--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was diagnosed a number of years ago…" description: "\"I was diagnosed a number of years ago with obsessive-compulsive disorder - which everyone has, to some degree - and I have this really annoying trait w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/paula-poundstone-7706_annoying_i-was-diagnosed-a-number-of-years-ago-wi_1428696.jpg" --- # I was diagnosed a number of years ago with… ![“I was diagnosed a number of years ago with obsessive-compulsive disorder - which everyone has, to some degree - and I have this really annoying trait where in conversation, I always steer it back to something that happened to me.” quote by Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/paula-poundstone-7706_annoying_i-was-diagnosed-a-number-of-years-ago-wi_1428696.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/paula-poundstone-7706_annoying_i-was-diagnosed-a-number-of-years-ago-wi_1428696.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/paula-poundstone-7706_annoying_i-was-diagnosed-a-number-of-years-ago-wi_1428696.jpg) > “I was diagnosed a number of years ago with obsessive-compulsive disorder - which everyone has, to some degree - and I have this really annoying trait where in conversation, I always steer it back to something that happened to me.” [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acknowledges having OCD and a habit of turning conversations toward personal experiences, highlighting how mental health traits influence social interaction. **In simple terms:** She often redirects talk to her own stories because of OCD. Key Takeaway Be aware of how personal habits shape dialogue. Themes mental health communication self-awareness Mood reflective self‑critical Type personal psychological When to use this quote - therapy sessions - friend gatherings - public speaking - online forums Key Concepts obsessive‑compulsive disorder social behavior Questions to Reflect On - How does this habit affect your relationships? - Can you balance sharing with listening? A Different Perspective May alienate listeners if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Obsessive compulsive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessive-compulsive/) [Obsessive compulsive disorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/) ## Related quotes > [Baseball is not necessarily an obsessive-compulsive disorder, like washing your hands 100 times a day, but it's beginning to seem that way. We're reaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boswell/baseball-is-not-necessarily-an-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-like/) [Thomas Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boswell/) > [I had really bad obsessive-compulsive disorder. At its worst, I was compelled to leave my house at three o'clock in the morning and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/i-had-really-bad-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-at-its-worst-i-was/) [Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/) > [I have got this obsessive compulsive disorder where I have to have everything in a straight line, or everything has to be in pairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/i-have-got-this-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-where-i-have-to-have/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) runs in my family, as do other mental health problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dervla-kirwan/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd-runs-in-my-family-as-do-other/) [Dervla Kirwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dervla-kirwan/) > [“Catholicism is an obsessive-compulsive faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/catholicism-is-an-obsessive-compulsive-faith/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [Notice that whenever we suffer pain, the mind is always quick to identify with the negative aspects of things and replay them over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/notice-that-whenever-we-suffer-pain-the-mind-is-always-quick-to/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [I had a Tourette's period. And obsessive compulsive disorder. Things would get in my brain that I couldn't get out of my brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-had-a-tourette-s-period-and-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-things/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [As an actor, I don't have any politics. As an actor, I'm driven more by an authentic - I would say an obsessive-compulsive-disorder level-fixation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/as-an-actor-i-don-t-have-any-politics-as-an-actor-i-m-driven-more-by/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [love is a mental illness, an obsessive-compulsive disorder romanticized!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jerome-dickey/love-is-a-mental-illness-an-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-romanticized/) [Eric Jerome Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jerome-dickey/) > [Curing yourself of obsessive compulsive disorder by going to a strip club is pretty strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/curing-yourself-of-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-by-going-to-a-strip/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [We're not going to waste our valuable space or your precious energy by giving equal time to stories of tragedy, failure, and tumult. