Is this from OCD?

[chris87]

Although I haven't visited my doctor yet (I'm going soon), I'm pretty certain that I have OCD. I know the rituals are characteristic of OCD, but I was wondering about something else that really bothers me:

I have an absolute obsession with "newness." When something of mine loses its perfection, I get really upset.

For example, I got a new car in March. Unfortunately, I don't like to drive it, because I'm afraid the seats will get worn, the tires will wear down, and more miles will be added. I was thinking about visiting family members at the shore this week, but I don't want to put 50 miles on my car (and it doesn't have anything to do with the high gas prices). I also have some weird issue about changing/modifying something that is new. I still have the dealer tag on my key, because I don't want to remove it. I also have never actually cleaned the inside with any type of chemical, because I'm afraid that the car will lose the original smell.

I'm very similar with my clothes. I have nice clothes from good stores, but I don't wear any of them. I'm so afraid that they'll lose color in the washing machine or not look as perfect as they once did. I literally have a few outfits that I wear, but my nice clothes, I don't touch.

I also notice this with my teeth. I have to brush and brush and brush...it takes me forever. I don't know why I do these things, but I seem to get anxious about something bad happening if my desire for newness is disturbed.

 

[DaDahhhhDaDaDa]

I've got the same thing. I recently bought a new pool table and clean the chalk marks off the velvet vigorously every time I notice them. I wish I could clean the cue ball as well but I don't have anything that can get the stains off.

I've also got a thing with scratches on CDs and creases on books. I hate lending CD's because people often hand them back scratched and don't care for them properly. I also examine blank CD's for dust and won't use them if they are too dusty (the fear is the CD will explode in the drive, which has happened before). I also hate creases or mug stains on books I read, so every time I read a book I'll always open it just enough so I can read it but ensuring I don't crease the cover.

You're not alone then, it's good to know that I'm not the only one with these sorts of obsessions.

 

[Shattered]

It does sound like OCD in my opinion. It'll be good for you to go to the Doc though as it isn't really a good thing to self diagnose. Sorry to hear that you go through all that. I understand though. I had to deal with OCD when I was younger (I still do get OCD about a few things). Mine wasn't with newness though. Mine was all about symmetry and the number 7. My body has to feel even or the same on both sides. Example: If I scratch my left arm I must scratch my right arm in the same place. And if one feels more scratched than the other, I'll continue to scratch until it feels even. Or rather I USED to go through this. I made myself stop when other children noticed my oddness and made remarks.