). Same thing goes with driving. If my left tire goes over a crack, I don't feel comfortable until my right tires go over one. When I was much younger, maybe in third or fourth grade, I would get images in my head of myself doing bad things, but I would feel as guilty as if I had actually done the bad things. That didn't last very long though. I also have a "ritual" to keep bad things from happening. I know logically that it doesn't do anything, and that everything that happens is completely independent from my "ritual" but I still have to do it. Lastly, I have to move my fingers in a certain order or they feel uncomfortable. Is this OCD, or am I just kinda crazy?

• Answer:

  This sounds a lot like OCD, from what I've experienced and know. However, unless it's extremely severe (which yours doesn't sound like) then it's not a big problem. Besides, you're probably a lot neater than most people, so that's a plus. Just keep calm and carry on and enjoy being yourself :)