Is it normal try to achieve symmetrical stimulation?

67% Normal
12 Comments

It started as a sort of game in primary school. When I stepped on a crack on the path with my right foot, I had to the same with my left foot. I would actively jump from crack to crack, to try and keep the count even.

This quickly turned into a habit. When I accidentally brushed something with one hand, I'd subconsciously do it with the other hand soon after and so on.

I wasn't quite at the point where I'd kick a door with the other foot just so that both hurt though.

I did that for years, I have been somewhat trying to consciously suppress it, but still catch myself doing it sometimes.

Is it normal to have (had) these impulses for 'stimulus symmetry'? And have you had them yourselves?

Voting Results
67% Normal
Based on 46 votes (31 yes)
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Comments ( 12 )
  • RapidlyRotatingPanda
    11 years ago

    I used to do this all the time. Symmetry and even numbers usually being related, some things were deliberately blinking every time a shadow came across the car on the way to school, weird random things like that. And to this day I still NEVER walk up the path when going to my back door from the garden, I always walk across the decking. This originally started as a test of willpower, to be committed to do it for my entire life, now it's just force of habit. I suspect this is all just a minor case of OCD, but without the "disorder" bit, since it isn't actively ruining my life. Just obsessive compulsions that I like to do.

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  • PapzBSlim
    11 years ago

    My brother and I would be watching TV and the channel would be on 53, I would tell him to switch it to channel 43. He would switch it to 43, back to 53, and then leave it on 43. He said he had to do it twice. I controlled the remote after that so he wouldn't have to worry about it.

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  • jucedaguy
    11 years ago

    It's OCD.

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  • VioletTrees
    11 years ago

    I do this all the time, but I have OCD.

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  • malkiot
    11 years ago

    I'm quite surprised at how many people share this compulsion ^^
    Funny little world.

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  • Avant-Garde
    11 years ago

    I do this in art, but I'm not sure if I've done it on a psychical scale...

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  • ForMyPeaceOfMind
    11 years ago

    I'm like that as well!

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  • RockerRoseanne
    11 years ago

    I do it too, I just love symmetry.

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  • dirtybirdy
    11 years ago

    I do once in a while too

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  • UhhhOK
    11 years ago

    My girlfriend does little things like this. she says i do things like that too but i don't notice it.. :0 awkward.

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  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    OCD

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  • mikafor
    11 years ago

    I do that too. Don't know why. I don't really consider it as a bad thing, just a quirk.

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