Is it normal to feel i have to touch one side of my body when i touch the other

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18 Comments

Ever since I was about 6 or 7 years old, I felt as though if I touched my arm, I would have to touch the other arm too.
Also, when there are cracks on a sidewalk, if I step on one, I have to step on another one with the opposite foot.
If I put pressure on one side of my body, I have to put pressure on the other side of my body in the same place.
And sometimes it's so bad that if I touch something with one hand, I have to touch it with the other as well.
Sometimes it's worse than others, but IS THIS NORMAL?

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Based on 220 votes (132 yes)
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Comments ( 18 )
  • madisonwoo
    13 years ago

    I have the EXACT same thing, it's really embarrassing sometimes because if my friend hits my arm or steps on my foot I would have to do it to the other foot or arm, I've even asked as friend to hit my other arm. I'm so used to doing it that it's natural for me to do it I do it automatically. I don't have any idea what it is either.. :L

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    • happycamper
      12 years ago

      yea i dont like feeling un even.

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  • hotchickie81
    14 years ago

    Sounds like OCD to me.

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  • silentsniper
    14 years ago

    Oh my God I thought I was the only one! I even remember when I started I thought in my head "I wonder if I'll do this my whole life?". I was also 6 or 7 hahaha

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  • Wren
    2 years ago

    Omg, I thought I was the only one, it also started when I was 6. I'd always get so angry at myself for doing it and tried to stop but it made it worse. I thought maybe it was apart of my autism but idk

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  • apanda2
    5 years ago

    Oh my goodness that's me exactly. I have to touch the opposite part of my body. It gets worse when I'm feeling anxious, I've noticed. And walking down the sidewalk I have to do the same thing, or I have to step in between the cracks with opposite feet each time. I've been wondering if I could have OCD, or just occasional symptoms like this when I'm especially anxious.

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  • ShadowhunterGurl
    11 years ago

    happened to me LOOOOOOTS of times but it's kinda decreasing. People used to make jokes of me being OCD

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  • WhyDoIHaveQuestions
    11 years ago

    I do something along the same lines: When I take a bite of food, I have to equally divide the food onto both sides of my mouth and chew it like that. I don't know if everyone does this, but that is what I thought of when I saw this post.

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  • rulerofthenight
    12 years ago

    Yup I agree with Hotchicki, It sounds like you have an OCD. You should look into that some more. I don't think there is something wrong with it per se, but when it starts to interupt your life its not good.

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  • mickrick
    13 years ago

    same with me, except I dont ask the person to step on my foot again. I just do it myself. It even bothers me so much that sometimes, if im watching tv or a video, and an actor touches one side of themselves, I have to touch the other side of me. I feel like I have to do it for them. I think I have ocd too.

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  • swoonin'
    13 years ago

    This is called the QUINTESSENTIAL symptom of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Have fun with your new life!

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  • lovehate83
    14 years ago

    Monk is that you?

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  • [Old Memory]
    14 years ago

    Sounds like you have a type of OCD.

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    • [Old Memory]
      13 years ago

      that IS kinda OCD...definitely NOT normal...but don't worry about it. Its kinda cute. =) seriously.

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  • Anonymusgirl
    14 years ago

    I do this tooo

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  • sarahh1818
    14 years ago

    haha oh my god? this is so weird i love this website, i do this and i thought it was just me! :D

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  • sparrowfeed
    14 years ago

    LOL i do this, but only sometimes. if you do it compulsively then thats just kind of werid.

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  • Fjólublár
    14 years ago

    I do this! It's especially annoying if someone steps on one of my feet, and I have to ask them to step on the other ;)
    People generally find it a bit odd but I know of a couple of other people who have the same thing or something similar.

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