Line between obssesion and normality?

[zx123]

Hi,

I sometimes stop myself from doing something if I think that it might be turning into/bordering on obsessional behaviour.

When I am doing this I think what would somebody without ocd do?

Even though I try to work it out I sometimes find it hard to get the balance right.

For example if you check something how many times do you have to check before it goes from being normal behaviour into being an obsession?

What I want to know is what is the line between normality and obsession?

[Guest Tricia]

It is tough, but I know many people who don't check at all and also many who check once (those without OCD). I think one check is acceptable. If we do more it can become confusing and counter-productive anyway.

[PolarBear]

You're using the term 'obsession' in a wrong way. Checking too often doesn't become obsessional. It becomes a compulsion. The obsession is an intrusive thought/image/urge/impulse that starts the whole thing off. The compulsion is what you do after.

A non-OCD person might forget whether they did something and 'check' to see but there is no anxiety associated with it. If you have OCD with checking compulsions you're going to be driven to check -- there is an urge to check. That's when it's a compulsion and something that should be avoided.