What are your repetitive habits/behaviours?

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I also pull at my eyelashes because some feel like they are crossed or tangled all the time
I check all the same websites every morning and play Words with Friends before I can get into the shower
I alternate between the same 3 pairs of pants all the time
I listen to the same handful of songs on my iPod all the time, skipping over all the others
I open mp3 song files in WavePad or Audacity and mess with pitch, speed, reverb and other effects 'til they sound funny. If I can't get them to sound funny, I get frustrated and try over and over again
I rock in my chair frequently (it's not a rocking chair)
I spent too much time on the internet self-diagnosing this, that or the other thing

I pick at my cuticles, listen to the same handful of songs over and over, check the same couple of websites over and over. I also count things or look for patterns ("faces" in leaves of trees, etc), same breakfast every day, and every night I have to tense/flex and then release all of my muscles, especially in my hands/ankles.

My thoughts repeat. Not my "forefront" thoughts, but my "background" thoughts. Over and over, constantly.
I repeat the thoughts out loud sometimes. Sometimes I scream them.
I have tics.
I have stereotypies.
I eat pizza for dinner almost every night.

I have the same sequence each night before bed and the same rituals every morning during the week. I eat certain foods in the same manner. I listen to favorite songs for days on end, then switch once I get sick of them. I do the same thing with shows on netflix or hulu, I watch all episodes possible within two days then read about the show plot, characters, etc, until I can't stand it anymore...

Everyday when I get home from work, same sequence: take off shoes, turn laptop on, prop a pillow up on couch to lean on, glasses to the side, kleenex box and water within reach and then I'm good to go until my husband comes home or we have dinner.

Ugh, like someone already said "my list goes on till it reaches the center of the Earth", i.e., it's realllly long.

So just a few out of many:
* I always wear the same outifts, I have one for staying at home and one for going to psychologists/psychiatrists/family. I cycle through about 4 different shirts and two pairs of trousers, usually wearing it for months on end. No one seems to notice this (no smell).
* I always shower/cleanse my body and then dry it in the exact same order.
* I've got many, many rituals, which I daily do in the exact same order. This covers most of the very long list.
* I check the same websites in the same order.
* I prepare and eat meals in exactly the same order every single time. I *always* use the same plate and cutlery and cup, never any other.

Instead of continuing this list forever I'd like to add instead what I believe is a general truth for ASD people:
I HATE change brought on by outside sources (others), but will be flexible and accepting when *I* initiated/came up with that change. The problem usually is that an outside change (even a friendly, innocent suggestion) is so sudden, and we need our time to evaluate it's impact properly. Since we must get that time somehow we lock up mentally and instinctively say NO! When YOU decide to make the change you'll have thought about the pro's and con's for a long time (maybe unconsciously)...
Right?

*I only switch between 1 pair of pants and about 5 regular shirts, although the shirts get washed, but the pants do not.
*I have a very strict and thorough shower routine that has to be followed everyday. I also apply deodorant and body lotion in a certain order; deodorant applied under left arm first, then right arm and is shaken 5 times throughout use. Lotion is applied to both arms, then legs; left before right on both occasions.
*I am a terrible cook, but when I make instant meals I follow the instructions, completely; when a water or milk is needed to be added, I measure the amount with a measuring jug. Also, with cups of tea and non-instant and instant hot chocolate, they are always made the same way.
*I have to use the same fork for every meal, although I do have a 'backup' fork, which I never intend to use. It's the same with the mugs I use for hot chocolate. People in my house know never to use them as do guests, however my sister does make an effort to wind me up by using my fork.

I watch the same movies over and over, sometimes on repeat on the same day, sometimes in cycles and always have one on repeat at night.

I eat similar foods every day

I wear the same type of clothing a lot, especially my favorite t-shirts.

I always wear socks in the house

I repeat . . . sadly. A movie has a catchy line and I repeat it or if someone says a catchy like i repeat it right after them

I get fixated on specific thoughts, too.

