This weird thing my brain does - is this stimming ?

[byb]

So ever since I was 15, I've noticed that my brain counts stuff.

It's hard to explain, I don't do it consciously.

I count surfaces with my fingers from afar.

So say right now I'm looking at my walk and I see wall / curtain /wall / curtain / wall. My brain will count the different surfaces automatically. It's not conscious. I think my fingers slightly move when I do it. It's always 5. So starts with wall little finger/ curtain ring finger/ wall middle finger/ curtain second finger and wall again / thumb.

My brain is basically always trying to scan the room or whatever it is for surfaces which fit into that order of my fingers - so 5. It's super random and I hadn't thought about it consciously in ages, but I do it a lot.

Now I'm looking at the wall opposite and counted door/ wall / TV / wall/ door.

Does anyone else do something similar ?

I used to have to count how many people were in all the BBC idents each time they appeared.
Now every time I hear a song on the radio I also have to count how many beats per bar there are......
Self diagnosed OCD.
All worse when I'm stressed/tired/hormonal - & I'm some combination of the 3 all the time !!

Humans are pattern matching machines. We look for order where there is none.

Lurkylurks I find three the most pleasing number and I think there are many theories about this? Pythagoras and Holy Trinity etc . I don't have synesthesia, but my daughter does and has explained to me how strongly she associates a number and a colour, so you're definitely not alone!

I do it with words.

For example, in the above sentence I would quickly count up that there are 14 letters and 5 words. If it was an easy sum, I would then work out the average number of letters per words; for example if it was 15 letters, 5 words, I'd go average 3 letters per word...,then move on.

As it's not a round number, I would just leave it and move onto the next sentence, as I have to move quickly.

As I am counting the letters, I drum each letter out with a slight finger movement.

Done it for as long as I can remember. (29 letters, 9 words...move on...)

I am not neurodivergent as far as I know, but maybe i am?

Does anyone else do this or have any experience of it?

I've realised recently there are some lovely clothes with asymmetrical necklines. For years I've always just instantly dismissed them because of the lack of symmetry. Only just realised that I did this recently.

There are a few things like that...can't remember the others off the top of my head.

@BlueRaincoat1 just noticed you do a similar thing! I've posted above what I do, similar thing to you, average number of letters per word

I sometimes count the letters in a sentence, this is only spoken words, not written. Used to do it loads when I was younger, not very often now.

I count things constantly. Have tried stopping but it's automatic. I also have an insane memory for numbers going back many years, but can't remember what I ate yesterday! Was handy as I remembered the ex's credit card number for three years after he left. 😁

I'm ASD and ADHD.

I count syllables in a word/sentence and it's bonus if it works out to 10 (2 hands). I also generally count words, letters in words and sentences, do a certain shape that maps out according to the number of letters. It has to end evenly and on my right hand. I do a weird thing like a rub my fingertips in a circle sometimes when counting the letters but only the letters not syllables. So glad I found this thread, feel less weird.

You are not alone, I find I do it when I am anxious. I count words I see, sentences in groups of 4 and have to keep doing it until I finish on the 4. Thought I was the only one and thought I was a bit mental but others have said is an ocd thing.

I'm always counting things like steps or seconds. I've never been diagnosed with anything, so I don't know what, if anything, it signifies. DD has ADHD and autism, if that counts for anything genetic.

I don't count stuff. But why is it a problem?

Car number plates - I change the numbers into corresponding letters of alphabet and then run them into sounds.

I do this. I don't have a diagnosis but my son does and my adult daughter is currently seeking diagnosis. I think it's a stim personally.

I know cars from number plates. It drives me mad.

I count backwards at bedtime!! Sometimes I even do 3 times tables backwards too over and over till I nod off. I can still think of other things while doing it too. Like what I've done in the day or got planned tomorrow. I get on my own nerves!

You should research OCD as you're eluding to a very common misconception.

Mentally exhausting

Personally, I find this so strange and I don't do much counting or anything much with numbers. But it is very interesting hearing how other experience things.

I have characters for my stories doing stuff in my head a lot of the time, so I think that is my quirk.

I do something similar. I'm always counting things,and my fingers move when I do it. I've done it for as long as I can remember. Pisses me off tbh!

Yes!!! I count corners - tv, books, doors etc. and now I think about it, I sometimes touch surfaces with the back of my hand after the front has touched them, to ‘even it out.’ I have no idea why but it’s amazed me to see nearly everyone does something like this of their own!

Yes I add up the numbers on car number plates. Also count number of letters in words, put them into groups of three .

I count in my head for no reason. For me it is part of my adhd. I usually have song lyrics/thought running simultaneously with counting.

Pattern recognition is a very common trait shown by autistic people. It is worth reading in to as it's very interesting.

I did it more as a child/young person but it still happens now. My daughter is the same. We are both on the assessment pathway.

I do something similar, when I have an itch, I also have to scratch the corresponding area on the other side of my body so they feel the same. The same with a hot or cold touch as well.

The psychologist diagnosing my ASD said it's very common in autistic people, we are often highly sensory and/or can suffer sensory overload.

Yes me too
Mostly say like large pattern/printed wall paper how many times same thing is printed like 1 larger flower with small ones I have to repeatedly count the large. If the number is odd I will count the syllables of all the words like fourteen or four-teen and keep doing it until its even 🤦‍♀️ always wondered if it's just me or a an autistic trait