Comments on: Arithmomania

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:28:59 +0000

Hey there,
I’m Laura from Switzerland, and I have the same problem. I’m counting the numbers of letters in sentences, though, and pair them in groups of 3 or 4. For example when I read or even when I’m only thinking. But it’s not very distracting, I think my brain’s just bored. I didn’t know until recently that other people have similar (little) obsessions

By: Derek

Derek — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 01:22:41 +0000

I thought I was crazy and the only one who has this going on in hes life. I count things every waking minute. I tend to focus on corners. When I see a box I really see four and count it. (4 corners) What really drives me nuts is watching TV. I first count how many people and animals are in my house then add how many are on the screen. The number always changes because there is always different numbers of people on the TV. Therefor continuous counting. I like even numbers better than odd and if I use my fingers for fun I always have to end on my pinkie. If I don’t I just start all over again. CRAZY. I can’t stop and just live with it. Oh well

By: Judy

Judy — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:28:21 +0000

I am 59 years old and have counted for as long as I can remember. It has gotten worse as I have gotten older and sometimes it drives me nuts. I will count steps, lines,and shapes as well as I mentally draw the outlines of shapes. jacket and shirt collars drive me crazy, I will draw the outline of them over and over. Wish I could make it stop!

By: Sue B

Sue B — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:29:49 +0000

I have been counting for as long as I can remember and I’m 57. Sometimes it has been a distraction as in school or conversations, but not debilitating. I’ve never known anyone else that has done this same thing (I count things until they add up to an even number). Thanks for sharing.

By: almi

almi — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:37:33 +0000

hey there!! me too have the same habit…i tend to count all the corners or side og an object like doors, windowa etc…. wweeehhww!! its good am not the only one doing it hehe

By: Leann

Leann — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:26:42 +0000

I’m a 21 year old female from GA.I just found out the other day that I have arithmomania. I have had it for as long as I can remember. I do the exact same thing. I count the lines on the road, the tiles on my floor, the movies on my shelf. Really and truly, I think it will drive me insane. I can’t stop counting. I will try to force myself to stop, but I can’t. My mind just drifts back to the counting. I don’t know what to do, where to turn. It really bothers me. Will I do this for the rest of my life??? It just makes me feel better to see that I am not alone. That there are others who battle this same problem. If anyone can help me or any advice whatsoever… please contact me at (Leann.Stover@yahoo.com)Thanks!!!
-Leann from Georgia

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 06:55:44 +0000

I have been getting worse with my counting everything as I get older. It HAS to be counted and by 2’s (2,4,6,8,etc.) and I can’t seem to quit till I get near 100. It is extremely distracting to me and very disturbing to my sense of reality. I think I am becoming insane. Sorry to hear about all your problems that are similar to mine. I can’t walk into a bathroom without counting corners by 2’s and then counting the tiles (can’t leave room till I count em all) but it is always by 2’s!! I can’t remember the total sum of the tiles even though I have counted them numerous times before so I count them again!!!!! Sometimes I don’t even realize that I am counting till someone says something. I am only 31 now and can only imagine how I will be in 10 or 20 years.

By: Anton

Anton — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 13:42:48 +0000

Hello I’m from the Netherlands , so sorry for my bad English.

But i’ve also got arithmomania. I just found the right word for it on wikipedia and could easily see that i’ve really got it. I always count the sides of a square. It always has to be 5. So i always make one side extra to a square so it has 5 sides. So imagine when i see everywhere squares, i always want to make 5 sides to every square. i also have an obsession to NOT count things in numbers of six. So if something is six i surely want to make it seven or higher. I can make a lot more examples, but i think you understand that you’re not alone with “arithmomania”

By: terrysj

terrysj — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 03:55:14 +0000

Had never heard the term about counting, but for years I count the sum of numbers on license plates in front of me, or the number of letters on billboards or the sum of numbers on the hymn boards at church, etc. It doesn’t distract me from keeping my mind on what I should.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 18:31:02 +0000

I only wish that I had known during our trip upstate that you were counting the painted lines on the highway while I was estimating the midpoint between telephone poles and trying to calculate our speed using the time between mile markers. Quirkiness loves company…