I did that for YEARS! Luckily my number was 3, which is quite small so easier to deal with. The only way I stopped was when I was medicated. However, sometimes if I'm stressed or upset, I find myself counting to calm myself.

i do everything i 4's. i cannot stop and i get headaches constantly from not being able to stop my mind from doing this.

i repeat things like washing my hands so i actually count to stop washing...my therapist suggested that so i could leave the sink faster...when u count or repeat things she suggested to actually visualize a huge stop sign in your mind and to say stop. also just to remind yourself that nothing will happen if you dont count, remind yourself that there is no concicuence. the main goal, she told me was to replace the obsession or compulsion with something different and positive. i hope this helps...good luck and keep trying because it will go away : )

Stop sign.. I like this idea. It's a lot better than the method I've been using. I've just been yelling "dammit, stop that!" at myself. lol

i count, and i dont have a set number. there are certain numbers, such as 4, 8, 11, and 15, that i count to, but it just depends on whatever number feels right at the moment.

# 4 for me. I generally go up to 12 in multiples of 4 and if it doesn't feel right I keep going to 2 x 12. If I get overwhelmed I literally shake my head to stop.

I just count everything, people in the room, if there is patterened wallpaper I find something to count- I try to get to even numbers. I do it so much when I try to stop myself i get extremely anxious and it is better if I don't think about it or give it any attention. I have kind of just accepted it. The stop sign thing sounds good though-

Hello, I am new here...I wanted to explain my situation, see if anyone had any ideas on how to control it. I only have my problem at night while I am going to bed trying to sleep. If I have a digital clock in the room (that i can see) I will count the clock (for instance a 1 will have 2 strokes, a 2 has 5 strokes, and it always has to end on a down stroke so if there is 11:11 it would be 2 down 2 up, 2 down 2 up and since it is on an up, I would add in the 2 dots in between) (not sure if that is making sense. Another thing I count is my leg shakes, so I will move my leg 1000 times, in groups of 10 and then go to the second leg. I will also trace names so for instance my name is Amy so it would be up and down the A, and then up and down the M, and then up the Y. My husband will see me writing things with my hands even when I am watching a tv show, for instance the title (and like the counting it always has to end on a down stroke, if not then I have to start again). A new thing that I have started is singing songs in my head but counting the words on my hands for instance Jingle Bells Jingle bells Jingle all the way would be (starting on the thumb would end on the thumb, but I need it to end on the pinky so it would start over until i could figure out where to start the song that would end where it needs to be) I have tried to talk to my doctor, who doesnt think that this is a problem, says it isnt affecting my life (but it is because I cannot sleep) I am on effexor and trazadone for sleep but my brain still wont shut off...I NEED HELP!!

I do the exact same thing with either the number 7 or the number 4...usually just to avoid the number between 5 and 7. So frustrating!