Q of the Day: Do You Have Any Compulsive Behaviors?
By DB
@dgobucks226 (36577)
June 6, 2025 7:39pm CST
Are you just compelled to do certain things. Like someone who gossips for example, unable to keep a secret. Or perhaps your obsessive about something. I'm compulsive about always knowing where my keys, wallet, and cell phone are located. If I misplace them, I get agitated and anxious.
What things are you compulsive/obsessive about or do you know someone with a compulsive behavior? When are compulsions harmful? Is having a compulsion or obsession always a negative thing?
10 people like this
9 responses
@kareng (75283)
• United States
11 Jun
@dgobucks226 I have known a few with the excessive hand washing!
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (36577)
•
12 Jun
@kareng Yes, since Covid I've not only washed my hands more, but have become keeping a bottle of hand sanitizer nearby to use throughout the day. 
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (36577)
•
10 Jun
That would also annoy me! Having things arranged in a certain way is a compulsion of mine. If it is disturbed it really gets to me.
How can compulsions be harmful:
-Some examples of compulsions that can be harmful are obsessive gambling (financial hardships), hoarding (social isolation), and eating (obesity/health).
Can having an obsession be Positive:
-Obsession is not always a bad thing. A person who wants to the best in their field can be seen positively, striving to work hard and be committed to success might be considered an admirable trait.
Other examples of compulsive behaviors:
-Hand washing repeatedly for fear of germs
-Exercising constantly to maintain or lose weight
3 people like this
@Ineeddentures (4361)
•
7 Jun
Oh dear you sound just like me with regard to keys,wallet and cell phone.
I get agitated too if I lose or mislay them or just forget where any of the 3 are.
Miles per gallon on my bikes
Really a bit OCD about that and it annoys my wife
I spent a long time earlier wondering why my yellow bike only delivered 115mpg the last trips.
Wind conditions, top box load, average speed, etc etc.
So next time it has to do better so I drive slower.
Optimum speed is 45mph lol at 5500 rpm
See what I mean
And I have 3.bikes
3 people like this
@dgobucks226 (36577)
•
10 Jun
Well, most of us have something which we obsess about. Gas mileage is one I had not thought about but a realistic concern for sure. Good one 
How can compulsions be harmful:
-Some examples of compulsions that can be harmful are obsessive gambling (financial hardships), hoarding (social isolation), and eating (obesity/health).
Can having an obsession be Positive:
-Obsession is not always a bad thing. A person who wants to the best in their field can be seen positively, striving to work hard and be committed to success might be considered an admirable trait.
Other examples of compulsive behaviors:
-Shopping- buying things you don't need
-Hand washing repeatedly for fear of germs
How can compulsions be harmful:
-Some examples of compulsions that can be harmful are obsessive gambling (financial hardships), hoarding (social isolation), and eating (obesity/health).
Can having an obsession be Positive:
-Obsession is not always a bad thing. A person who wants to the best in their field can be seen positively, striving to work hard and be committed to success might be considered an admirable trait.
Other examples of compulsive behaviors:
-Shopping- buying things you don't need
-Hand washing repeatedly for fear of germs2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (4361)
•
10 Jun
@dgobucks226
Eating is me.
But somehow it's never done me anyharm
I have posted 3.examples of." my eating" in the last few days.
I should be fat, no doubt about it.
But at 64 years old my eating habits won't change.
See during COVID pandemic.
I washed my hands 100 times per day lol
That was compulsive but many felt justified doing the same
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (36577)
•
11 Jun
@Ineeddentures Perhaps genetics has played a role in a body type that does not gain weight. And I agree, it is hard to change eating habits once they have been established over time.
Ah yes, hand washing and Covid. I am an avid handwasher since the pandemic. Not only soap and water, but hand sanitizer close by in case I missed a spot, or need to reapply, lol.
2 people like this
@allknowing (147360)
• India
11 Jun
Looks like it I have I cannot rest until whatever is pending gets done
2 people like this
@allknowing (147360)
• India
12 Jun
@dgobucks226 I would say nothing is good about compulsive behaviour even striving to be at the top
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (36577)
•
12 Jun
Oh yes, I am a victim of that too. Sometimes I get so focused on one thing that I lose sight of the other things I need to do. I often wonder if it would be much better to take a time out and return to it later.
How can compulsions be harmful:
-Some examples of compulsions that can be harmful are obsessive gambling (financial hardships), hoarding (social isolation), and eating (obesity/health).
Can having an obsession be Positive:
-Obsession is not always a bad thing. A person who wants to the best in their field can be seen positively, striving to work hard and be committed to success might be considered an admirable trait.
Other examples of compulsive behaviors:
-Shopping- buying things you don't need
-Obsession with the internet or cell phone
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (476333)
• Italy
11 Jun
@dgobucks226 - I used to check the gas over and over to be sure it was turned off during night. I stopped in the recent years.
Wanting to excel in your field is not always positive, some people become so obsessed that they do not have a life anymore.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (36577)
•
12 Jun
@LadyDuck That's a different one (gas). Better safe than sorry.
Yes, it is possible one can overwork. but I think many admire a person's commitment to working hard rather than being lazy or going through the motions on the job. But point well taken!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36577)
•
10 Jun
How can compulsions be harmful:
-Some examples of compulsions that can be harmful are obsessive gambling (financial hardships), hoarding (social isolation), and eating (obesity/health).
