Something odd

[MURKY]

im a teen and for a few years now i do things at night in strange patterns to feel safe and feel like i can go to sleep. Am I obsessive compulsive? like i'll go to bed and say my prays but then after i have to breath in out fast 7 times in a pattern to feel relaxed or safe. and i have to say safe. also, i dont have bladder problems but within 2 hours at night i cant get it into my head then i dont need to go pee, so basically i stay up 2 hours later because of this. it only happens on school nights, what can i do?

[Headtime]

You do not need to worry about it. You are growing up, and your mind is becoming more active. As a teenager I used to walk along the road and set myself tasks like, "I must reach the third lamp-post before another car passes". Mad!. I'm now 34, with a family, good job and I'm very happy and normal.

We all worry when we are teenagers . Your pee thing only happens on school nights. Are you especially worried about school? If so, talk to your mum or dad or a teacher. I hated school sometimes, I would live in dread the night before a spell of double-English with my terrifying teacher. I would pray some terrible accident would befall her and prevent her taking the lesson! You sound perfectly normal to me. But do talk to someone, if you are getting really anxious. Good luck.

[smudge]

Don't worry MURKY, as you get older these obsessions will pass.

 

Headtime - I used to do exactly the same thing as you - must reach this or that before...............! I also used to have to scratch myself an even amount of times, usually 4 or 8, etc. Thinking about it, I still do at times, usually when I'm stressed & thinking about things too much. Apart from that I'm quite normal, says me!

[saffstar]

I used to to that kinda thing too.  If I went to the loo in the night, I'd have to be back in bed with the lights out before the flush finished, and I had did similar things to Headtime's car thing.  I still get occasional spells of it now.  I went through a really annoying thing a few months ago where every night, just as I was dropping off to sleep, the thought would pop in to my head that I needed the toilet, so of course, I'd have to go and then spend the next hour getting comfy again! I have phases where I have to touch things 'symmetrically' sometimes too.  I think it's related to stress.  As Headtime says, you don't need to worry about it, just keep a check on it so it doesn't start to affect your life.

[Natalie6]

Dont worry murky i used to do the same thing. I am 22 now but in my earlier teens i used to have to do a routine of touching things before i went to bed! Dont trouble yrself about it just try and have will power and stop doing it, or change what you do to 'feel safe' to doing something else before you go to bed which wont keep you up so long.

Dont worry about it, everyone has their little things and im sure you'll probably just stop doing it one day.

[MURKY]

thanks everyone, its not something i can stop, i really tried. :(