I like to think there’s a little bit of OCD in all of us (some more than others).

I could look it up, and do actual research, to find out the medical or psychological explanation for Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and what causes them, but that would be too politically correct and diligent. Instead, let’s do the Weekly World News/Cosmo survey/Cracker Jack toy, style of medical investigation that you’d be more likely to find in paid advertising on late night TV, to diagnose ourselves. It’s much easier that way, and saves me a lot of typing and hyperlinking to Wikipedia.

We all have patterns we follow throughout the day as we live our lives. Society practically forces it upon ourselves to develop these patterns. Some people depend on their routines to get them through the day. I absolutely must enter through the same door at home every day after after work, put my shoes in the same place I got them from, drop my keys, wallet, watch, and change in the same tray, and hang my coat in the same closet, every night if I ever expect to function the next morning. I think we can all agree that’s fairly normal. A lot of people have their morning rituals. It’s an efficiency thing. All humans develop it from a deep seated, primal urge, to sleep in as long as possible and still get to work on time.

My Reader’s Digest understanding of Psychology tells me that’s different than OCD. To me, OCD is a habit you develop out of a desire for order and control rather than, for instance, efficiency. OCD is the poster-child for anti-efficiency. Basically, I look at it as a habit that you have to do for no real rhyme or reason, and if you don’t do it, it will bother you until it gets fixed (that last part being the most important).

Like I said, I think it has to do with having things in order or being in control of something. I don’t think it has anything to do superstition, you know, like watching baseball players go through their set of rituals (that’s a whole other thing).

So here are mine (and these are really tame, mind you):

1) When changing the volume on a TV, if it has a numerical display, I always have to leave it on an even number.

2) You know those bubble gum packs with the plastic bubbles and foil backing? I always take two at a time, and the pattern that remains has to be symmetrical.

Now, if someone else mucks about with the volume on the TV, or I offer up some gum to someone, it doesn’t bother me so much, but I will “correct” it next time I use them.

3) I can’t walk by something that’s only slightly closed without making sure it’s fully closed. So that’s things like closet doors, drawers, container lids, etc…

How ’bout you?