Obsessive compulsive traits

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I noticed I seem to have some obsessive compulsive traits. In Psychology, my professor gave us a test and I was one of the few people who scored in the highly obsessive compulsive range. I do things like organize the clothes in my closet in color order. I also am very aware of germs. I wash my hands/dishes/toothbrush-you name it-very thoroughly. I hate touching doorknobs; I open doors with my sleeve. I also won't touch toilet flushers or sink knobs with my bare hands. For awhile I used to have to eat on paper plates with plastic utensils and drink from paper/plastic cups. I felt that silverware and plates got "dirty" from being in cabinets. I would also feel grossed out from even the slightest stain on them. To this day I get grossed out pretty easily.

Anyone else think they have obsessive-compulsive traits? If so, describe them!

Heres my post off this thread; http://www.wrongplanet.net/asperger.htm ... highlight=

Yeah, mine are counting ones, and doing things a certain way.

Have to do things in multiples of 3 (except anything with the digit 9 in) or other specific numbers if multiples of 3 just can't be done;
Have to wipe myfeet against the opposite leg 3 or 6 times before putting a sock on, then before the shoe goes on as well;
Have to do certain things with certain hands, ie drink with left, push open doors with right shoulder, carry violin in the left and viola in the right when I have both (otherwise either goes on the left, though it bugs me because the case is either the wrong way round, or the outside's not facing out)
wipe feet on the doormat 6 times, starting with the left;
left arm in jumper first, left leg in trousers first; then left first out again
carry things under left arm until I can really hold no more, then I have to go to the right;
have to have matching cutlery (we have four different sets; my knife and fork have to be matching unless it really is impossible)
If I have a piece of music stuck in my head, I have to count and walk and do everything in time to it;
I have to be in step with as many people around me as possible; (starting counting on the left)
And I've probably forgotten loads more. I'm certain I have.
(Believe it or not I'm actually more right-handed than left by the way, ie I write better with my right)

I didn't realize how many OCD traits I had until I was in a seminar on it for my job a few weeks ago. When the guy was talking about certain traits (and how extreme they can be) my coworkers were looking shocked but I was thinking, "Yeah, that sounds familiar..." For me it's mostly centered around precision and accuracy. Things have to be done a certain way/lined up/organized a certain way/counted, etc... The other big thing for me is getting stuck in obsessive thought patterns. Not necessarily negative or disturbing thoughts, just intrusive in that it consumes time and prevents me from getting other things done.

I'm fairly obsessive-compulsive (though not full-blown OCD). I have a dirt/germ thing which is a combination of OCDishness and sensory issues: I hate touching anything someone else has touched, like door handles and railings, because 1) I hate the oil from people skin which is left behind and I can feel it on those surfaces, and 2) the oil makes me think "Argh! This is really dirty!". So I have a bit of a double aversion, though truly the only illness I fear having is a stomach virus. Other illnesses I don't really fear having. So it doesn't make all that much sense to fear it being dirty I guess, except in stomach flu season.

Also, I'm very picky about the layout of my apartment. It's cluttered, but everything is in its specific place. It looks like a mess, but it's actually very organized, lol.

I'm also anal about organizing information-- or really anything for that matter-- and get really anxious if I can't do things "my way".

I also have a general (though definitely not strict) routine.

And I find myself straightening things when I'm out and about. Like if I go to a restaurant, I find myself straightening the utensils or the napkin or the candle in the middle of the table or the salt and pepper shakers...

My OC traits become more obvious when I'm nervous because ordering something has a calming effect on me.

Sophist, your sig (a cat in your pants) reminds me of something that happened to my sister yesterday. She walked into a business and there was a mentally challenged guy in there who started hitting on her. "My name is Kevin. I'm single and I'm looking. Do you wanna see a picture of my cat?" My sister wondered if it was just a dirty pick-up line, or did he really have a picture of his cat in his pocket? (It turned out to be a real pic of his kitten. Phew.)

Well, I have one or two traits of OCD... rigid routines... rigid about diet and exercise... all my books are in alphabetical order... I have a diagnoisis of OCD... little things like that.

Marc Summers and Howie Mandel would be able to tell you about some OCD traits if they joined this forum for sure.