Can having an obsession be Positive:
-Obsession is not always a bad thing. A person who wants to the best in their field can be seen positively, striving to work hard and be committed to success might be considered an admirable trait.
Other examples of compulsive behaviors:
-Shopping- buying things you don't need
-Checking doors over and over to make sure their locked (I've done that one occasionally)2 people like this
@LindaOHio (191211)
• United States
7 Jun
I worry about my purse. Many times I have dreams that it's stolen. I also like things "just so".
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (191211)
• United States
11 Jun
@dgobucks226 Interesting. I always did well in my career because I was a perfectionist and wouldn't settle with making mistakes. This is also a bad thing because you're never really satisfied with what you did.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (36577)
•
10 Jun
I'm the same about having my items organized a certain way.
How can compulsions be harmful:
-Some examples of compulsions that can be harmful are obsessive gambling (financial hardships), hoarding (social isolation), and eating (obesity/health).
Can having an obsession be Positive:
-Obsession is not always a bad thing. A person who wants to the best in their field can be seen positively, striving to work hard and be committed to success might be considered an admirable trait.
Other examples of compulsive behaviors:
-Shopping- buying things you don't need
-Hand washing repeatedly for fear of germs
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (36577)
•
10 Jun
Yes, I can relate to that!
How can compulsions be harmful
-Some examples of compulsions that can be harmful are obsessive gambling (financial hardships), hoarding (social isolation), and eating (obesity/health).
Can having an obsession be Positive:
-Obsession is not always a bad thing. A person who wants to the best in their field can be seen positively, striving to work hard and be committed to success might be considered an admirable trait.
Other examples of compulsive behaviors:
-Shopping- buying things you don't need
-Having things arranged in a certain way
2 people like this
@grenery8 (17557)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
17h
@dgobucks226 i liked having an arranged school desk as a primary school child, not sure why yes, obsession can be positive too if we accomplish a goal we wanted to
yes, obsession can be positive too if we accomplish a goal we wanted to
@dgobucks226 (36577)
•
10 Jun
That's a good example.
How can compulsions be harmful:
-Some examples of compulsions that can be harmful are obsessive gambling (financial hardships), hoarding (social isolation), and eating (obesity/health).
Can having an obsession be Positive:
-Obsession is not always a bad thing. A person who wants to the best in their field can be seen positively, striving to work hard and be committed to success might be considered an admirable trait.
Other examples of compulsive behaviors:
-Checking doors over and over to make sure their locked
-Having things arranged in a certain way
How can compulsions be harmful:
-Some examples of compulsions that can be harmful are obsessive gambling (financial hardships), hoarding (social isolation), and eating (obesity/health).
Can having an obsession be Positive:
-Obsession is not always a bad thing. A person who wants to the best in their field can be seen positively, striving to work hard and be committed to success might be considered an admirable trait.
Other examples of compulsive behaviors:
-Checking doors over and over to make sure their locked
-Having things arranged in a certain way2 people like this
@Jenaisle (14678)
• Philippines
11 Jun
@dgobucks226 My compulsion on other things is not that obsessive. It fluctuates every now and then.
2 people like this
@innertalks (22864)
• Australia
12 Jun
I am a bit wary about compulsive behaviours, as they could turn to compulsive obsessive behaviour, which can be a problem, as it was for my father, who had to go around with a pen, and paper, to check if all windows were closed, and all doors locked, whenever he went outside, and then he even went further, and got my mother to sign his paper, to ensure it was seconded as being checked. He didn't even trust himself!
Some compulsion can serve us in some ways, as you noted, but we should always examine such a behaviour to see if it is really serving us, or if we are just pretending to ourselves that it is doing so.
I use to collect books somewhat compulsively, thinking that I could learn something from everyone, but, then after many years of doing this, I looked at my books, realised I had not really read them much at all, and they were just dust gatherers, so I got rid of most of them, with a rather painful culling of them.
I should have focused myself better, instead of collecting in every area, from Tarot, to better handwriting techniques.
I thought that I could be a jack of all trades, know something about nearly everything. I just caused myself an overwhelm problem.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (22864)
• Australia
13 Jun
@dgobucks226 Yes, the more luggage we carry, the more it weighs us down. We should only get what we need, without the extra paddings.
@dgobucks226 (36577)
•
12 Jun
Very interesting compulsion (books). Sometimes less can be more and allow us to focus on what's really important to having a life fulfilled.
1 person likes this
@Babale (1869)
• Semarang, Indonesia
7 Jun
Sometimes I also experience strange things like that. Often feel like I've lost my own things like my wallet, motorcycle keys or glasses. Even though I'm sure it's in my room. Searched all over the house but couldn't find it. But some time later, the item was already on the bed. Do I have amnesia or is it the work of a mischievous ghost in my room? I don't know.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (36577)
•
10 Jun
Yes, it's a strange feeling that can dominate your thoughts until you check on it. Guess it's the subconscious at work.
Probably there all along just escaped your eyesight. That happens to me more often than I like!
How can compulsions be harmful:
-Some examples of compulsions that can be harmful are obsessive gambling (financial hardships), hoarding (social isolation), and eating (obesity/health).
Can having an obsession be Positive:
-Obsession is not always a bad thing. A person who wants to the best in their field can be seen positively, striving to work hard and be committed to success might be considered an admirable trait.
Other examples of compulsive behaviors:
-Checking doors over and over to make sure their locked
-Having things arranged in a certain way
2 people like this
