> Even at the time some part of me realized the absurdity of it. You've independently discovered a key diagnostic factor in OCD. :) What distinguishes OCD from

> Even at the time some part of me realized the absurdity of it. You've independently discovered a key diagnostic factor in OCD. :) What distinguishes OCD from, say, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, is that the sufferer of plain ol' obsessive compulsive disorder knows full well the absurdity of their condition. She understands that doing 12 jumping jacks before leaving the house won't stop it from burning down, but the overwhelming "why not be safe?" urge compels her to do it just in case.