Rajesh Patel

@Handy Thank you sooooo much for this very comprehensive explanation and I hope it can help other people too

Hi Roami That's definitely helpful I'm going to post again but do you have any other ideas on how I can stop associating meanings to numbers? Thanks Rajesh

Hi Does anyone have a sample theory A vs theory B example for numbers e.g. keeping away from 'bad' numbers by any chance please? Thanks

Hi Roami Thanks for your reply. It makes perfect sense. First thing tomorrow I'm going to start the journey and find a professional who can help. Thank you once again.

@daja and @Handy Thanks for your replies. @dajawhat is the difference between magical thinking OCD and superstitious OCD? I have googled but not much specifically on superstition.

So I have OCD but I wanted to ask if this was OCD or something else. I see a certain 2 digit number, and I think if those 2 digits are swapped then that is the number of the bus which goes down a certain road. So anything to do with that road is 'bad.' The shops on it are bad, anyone who lives on that road is bad, anyone who uses any of the shops on that road is bad and the list goes on and on and on If it is OCD how can I 'stop' it? Just seeing that 2 digit number and suddenly the whole of the city is bad? If it is not OCD then does anyone have any idea what it could be? I didn't think I'd ever say this but I do hope it is OCD. Thank you

@McW Sorry, my black and white thinking coming through

But if I keep on thinking about magical thinking is that a compulsion?

So one of my compulsions is not to do something because something bad might happen in the future. I don't know what this bad thing is but it will happen. Personally I feel this could be tomorrow or even years into the future. Any ideas on how to get past this thinking?

@snowbear Thanks for the great reply and it's not brutal at all - it's simply a fact

When I had control I gave into the compulsion. When I didn't have control there was an alternative but there would have been a very bad outcome hence I had no choice. Why and how / does the OCD have power to control me like this?

Hi all Thank for your responses, it is very helpful advise. I wanted to pick your brains on something which seems a bit funny to me. I mainly work from home and had to do some work which involved this number I don't like. I managed to do this work by performing out various compulsions so the number was avoided. A few weeks later I had to go into the office and do a similar piece of work which involved the same number. This time my boss gave me some guidance whereby I was literally forced to use the number and there was no way of getting out of it. My only option to avoid it would have been to get up and leave the office for which I would have lost my job so was obviously not going to happen. What's the explanation behind this?

Hi all I've had OCD for a few years now and probably like with most people it goes up and down. So I came across an article and wanted some advise. There is a number which I don't like and I have the classic compulsions relating to this i.e avoidance, counting neutralising and so on. When I first think about how it started when I saw this number thoughts would arise in my mind and I'd think what I should do as in compulsions. Now this thinking has just stopped and its like I do the compulsion without thinking. It has literally become a part of me and consumes me. It is a bit like if someone was to come running towards you with a knife shouting I'm going to kill you, you'd automatically run away without thinking. Any ideas on how I can get past this please? Thanks

Thanks @ Handy I think I know the answer to this question but when will I see light at the end of the tunnel or will it be a case of there will NEVER be light at the end of the tunnel

Thank you @PolarBear, @Angst, @Handy First of all thank you for all of your replies and sorry for not getting back to you sooner. It's just OCD is so draining and it really takes it out of me. Virtually everyone I speak to says that I have lost weight. I know the reason why but am obviously not going to tell them Anyway, I want to ask a specific question to Handy. What you have written is correct without a doubt and my logical brain accepts it but my OCD part doesn't and then the cycle starts. How can I reinforce what you have said to an extent that they have no power of me?