The kid who sat behind me in high school chemistry class most likely had obsessive compulsive disorder, more commonly called OCD.
I say this because whenever he was asked a question, he had to rap on his desk four times before he could answer. His actions were accepted because he was a bit of a class clown and people thought he was trying to be funny.
I knew better because I had an uncle who couldn’t enter a room without touching the door knob three times and then taking two steps back beforehand.
He was such a kind man, and an incredibly talented artist. Our family chalked it up to “artistic temperament,” and didn’t really pay attention to his quirks. We were just happy to be in the same room with him.
Back then, not much was known about obsessive compulsive disorder, so treatment was not considered. I, myself, have a milder case of OCD. I will count anything and everything when I’m stressed. Ceiling tiles, steps, people wearing the color red… it can be exhausting, but I recognize my brain is trying to compensate for whatever stressful situation is on hand. Researchers are currently trying to determine if there is genetic component to OCD–which wouldn’t surprise me.
People with OCD often have facial tics and sometimes develop Tourette Syndrome, as this article discusses.
Tourette is another type of Tic Disorder causing involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations.
Fortunately, various treatments have been proven effective in treating OCD symptoms. The International OCD Foundation provides a wealth of information and resources if you, or someone you love, is struggling with this disorder.
