Pole OCD-isms

AriesWolf started this discussion · 9/21/2013

I've always been interested in the weird OCD-like compulsions people have, (and everyone has them - it doesn't require a diagnosis). Y'know, the kind where there's no logical reason for a behavior, but you have to do it anyway. For example, my sister insists that the volume on a TV or radio is always set at a multiple of five. In my case, I have rules for all the mugs in my apartment. (One is only for work, one gets used on Mondays, etc.) And not gonna lie, it upsets me when people come over and use the wrong one. I have my pole compulsions too. For example, when I listen to an album, I always make sure that I play it all the way through. I'm not allowed to repeat songs I like, or skip songs I don't. If I get interrupted and have to stop in middle, then the next time I'll pick up where I left off. So, I thought it'd be fun to see what other fun little quirks people have. What's your pole compulsion?

14 replies

Veena · 9/21/2013
This is an interesting topic! I pole in the morning, so before I can dance I have to brush my teeth or it just feels wrong!!
Lady Glitter Sparkles · 9/21/2013
I have to dance at night. I've tried dancing in the early morning or the day but it doesn't feel right. even if I try to make it dark in the room And turn my dance lights on. I wont be able to get into it or concentrate & wont get a good workout.
Jacki C · 9/21/2013
When I first started taking pole, I always had to wipe down the pole before I tried a new move. It didn't matter if it was already clean or not. It was just my moment of concentration and prayer. I felt like I was turning into a baseball player! On that note, I do have "lucky" sports bras and boy shorts. :)
poledanceromance · 9/21/2013
Keeping my face dry. I don't usually wear makeup when I pole because when I work out my face sweats a lot. Honestly the rest of me sweats a lot too lol! But I have to keep a towel around to wipe my face. If my face is sweaty it just makes me feel sweaty all over. I swear my pole sessions are shorter due to slipping when my face is sweatier, there's some connection there. I only wipe at the sweat on my body if I feel like its dealt hindering me. But my face, constant wiping.
Wonder Woman · 9/21/2013
I can't invert yet, so I always have to start off a workout getting as close as I possibly can three times on each side. From there I can do anything else in any order, and I do that multiple times per session, but I always have to start off with it too.
blueyedgrl · 9/22/2013
I run on my treadmill before I pole. I know how many calories I burn running so pole is an extra unknown calorie burn for me.
CreativityBySteffie · 9/22/2013
Well, since I do have an OCD diagnosis, I do it with everything. But its ok, because I actually love it. Im not really supposed too, since its not concidered healthy behavior, but I find that it helps me keep control. I have tons of pole ocd's, like Im not allowed to skip ahead of Veenas lessons. If I do it anyway, I feel like Im cheating. I got the allegra a few months ago, but because I havent gotten to that yet, I dont allow myself to work further on it. I have to clean the pole alot during workout. Not because its slippery (well, sometimes) but because I dont like the feel of dirty mighty grip on my pole. Which also requires that I wash hands, but I have to do that all day, everyday, so I dont notice. It has caused me issues, with dancing to an entire song, but I've given myself the challenge of forcing myself to do that, atleast once a week. I already uploaded two of them, so Im really proud of that :) I also have to clean up the living room right after. I cant take the fact that I have to move one part of the couch because Im not alowed to sit down, if its not tidied up.
Saphyre · 9/22/2013
I always invert from the same spot. Outside of pole I have many, many, many quirks.
DharmaDancer · 9/24/2013
I don't have any pole ocd-isms, but before I leave the house I have to touch each burner on the stove and say "off, off, off, off" even if I never turned it on that day! I have a 45 mile drive to work and I've actually stopped halfway and sped back home to do this in case I forgot.
HellOnHeelsNH · 9/24/2013
Mine is checking my door lock, I've def been late because i went home to check even though i know i checked 3 x my Pole ocd is checking to make sure it hasn't shifted, i check all through workout so much i annoy myself
race911 · 9/25/2013
i dont have any pole related ones,but i work at a horsefarm and when leaving for the night i have an order to checking the stall doors. if i do itout of order ive been known to turn around,drive back and do it all over. im also funny about my stove knobs,glad to see im not the only one!
SpyralBound · 9/26/2013
My compulsions have to do with perfectionism and putting things in order. The best example is that I write first drafts of my grocery lists. I write one draft where I just shoot out everything I know I need to buy, and then a second draft where things are in order or grouped together based on where I'll find them in the store. And I'll do this as many times as I need to in order to have a grocery list that's "right." If I have to rush and go to the store with a messy list, that's pretty upsetting for me, I might even try to rewrite it while I'm at the store. I do the same thing with my to-do lists, I am compelled to have things in a certain order that make sense to me, and will re-write lists until I'm satisfied (often spending more time on the to-do list than on the tasks themselves!). Most of my compulsions are organizational like that, I'll spontaneously rearrange kitchen cabinets or furniture or closets to a new, better organization, or shift stuff around on my desk until it's nice and neat, that kind of thing. It doesn't really affect my poling so much unless I'm writing something out like a routine or a list of tricks I want to work on. I know I picked up some of my OCDism from my mom. She might be actually diagnosably OCD, just has never actually sought treatment for it because it doesn't tend to interfere with her life that much. She has her "ways" of doing things and can't live with them being done a different way. My grandma (Dad's mom) once stayed with my parents for a week or two and wanted to help out around the house, so she folded some laundry, but she folded the socks a different way than my mom does it, so later she went and unfolded and refolded all of them before she could put them away. That's the Obsessive part of OCD - the not being able to let it go until it's fixed. The behavior itself is the Compulsive part. A lot of people have rituals and habits that might qualify as compulsive, but aren't obsessive about them, they can let it roll off their shoulder if they don't get to complete those actions. That's not really OC behavior, that's just having a preference. I'm only pointing it out because it's a liiiiittle bit insensitive to people with legit, life-altering OCD to claim or joke that you have it when you don't. (Sorry to be the P.C. police.)
SpyralBound · 9/26/2013
BTW my last paragraph wasn't directed at anyone here, just a general comment. I shouldn't have used "you" like I was speaking to someone.
korinne · 9/26/2013
Anytime I'm trying a new move or nervous about something, I wipe my hands on my butt, typically 3 times. It started out as a 'sweat removal' thing. Now it's just an OCDism.