Does anyone out there obsess over a letter of the alphabet. For the past seven months I have had this bizzarre obsession w/ the letter "i". I find myself listening for words w/ "i" in conversation, music, movies, t.v. etc. I also imagine the letter in my "mind's eye" whenever a sIren goes off, or an aIrplane flies overhead. It's really been driving me crazy. I feel really alone w/ this one 'cause I haven't heard from anyone else who does this type of thing. HELP!?

Your obsession is not unique. Even tho you haven't seen this one on-line, yet, it's similar to many that have been addressed. An obsession is an obsession and harmless. Work the program. Follow the workbook. (Do you have the program?) Plus there are great books out there to help you through this to overcome it. Stop Obsessing by Wilson and Foa. Freedom from Fear by Dr. Howard Liebgold. Imp of the Mind by Lee Baer to name a few.

You can heal from this.

I have an obsession with counting; especially clock counting, like the time it is now and how many hours it will be for say, 6 am when I'm supposed to get up. I'll figure it out rather quickly, but can't stop doing it over and over again in my brain! Then I obsessively do variations; well, what about 8am? add 2 hours. pretty easy but my brain keeps on keeping on and then I can't get to sleep. So then I do it again with less time til the proverbial 6am... etc. UUUGH!

There are two ways to handle the obsessive counting: Number one is to give it a name. Counting Carol is good for now. You pick a name. Give Counting Carol a form. (This is from the Shadow Processing course in San Diego.) What does she (or he) look like? When you begin to count and get obsessive about it, say: "Hi Carol. I've been expecting you. You are welcome here." (Very often when you acknowledge "her" the counting stops or will become minimal and you are able to let it go completely. You are no longer fighting/resisting its presence. You've made counting OK. It's amazing what practicing acceptance can do.)

Another way is to resist counting all together and feel the discomfort that comes with that new behavior. Use your tools. Breathe into the feelings that will come along. You will feel tension. You will feel some anxiety for a time while you are moving through this.

You can also allow yourself to count and figure out things numerically for five minutes. Then you are done. YOu can allow it twice a day if necessary. When counting starts you tell it no. It has to wait until tomorrow now at such and such a time. It's a lot like your worry exercise.

Both of the above are very effective. Be patient. It doesn't change over night but it doesn't take as long as you think to heal from this.

Sometimes I still hear from my Counting Consuelo but it doesn't matter one way or the other and she is in and out very quickly.

Enjoy the exercises.

Hi, I have obsessions with certain parts of songs that I hear, then I cant get that one verse or chorus or just a specific word out of my head for days, weeks, sometimes longer.. over and over.. I can relate! strange obsessions, arent to strange as everyone probably has experienced it one time or another! have patience with yourself!

p.s. BOON- awesome post and exercise, I am going to totally try it!

I do that with even and odd numbers. LOL If I am at the gym on the treadmill, I won't stop the machine until it's on an even number. My locker has to be an even number too LOL
I think I just like "even" numbers -and treat them like a "Lucky" rabbits foot.

Hey Boon, Thanks for your earlier reply. It helps to know there are others w/ similar (if not the same) struggles. I'm wondering if you can offer me a practical exercise to help me stop worrying eah time I find myself focused on words w/ "i" in them. Something maybe similar to the counting exercise you mentioned to another writer.? Thanks!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Boon:
There are two ways to handle the obsessive counting: Number one is to give it a name. Counting Carol is good for now.

Counting Carol. I love it. Imagine. I get to say when and where. Thank you, Boon. I will try it.

I have an obsession with counting syllables, and figuring out if words have an even or odd amount of syllables or letters.

I sometimes lose track of what people are saying, because of the counting!

I feel better when the letters line up evenly, so if they don't, I come up with other words to add to the sentence to make it even. This can be quite distracting when watching TV or movies.