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Coin Collecting & OCD

I recently read an article about OCD on webmd.com and can't help but think that most coin collectors I know fit the description either a little or a lot.....


Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a type of anxiety disorder, is a potentially disabling illness that traps people in endless cycles of repetitive thoughts and behaviors. People with OCD are plagued by recurring and distressing thoughts, fears or images (obsessions) that they cannot control. The anxiety (nervousness) produced by these thoughts leads to an urgent need to perform certain rituals or routines (compulsions). The compulsive rituals are performed in an attempt to prevent the obsessive thoughts or make them go away.

Although the ritual may make the anxiety go away temporarily, the person must perform the ritual again when the obsessive thoughts return. This OCD cycle can progress to the point of taking up hours of the person's day and significantly interfering with normal activities. People with OCD may be aware that their obsessions and compulsions are senseless or unrealistic, but they cannot stop themselves.

What Are the Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

The symptoms of OCD, which are the obsessions and compulsions, may vary. Common obsessions include:

Fear of dirt or contamination by germs.
Fear of causing harm to another.
Fear of making a mistake.
Fear of being embarrassed or behaving in a socially unacceptable manner.
Fear of thinking evil or sinful thoughts.
Need for order, symmetry or exactness.
Excessive doubt and the need for constant reassurance.

Common compulsions include:

Repeatedly bathing, showering or washing hands.
Refusing to shake hands or touch doorknobs.
Repeatedly checking things, such as locks or stoves.
Constant counting, mentally or aloud, while performing routine tasks.
Constantly arranging things in a certain way.
Eating foods in a specific order.
Being stuck on words, images or thoughts, usually disturbing, that won't go away and can interfere with sleep.
Repeating specific words, phrases or prayers.
Needing to perform tasks a certain number of times.
Collecting or hoarding items with no apparent value.

Comments

  • Hi...my name is Shawn...and I am a coin-a-holic and a card carrying member of OCD! (Better to admit than to fake it!) image


    edited to say also...I fit MANY of those other statements as well!
  • I have a mild case of OCD

    Eating foods in a specific order. That's me. If I'm having lunch, say I'm having an apple, a ham sandwich, and a handful of pretzels. I have to eat the pretzels first, then the apple, then the sandwich. I always save the sandwich for last, eat the saltier thing first, and the apple is second.

    Collecting or hoarding items with no apparent value. Everyone else think that silver dollar is worth $1! image
    image
    To support LordM's European Trip, click here!
  • RWBRWB Posts: 8,082
    Normal people possess the same attributes as those with mental disorders. The differences are in intensity, frequency and control. Few collectors of coins or anything else fit into standard obsessive-compulsive disorder definitions. Not even your 10-year old pile of auction catalogs qualifies – now if you insisted on keeping all the paper napkins from fast food restaurants…hmmm….lie back on zee comfy couch und tell zee profezzor about your kinderhood.
  • MrSpudMrSpud Posts: 4,499 ✭✭✭
    But when we run out of TP, those napkins really come in handy image


  • << <i>Normal people possess the same attributes as those with mental disorders. The differences are in intensity, frequency and control. Few collectors of coins or anything else fit into standard obsessive-compulsive disorder definitions. Not even your 10-year old pile of auction catalogs qualifies – now if you insisted on keeping all the paper napkins from fast food restaurants…hmmm….lie back on zee comfy couch und tell zee profezzor about your kinderhood. >>



    Does this include napkins from Taco Bell?
    "College men from LSU- went in dumb, come out dumb too..."
    -Randy Newmanimage
  • pontiacinfpontiacinf Posts: 8,915 ✭✭


    << <i>I recently read an article about OCD on webmd.com and can't help but think that most coin collectors I know fit the description either a little or a lot.....


    Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a type of anxiety disorder, is a potentially disabling illness that traps people in endless cycles of repetitive thoughts and behaviors. People with OCD are plagued by recurring and distressing thoughts, fears or images (obsessions) that they cannot control. The anxiety (nervousness) produced by these thoughts leads to an urgent need to perform certain rituals or routines (compulsions). The compulsive rituals are performed in an attempt to prevent the obsessive thoughts or make them go away.

    Although the ritual may make the anxiety go away temporarily, the person must perform the ritual again when the obsessive thoughts return. This OCD cycle can progress to the point of taking up hours of the person's day and significantly interfering with normal activities. People with OCD may be aware that their obsessions and compulsions are senseless or unrealistic, but they cannot stop themselves.

    What Are the Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

    The symptoms of OCD, which are the obsessions and compulsions, may vary. Common obsessions include:

    Fear of dirt or contamination by germs.
    Fear of causing harm to another.
    Fear of making a mistake.
    Fear of being embarrassed or behaving in a socially unacceptable manner.
    Fear of thinking evil or sinful thoughts.
    Need for order, symmetry or exactness.
    Excessive doubt and the need for constant reassurance.

    Common compulsions include:

    Repeatedly bathing, showering or washing hands.
    Refusing to shake hands or touch doorknobs.
    Repeatedly checking things, such as locks or stoves.
    Constant counting, mentally or aloud, while performing routine tasks.
    Constantly arranging things in a certain way.
    Eating foods in a specific order.
    Being stuck on words, images or thoughts, usually disturbing, that won't go away and can interfere with sleep.
    Repeating specific words, phrases or prayers.
    Needing to perform tasks a certain number of times.
    Collecting or hoarding items with no apparent value. >>



    and here all along I thought it was the crackimage



















































    oh geesh it was a jokeimage
    image

    Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
  • DoubleEagle59DoubleEagle59 Posts: 8,342 ✭✭✭✭✭
    seemyauction

    I know a lot of coin collectors and I think you are way off base here.

    I know you mean well, but I disagree with you.
    "Gold is money, and nothing else" (JP Morgan, 1912)

    "“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)

    "I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,353 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The US Mint had an interesting commercial on coin collectors a while back...
  • Looks like I am OK. I only shower once a month.
  • NumisOxideNumisOxide Posts: 10,997 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Guiltyimage, I'm serious!image


  • << <i>Looks like I am OK. I only shower once a month. >>

    Yikes! image
    aka Dan
  • rec78rec78 Posts: 5,747 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Collecting or hoarding items with no apparent value

    All coins have apparent and real value.

    I would say that collectors of used stamps from their daily mail, fit this description more than coin collectors.
    image
  • DUIGUYDUIGUY Posts: 7,252 ✭✭✭
    Left one compulsion out. image
    “A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly."



    - Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I had a major Fear of lil people.... but tossing them in the OCD workshop curred me! image

    image
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • I have OCD, It's not exactly a secret. This one would fall under "need for order, symmetry or exactness".......

    image
  • JeremyDie1JeremyDie1 Posts: 2,383 ✭✭✭
    I may have OCD. Its snowing here in Chicago. I have hand shoveled my driveway eight times today/tonight. Gotta go because I see fresh new snow again on the driveway.
  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Tyler1924S, Some of your stickers and staples are crooked image
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • tahoe98tahoe98 Posts: 11,388 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Normal people possess the same attributes as those with mental disorders. The differences are in intensity, frequency and control. Few collectors of coins or anything else fit into standard obsessive-compulsive disorder definitions. Not even your 10-year old pile of auction catalogs qualifies – now if you insisted on keeping all the paper napkins from fast food restaurants…hmmm….lie back on zee comfy couch und tell zee profezzor about your kinderhood. >>



    image
    "government is not reason, it is not eloquence-it is a force! like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master; never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." George Washington

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