I was on the trolley the other day. Not far away was a man, maybe in his 50s, repeatedly making the Sign of the Cross and touching his forehead. Before becoming a psych nurse, I would have mentally classified this man as "a wacko" and moved further away. But after three years, I recognize a compulsion when I see it, so while I didn't exactly sidle up next to him, I didn't feel unsafe enough to move. In fact, I tried to see if the book he was carrying was a Bible (it was). OCD plus religious preoccupation...interesting combo.
I watched as covertly as possible to see if there was a pattern to his compulsions. No pattern. Sometimes he'd stop after 3, sometimes after 7, sometimes after I lost count. When he wasn't crossing himself he'd look around...but no one else was fazed either. I guess he was a regular and they were used to it...and besides, crossing yourself repeatedly isn't too bad as far as compulsions go. He wasn't directly bothering anyone.
I have two papers, two discussion question responses and a quiz due by Monday at 0600. I hadn't thought of this when I signed up to work Sunday day shift at the ER. Oh well. I made good inroads into paper #1 last night; today I'll work on paper #2 and the responses. Sunday I'll finish off and clean both up, and take that quiz.
I've got this. I hope.
