I have a question. Is excessive note taking an OCD thing? Like if I have to outline a chapter I leave nothing out. Sometimes my outline is more pages than the chapter. Also I heard that constantly using new materials is an OCD thing. Like always starting new notebooks, getting new pens, restarting imperfect flash cards, etc. I never really struggle with perfectionism but maybe I do on a mild or moderate level. It does affect my functioning a little bit in terms of things taking forever to do but it’s not severe mental distress.

Can anyone tell me if this is OCD or not: sometimes I get obsessed with like a “plan” or an “idea” and just can’t stop thinking about it. It can be anything totally random. Yesterday at the store I saw a loaf of tiny bread. I really wanna get it and other stuff to make tiny little sandwiches. I literally couldn’t sleep last night because all I can think about is making these tiny sandwiches??? I had to get up and tell my partner about it. Still thinking about it today. Told everyone at work today. There is some anxiety around it because I feel like I NEED to go through with the plan or the idea or whatever, but it’s not fear based at all. Is that part of my OCD or is it something else?

I am always thinking about my past. I keep notes of every single detail. I keep calendar. I always try to have a clear image of everything from the last days, months, years. I am overthinking all the time and this ruins my life. If i lose control of what happened the last days my mind somehow dont function and i get really depressed. Is this ocd? Anybody else with same problem?

Hello, I’m new here. I don’t have a formal diagnosis, just sharing my experiences with my obsessive thoughts. The only compulsion I really have is note taking. I feel the need to hoard most of my thoughts and write extensive to do lists, even scolding myself in notes like “be better!” or “STOP being the way you are.” When driving or unavailable to write things down, I have to repeat the thoughts in my head so I won’t forget until I can “save” them. Does anyone else have any experience with this fear of forgetting/not living the perfect life? My notes also revolve around anything someone might causally mention, taking turmeric for example. Will I ever incorporate that into my routine? No, but I write it down just in case because otherwise I’m convinced I won‘t live a healthy, fulfilling life. This all started when I lost a relative and also my house. I wonder if those losses made me subconsciously afraid to lose more? I don’t know. On the bright side, my current medication has been helping my depression. I am able to function and get out of bed, for the most part. But when I am in class or work, I have such crippling self doubt. I don’t feel like I am capable of anything. I don’t trust myself with any tasks. It really gets me down, my thoughts just spiral and I can’t see myself being able to hold down a job that involves working with people…that leads to more note taking of how I can improve. I get such anxiety if I don’t know every little thing there is to know, necessary or not. I get so caught up in it that I can’t even do the bare minimum I DO know without messing up. Even my class notes are full of irrelevant notes from my obsessive thoughts that appear during a lesson, and a girl that sits near me laughs because of how crazy my notebook looks.