Odd Habits

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What are your odd habits (e.g. Rituals before bed)?

A big one of mine happens before I go to bed, and it's organizing my things on my nightstand. I have a designated area for my iPod, phone, glasses, wallet, watch, contacts, and video camera. I always feel very weird if these items aren't in their respective places, like something's wrong.

I blow in every glass or bowl I take out of the cupboard before using it....I'm always afraid of finding a stray hair in the bottom.
I have a shower ritual. I always wash everything in the same order.
Same for me with the bedtime ritual. Feed fish, set alarm clock, bathroom, get in bed, take pills, turn light off.
I also need to have certain objects in their proper place. I don't know how to describe it, but it bothers me when some things are just strewn about with no order to them. If I throw a shirt on the floor, it cannot just be thrown on the floor. It has to be bundled up and stuffed away somewhere. I don't like things loosely scattered about (books, papers, clothing, garbage).

I carry out various hygiene tasks in certain orders. When I wash dishes, I rinse out cups five times after I wash them. Not four. Not six. Five. On my walk home from the bus stop, I listen to the same songs in the same order almost every time; I'll speed up or slow down my pace so that the individual songs start playing at the right points in my walk.

I'm sure I have plenty of others, but those are the ones that come to mind right now.

I always take a bath after I take a shower. I also like to inspect a cup or glass before drinking from it in order to keep myself from ingesting contaminants. Other than laying in bed with a laptop for hours before I go to bed, I can't really think of any other dysfunctional rituals I use right now. I do put certain things on my night stand every night, but there is no specific order to it. It's done so I can find them in the morning and not out of compulsion.

Last edited by outofplace on 28 Jul 2012, 4:03 am, edited 1 time in total.

I'm usually pretty disorganized, but when I get really anxious or upset I'll go around and line things up(papers, books, potholders, anything) so corners, lines, and patterns match. I used to have a small assortment of rocks that I would move around and try to get arranged in some 'perfect' order and spacing when stressed. But, there still is no real organization to it, I think it's just some stim I have when stressed. It relaxes me while I'm doing it.

Haha I thought I was the only one who did this!

I usually have to have that one last cigarette of the night. I don't smoke inside, so if I'm not certain when I'm actually going to sleep, there may be several trips outside to smoke.

This may not actually be AS related, more tobacco addiction related.

My family used to give me odd looks until I told them the reason behind it

Rituals:
1) Take my night shower (2-3 showers a day; morning=hot, 2nd=cold, 3=hot-if taken)
2) Change into "night clothes."
3) Eat/drink
4) Check all windows/doors to ensure security
5) Teeth
6) Listen to music
7) Stim until I'm out

Habits:
Blow out each end of straw (if using one)
Wash out cups and wipe rim, even if already clean.
My various stims
Cracking knuckles

(There's far more, I just can't think of all of them at the moment)

After I shower and wash my hair, I have to sit at comb my hair until all the loose ones stop coming out. As I stated on another post, I can't stand the sight of loose hairs on my shirt, floor or anywhere but on my head. So when I comb my hair after a shower, I collect all the ones that come out on a paper towel and then throw it away.

I thought I was the only one!

I'm usually up late writing and drinking beer. When I've had my fill I take my pills, put on my rainfall CD, then go to sleep. Another day is done.

redrobin...that scenario just sounds so... lovely and perfect. I love it.

If I don't follow exactly the same pattern every time I take a shower, I'm in there for a minimum of 30 minutes and I still forget things like washing my feet or rinsing the conditioner out of my hair. The rigid ritual has a purpose; I have next to nil executive function.

Seriously, I do the exact same thing. If I do my feet before my arms or something, I'll come out with shampoo still in my hair. I'm in there for over thirty minutes even if I go in order.

I never considered the possibility that I do it so I don't forget something. I guess I have this routine just because I like it. Routine isn't a huge issue for me, but some things just have to be done in order, you know? Same with the bedtime routine and my morning routine during the school year (when I actually care about my appearance).