Sociopath Community

I sometimes wish I was more ritualistic. Need to think a while about this to say for sure what ones I have. Routine is something I find very hard to stay in. I can't even bear to drive the same route to work every time. 

That's funny,  like that!!

Do you have prescribed routine before entering a tournament ?

For a tournament, besides upping my training, for the week I up my potassium intake with Vitamin Water Revive, and I make sure to eat a light pasta for energy the night before. Orange juice is pretty much what I run on during this time, if not substituting with a different fruit juice when unable. The day of the tournament, I make sure to follow a stretch routine I've formed from ballet, yoga, theater, and martial arts warmups during any chances I have. If no one's watching, I practice high kicks, combinations, and enter deeper stretches.

It's been a while since I've done a tournament, but that's what I used to do anyway. I like organizing what I'm going to do if it's a big deal with plenty of pre-prep, like how before singing I'd make sure to eat Lays Potato Chips to lubricate the throat, while avoiding sugary foods so I don't risk a sugar wad. It gives me that extra boost, knowing I did all I could do up to the event.

ok cool.

So it would be fair to say then , that because you know that all these things/ways benefit you in tangible ways, that you would choose not to deviate from them, unless something was demonstrated to be more beneficial to that particular scenario?

"So it would be fair to say then, that because you know that all these things/ways benefit you in tangible ways, that you would choose not to deviate from them, unless something was demonstrated to be more beneficial to that particular scenario?"

Only if it roots from logic. The compulsion-based behaviors are purely for peace of mind, logic be damned. It's like a form of torture to watch yourself do things you recognize in advance as pointless.

The compulsion-based behaviors are purely for peace of mind, logic be damned

I think that some of the compulsion based rituals, can go on easily to form parts of an OCD, if unchecked ,which I find interesting, because essentially, the ritual is still there, just much more reaffirmation seems to be required by the person to achieve the same level of peace of mind that earlier was achieved by much less practise of said ritual.

And thats without even bringing in aspects of self loathing/hatred/self esteem manifestations.
that puts a whole different twist on it again.

Guess its only fair I put up some of my rituals.

I wipe the blood of whatever I shoot on my left hand.

I use ritualistic breathing techniques for de-stress and exercise.

I guess my exercise routine is also somewhat ritualistic, although I do swap it around a bit when possible.

If I think of more I'll post them.

I masturbate using my right hand

It actually was OCD. It's like fighting a self-directed frustration, a battle of wills, against yourself. This strict need to do something you don't want to do, doing it just to make that urge shut up. The smarter you become, the more nagging the suggestions could become alongside it, so there was no real way to overcome it other than just bracing through it.

Mine rooted from perfectionism, but could be made from just creativity, an idea. Things that weren't "right" were frustrating. It just radiated that it was incorrect, which was extremely distracting when trying to pretend it's not a thing in public while doing other things.

I have to be careful with things like Hand Sanitizer. It's extremely easy for me to risk adopting new behaviors if a part of me believes it's good to the point of excess. Numbers are a risk too.