Obsessive Compulsive Behavior

[MMM]

I thought it was interesting that there are noise machines in women's stalls so that people can't hear what's happening in there.

[sorasky]

I'm too OCD to even use a public restroom or school restrooms. xD
I usually won't even go in them. Haha. It's bad. I'm embarassed by how bad it is because I never used to be that way. Plus something tells me that waiting to go to the bathroom for 9 hours everyday because of school is not good for someone's health. O.O

[ozkai]

The "half" doors on the airport train urnials always felt rather exposing to me, but then again, we also had a mens urinal in the women's loo at the local SATY supermarket in Fushimi.

[Undertherose25]

Originally Posted by bELyVIS

The Japanese quest for perfection always made me think of OCD as a cultural trait in their society.

OCD is an extreme anxiety disorder not something someone can be taught. People with OCD have reoccurring obsessions and thoughts that they want to ward off so they have some sort of ritual they follow in order to keep these thoughts at bay. Don't say you have OCD unless you've been diagnosed, OCD is a VERY serious condition. Just because you like to keep things tidy doesn't mean you're OCD it means you are a protectionist or anal and avoiding public restrooms is more of a Germ Phobia than a disorder.

I would more consider them to have a small degree of Germ phobia, since fears are usually taught and you aren't born with them. Or it's a behavior they've been taught since they were young and it's just part of life.

And it doesn't seem all that unusual to me, mostly everyone does that here....

I usually cover the toilet seat, use my foot to flush, hands to turn on the water, use my elbow to get paper towel, use same paper to turn the water off and then use my elbow to open the door. I used to avoid public restrooms at all costs but due to a medical condition I have no choice but to go when my body tells me too.

[sorasky]

Originally Posted by MMM

I thought it was interesting that there are noise machines in women's stalls so that people can't hear what's happening in there.

Really? That is interesting. I can see why though. Some people will not use a restroom when they know people can hear. It sounds like a good idea to me though. Haha.

[MMM]

It seems like to me germ-phobia and OCD is more common in the US than in Japan.

[Undertherose25]

Originally Posted by MMM

It seems like to me germ-phobia and OCD is more common in the US than in Japan.

It does seem that way doesn't it? I think it [like ADD/ADHD and Bipolar Disorder] is over diagnosed.

Its not fun having OCD, it consumes your life and sucks you into a never ending battle. If it's bad enough surgeons will preform a Lobotomy as a last resort...and if you know Psychology then you know that's not good.

But yes, back on topic. I noticed that since the MRSA outbreak that people have been pretty careful and since N1H1 broke out everyone's panicking and buying Germ X and taking extra care not to touch too many things.

I think that the whole Japanese thing is just a learned hygienic behavior however, not a disorder of any kind.

[IamKira]

haven't been diagnosed, but ... along with having to use the bathroom in such a manor,

when I eat a meal none of the food can touch another type of food unless it was cooked into the dish.. (i.e. peas cannot touch mashed potatoes).. otherwise I have to use my fork to pick the food apart.. when this is finally over with I can then start eating...
however, before my meal begins my ocd dropps in..
before a meal I have to align the edge of the plate with the edge of the table and put my cup (touching the edge of my plate) at a 45 degree angle from an imaginary line that runs perpendicular to the table through my plate... also, I have to have my fork on the right side of my plate, perpendicular to the edge of the table, touching my plate.. the same for the knife, but on the other side.. then the napkin needs to be squared off with my knife and the table edge as perfectly as is possible...
then I adjust the remotes so the first remote touches the corner of the table and runs about 33 degrees to the line the edge of the table right in front of me makes...
once these parameters are met I can eat and it doesn't seem to matter after I start where things are... just at the beginning..

It's odd because my room can be a total mess...

[sorasky]

Originally Posted by Undertherose25

OCD is an extreme anxiety disorder not something someone can be taught. People with OCD have reoccurring obsessions and thoughts that they want to ward off so they have some sort of ritual they follow in order to keep these thoughts at bay. Don't say you have OCD unless you've been diagnosed, OCD is a VERY serious condition. Just because you like to keep things tidy doesn't mean you're OCD it means you are a protectionist or anal and avoiding public restrooms is more of a Germ Phobia than a disorder.

It's true, OCD can't be taught. However I have been diagnosed with a mild case of OCD. I don't wash my hands 1,000 times a day or anything extreme like some, but I do things like washing my hands and touching certain things repeatedly to reduce anxiety. You don't necessarly do 'rituals' to ward off thoughts, but to reduce stress and anxiety as a whole. Also, some people do rituals because they feel that if they do the same thing everyday and everything is exactly the same, nothing bad will happen, like death, illness, etc. But these tend to be more extreme cases. OCD has different forms and extremes. I just wanted to clear up my statement that I said I was too 'OCD' to go to a public restroom. I mean it is a phobia of germs too, however germs can cause stress, which would start compulsive behavior like washing my hands repeatedly. That's why I avoid public restrooms in general.
Also, I wouldn't say OCD is a serious condition in my opinion unless it's severe, as in it interferes with your daily routine drastically to a point where you have no control. Plus people can actually reduce or completely eliminate obsessive behaviors from therapy or medictation. I've been doing better ever since I started taking anxiety medication, so I guess that's why I feel it's not that bad. To me, it's just severe cases or OCPD that are serious.

[IcewindDude]

I know the paper towel thing is common in America. That's the reason you'll see a garbage can not only by the paper towels (right next to the hand blower), but you will find another garbage right next to the exit.

I personally don't care about it as much and I will simply contact the door handle as little as possible without inconveniencing myself, but still with my bare hand. I hardly ever get sick. This is something for those who are paranoid or who have been made paranoid by too much provoking news trying to make an easy headline (H1N1 virus anyone?). Trust me on this one, the restroom most likely the least place you should be worried about catching a bad virus. You cannot protect your hands from everything aside from wearing latex gloves. Just wash before you eat and, if you really don't want to get sick, don't go into crowded areas.

In any case, Japan is the only country I've seen people commonly wear face masks out in public... I'm not sure whether it's when they are sick or they are worried about becoming sick, but that's something I'll probably never see in America.

Another thing is, and I know some old timers in America say this too, is that in Japan, I hear way too much about catching a cold from being cold or wet... I think most of this know that this is an old myth by now.