Is this a form of OCD?

[MaryBoBary]

I’m struggling at the moment with anxiety and depression, but have started to take fluoxetine which seems to be having an effect already just a week in, and counselling is being organised to start soon.

I have a couple of habits which I know are odd, but not sure if they are a form of OCD and something to discuss with a counsellor, or just “quirks” of mine.

This first thing I do is pull my hair out, I think this is known as tricholomania (unsure of spelling) but not sure if my form of this is OCD? I pull out specific hairs which feel very rough or wiry when I run my fingers down them. I don’t like my frizzy hair which is very thick, so just kind of get rid of the “ugly” hairs in the same way someone might pluck their grey hairs. I do this usually when I’m watching TV, so not in a stressful situation, just kind of subconsciously out of habit.

The second thing I do is kind of hard to explain. There are 6 muscles from my groom down to my toes that I will twitch in order (from my left hip, down to my left big toe, and then across to my right big toe and up to my right hip, so 12 twitches in total). I twitch these muscles constantly as a way of counting or spelling something out. For example registration plates is a favourite. I’ll twitch a muscle in order for each number/letter in a ref plate. I will continue to twitch the muscles until the final digit on the plate lands in time with my last muscle twitch e my right hips. So I will spell out the number plate as many times as it takes to get it to end on that final muscle.

This is sounding weird even to me.

Then as I twitch these 6 muscles down my left leg and back up my right leg, I also run my tongue over my top teeth (excluding wisdom teeth) as I have 6 of these on each side too. I spell things out and count things while twitching the leg muscles and sort of “counting” my teeth constantly.

My heart is actually racing typing this as I’ve never told anyone and think I sound like some sort of crackpot!

Now none of that is causing me any harm. I’m not hurting myself by doing it and it’s something I can do anywhere at any time so doesn’t inhibit my day to day life. So is it OCD and is it even worth mentioning to anyone? It seems odd to just say “oh by the way, I do this really weird thing” and then try and explain it when there is no real reason to stop - is there? And I’m aware that’s exactly what I’ve done here but need some anonymous advice!

6 muscles from my groin down to my toes that should say.

And sorry that was so long!

If you are interrupted during the reg plate muscle counting, how does that make you feel?

Umm, well I’m not sure I ever am interrupted. I wouldn’t suddenly start doing it while mid conversation with someone, it’s more something I do when my mind is wandering. I don’t think I would panic that I haven’t done it all, more be mildly irritated, or remember where I had got to when I was interrupted and go back to it to finish of the counting after.

I suppose it would be part of your OCD symptoms if you felt compelled to do it? Can you NOT do it if you try?

No, neither of those things are symptoms of OCD, just habits/quirks. Neither sounds like it causes any problems.

I would say i do the muscle twitching thing for the majority of the day. I have never tried not to - i suppose it makes sense for that to be the test of whether or not it’s compulsive? I would have to be very aware all day long and really try to “catch” myself doing it to stop myself if that makes sense. But as it doesn’t cause any harm that’s why I’m unsure. How do I know other people don’t have these weird habits that they don’t tell anyone about and no one would be able to tell by looking at them?

I do both of those things, the muscle thing is a bit different for me (more flexing them along with a song) but I definitely know what you mean. The hair is exactly the same. I've wondered also if this is odd or if anyone else does it.

Oh my goodness @WineCheeseSleep that’s made me so happy that someone else does it! I also do it to the beat of a song and so many other random scenarios I can’t even think of right now.

Have you ever told anyone else you do this or tried to explain it to them?

And I think the hair thing isn’t a problem because I have so much hair - so no bald patches. If my hair was thinner it may well be visible - although probably would be finer and so not an issue as not wiry.

My hair is really fine so I have to stop myself doing it too much, which I usually can do no problem. I think when I get more grey hairs though I'll have to be really careful not to pull them all out!

I've never mentioned it to anyone, like you said it's hard to describe and I don't want to seem odd. I wonder how common it is?

Well seeing as you commented 20 minutes after I posted, presumably fairly common - or that is a massive coincidence. I instantly feel better about myself just for knowing at least one other person does the same thing.

I do the muscle thing with my calf muscles, usually to a beat of a song too. I also pull out my eyelashes and pluck out certain eyebrows if they aren't 'right' I think hair pulling is a form of OCD

@mummysheepy yes I end up with a pile of hair at the side of the sofa and am always shocked at how much is there.

@Heartofglass12345 I pluck my eyebrow hairs obsessively. To the point of them now basically being just a line of single hairs. It looks awful but for some reason I think 1 hair out of line would look worse...

They would be OCD if it caused you distress to not be able to do them - for example if you thought, "I need to do leg twitch thing and land on right muscle otherwise something bad will happen to me". If it doesn't cause distress and is not a compulsion that you are compelled to carry out then it is, as others have said, a habit or quirk

Thanks @Anerak. The only distress caused is worrying that I am really odd for doing it.

Trichotillomania (the hair pulling) can fit the criteria for OCD and certainly falls under the umbrella of anxiety disorders.

With OCD, there are two elements - obsessive thoughts paired with compulsive behaviours. For most people, being prevented from doing the behaviour causes an immense amount of distress, which afffects people's ability to live their normal lives.

I worked with one girl whose OCD was so severe she couldn't hold down a job because her process of showering and sanitising everything could take up to 3 hours. Another client was very successful in her chosen career path, but was finding herself increasingly anxious in her home life. The way you have described it, these behaviours are not currently having a big impact on you, but they may possibly in the future. I don't think you need to feel overly worried, but I would definitely mention it to your therapist so that they can monitor it with you and give you more helpful strategies to give the same relief.

@Zippetydoodahzippetyay thank you very much for the advice

Trichotillomania IS a form of OCD behaviour, as is dermatillomania (skin picking). I didn't find that any antidepressants helped with this but there are over the counter 'supplements' that you can get from Holland & Barrett that are supposed to help, the name escapes me right now though, try Google though... I think it's something like NCT though