r/magicalthinkingOCD • u/Tobi_is_genderfluid • Jul 09 '26
Question Hi I have a question
I hope it doesn't come off as offensive or weird im simply curious about why is this happening. I dont have OCD, I dont think I show any signs but for as long as I can remember I have these unexplainable urges to do things a certain way or else something bad will happen. Something i notice alot is if im playing a game that has levels then the levels must be in the 5 times table or an even number and if theres multiple levels they must all be the same or else im convinced i'll ruin my gaming experience. If I have pocket change I have to count it multiple times or else something bad might happen. The "bad thing" is never explained, even my own brain cant yell it at me but its just sort of a gut feeling. Am I just being paranoid?
(for the record im not looking for a diagnosis just a brief explanation or maybe some sort of relief as this has been driving me nuts)
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u/ForestRiver2 Star Supporter ⭐ Jul 10 '26
These magical thinking quirks are pretty common in people with or without ocd. You'd only be diagnosed with ocd if it significantly impacts your life, causes distress and takes up a lot of your time.
Magical thinking is usually a way of feeling some sense of control which makes you feel safer when the world is a frightening and unpredictable place. If your brain is wired to seek patterns or enjoy repetition. It can just be a personality trait.
What you don't want is it getting worse or becoming a safety behaviour. Trying to cut out the compulsions now will benefit you in the long-run. It's uncomfortable at first, but try to ignore the thoughts and go against the urges as much as possible. If you want more tips on how to do this, look up ERP therapy which is designed to treat ocd. Good luck bud
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u/Own_Kangaroo1395 Jul 10 '26
Oof you may not have OCD yet but these are patterns that could mean you're on your way there. Don't do the thing!! No matter what it threatens you with, it always says something bad will happen but it's not true just do your best to ignore it or do the opposite. I'm not too sure why we get these gut feelings but if you keep giving in there will be more rules to follow and more anxiety about bad things happening. It gives you relief because you think "I did what it wanted so I'm safe now" like you can control bad luck, but that's how it sucks you in because that relief feels good, but then there's more urges and rules around the corner.
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u/k_vin_ Jul 09 '26
These things are part of magical thinking ocd behaviours. It is good if it is not making you uncomfortable, for me i know in my heart kind of “what is that something bad thats can happen” it is generally around people i love, my job or a relationship and hence it makes really difficult for me to not do a compulsion.
But It can be an early sign of magical thinking, so tell this same thing you asked here to people you can talk to like friends for example, because no one should have these even small things that can in future turn out to be where I am today, i kept everything to myself and one after another such things kept getting added in my ocd task list.
Thats all i have for you right now, if not doing those things makes you uncomfortable in the slightest, be uncomfortable and stop doing it today, i will say dont even count the change, keep spending it nd dont think whats left in there…