I stim, wake up and exit the room with the left foot first, eat the same thing at restaurants (chicken fingers/strips/nuggets with honey mustard or sweet-and-sour (if from McDonald's) and lemonaide or Sprite (or similar beverage)-no ice), constantly arranging and rearranging certain objects in my room, crack knuckles in a certain order beginning with the left index finger and ending in the right digitus minimus ("pinky"). There are others, I'm sure.

Oh, this should be fun. Let's see how many of yours I can relate to...


Yep.


I don't watch movies often, but I tend to watch the same few over and over again.


I have two options: gray and dark blue. I'll often wear the same pair for several days.


Yep.


Yep.


Yep.


Yep.

I also tend to eat similar foods most days (especially if I stay home). I'll repeat the same lines from movies/TV shows, or catch phrases from people I know. . I floss my teeth starting in the upper right, proceeding to the upper left, then lower left, then lower right. I listen to the same handful of songs from the same handful of musicians on my iPod on my commute.

Pretty much everything I do is repetitive.

- I have a morning routine that consists of washing my hair, putting on clothes and getting my hair fixed that usually takes about 45 mins, 1 full hour if I need to shower. All of course in a specific order.
- Working clothes are always lined up at the bathroom, in order to avoid stress in the mornings. Don't want to risk having to go to work without socks ..
- I usually prepare my lunch the night before so I don't have to go to stores etc. while at work (Anxiety related)
- Buss card always on it's "favorite place" ... right pocket on my jacket
- Back from work I change back to my ordinary "relaxed@home" clothes, which consists of Puma fleece pants and a t-shirt.

Other than that:
- Order same things when I'm at restaurants (Social anxiety much?)
- Overanalyze stuff I'm going to do.
- Regret saying stuff, and rethinking it afterwards (Like: "I should have said that", "that was awkward", "I should just kill myself")
- Chew gum after lunch, waiting for bus back home and after dinner.

That's roughly it

Meerkat: I call those my "fat clothes." Usually it's baggy sweat pant shorts (men's size!) and a floppy T-shirt. I'm not even really fat, just plump. But the fat clothes are not uncomfortable like work clothes are.

Got more of them (these are just a few examples):

- I always do the same things (and in the same order) before going to bed.
- I stim. Mostly rocking back and forth, moving my feet and/or toes back and forth when sitting down, pacing etc.
- I have certain bathroom rituals I do. For example, every time I brush my teeth I first put water on my toothbrush. Then I put toothpaste on the toothbrush. But before I can start brushing my teeth I need to (this is difficult to explain) put the toothbrush agains the tip of my tongue two or three times, depending on what feels right. So; water, tip of tongue, water, tip of tongue, water, tip of tongue, brush teeth.
- I always tie my left shoe before I tie the right one. Also, they have to feel even, same amount of pressure.
- When buying something (let's say I'm buying juice) I can't buy the first bottle of juice, the one closest to me. I have to take it out, grab the bottle behind it (which is the one I buy) and put back the first bottle.
- I over-think and over-analyse everything.
- I order the same things at restaurants.

EDIT: And apparently I like using parentheses.

Eating, drinking, working, sleeping, breathing, masturbating, paying bills. using the toilet. walking, etc.

Yes right! Well this is certainly true for me anyways.

My repetitive habits (related to both ASD and OCD- I have ASD diagnosis but OCD traits):

- stimming (twirling string and others)
- eating the same foods cooked the same way for dinner (usually) and breakfast
- watch the same shows while eating, eat in the same place
- go to the same web-sites in a certain order- sometimes look other things up-go to other sites after though- then always read my novels for the rest of the night
- listen to same few songs on repeat for a couple weeks or months then switch to other few songs
- when I love a book/ book series read the same books over and over again in a row (but this might be normal-I only do it with my favorites)
-wear same few shirts with same skirt over and over again-but don't really have a specific rotation for them - will wear a new shirt if I find one I like etc.
-OCD ritual for showering - with counting
-OCD ritual before I go to bed- with counting- don't want to explain this one

Speaking of counting; I always count steps when walking up and down stairs.

I do both of these.