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/we-re-not-going-to-waste-our-valuable-space-or-your-precious-energy/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [“I lean my head back and stare at the stark white ceiling. “My friend Zoe used to say I had obsessive compulsive disorder when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-davis/i-lean-my-head-back-and-stare-at-the-stark-white-ceiling-my-friend/) [Siobhan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-davis/) > [“OCD. I’m more obsessive than compulsive, so most of the ‘disorder’ part takes place in my own head. That makes it pretty easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/ocd-i-m-more-obsessive-than-compulsive-so-most-of-the-disorder-part/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [My work in general involves getting over my fears that are deeply embedded since childhood: Fear of darkness, fear of dangerous activities in general,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miru-kim/my-work-in-general-involves-getting-over-my-fears-that-are-deeply/) Miru Kim > [Manchester United could have any goalkeeper in the world. I was a 23-year-old kid from New Jersey who, from an early age, had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/manchester-united-could-have-any-goalkeeper-in-the-world-i-was-a-23/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) ## More by Paula Poundstone > [You know, in politics when you come in third, it's a win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/you-know-in-politics-when-you-come-in-third-it-s-a-win/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [The problem with cats is that they get the same exact look whether they see a moth or an ax-murderer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/the-problem-with-cats-is-that-they-get-the-same-exact-look-whether/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [I don't need a holiday or a feast to feel grateful for my children, the sun, the moon, the roof over my head, music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-don-t-need-a-holiday-or-a-feast-to-feel-grateful-for-my-children/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [There are really only so many foods and so many ways you can prepare them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/there-are-really-only-so-many-foods-and-so-many-ways-you-can-prepare/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [I like to work on New Year's Eve. It has a nice spirit; a nice feel about it. If you are all about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-like-to-work-on-new-year-s-eve-it-has-a-nice-spirit-a-nice-feel/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [I hate it when my hair is engaged in unauthorized activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-hate-it-when-my-hair-is-engaged-in-unauthorized-activities/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [“Deep-rooted happiness may require a sense of purpose. If I don't feel that I am in some small way contributing to the greater good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/deep-rooted-happiness-may-require-a-sense-of-purpose-if-i-don-t-feel/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [The wages of sin are death, but by the time taxes are taken out, it's just sort of a tired feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/the-wages-of-sin-are-death-but-by-the-time-taxes-are-taken-out-it-s/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [I did auditions at a club called the Comedy Connection. They wanted nothing to do with me. But one night they were doing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-did-auditions-at-a-club-called-the-comedy-connection-they-wanted/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [I can make things, but I don't cook them, exactly. Like salmon, I can stick that in a pan. Or the other day I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-can-make-things-but-i-don-t-cook-them-exactly-like-salmon-i-can/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [I've always thought that if my death was imminent, I would read. When I can't focus on a book, I tend to keep reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-ve-always-thought-that-if-my-death-was-imminent-i-would-read-when-i/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [I know a little bit about handicapping. If the horse has an IV, you want to stay - away from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-know-a-little-bit-about-handicapping-if-the-horse-has-an-iv-you/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [I only do two things in my life, and that's take care of my kids and work. Fortunately, these are my favorite things to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-only-do-two-things-in-my-life-and-that-s-take-care-of-my-kids-and/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [I was born in Alabama, but I only lived there for a month before I'd done everything there was to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-was-born-in-alabama-but-i-only-lived-there-for-a-month-before-i-d/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [The definition of adulthood is that you want to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/the-definition-of-adulthood-is-that-you-want-to-sleep/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) [Explore all 88 Paula Poundstone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) ## More Annoying quotes > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [The trouble is. . .that everybody sneers at restrictions and demands freedom, till something annoying happens; then they demand angrily what has become of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-trouble-is-that-everybody-sneers-at-restrictions-and-demands/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The book it reminded me of most is Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life. Like Miller, Shields manages to convey his affection for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-book-it-reminded-me-of-most-is-henry-miller-s-the-books-in-my/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [When you're standing around for an hour doing stand up it's no big deal but when you're standing around watching a show for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/when-you-re-standing-around-for-an-hour-doing-stand-up-it-s-no-big/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [Belief is a good thing in principle, but an annoying thing in human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/belief-is-a-good-thing-in-principle-but-an-annoying-thing-in-human/) [Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/) > [Shut the fuck up ur so annoying and you think your the shit lmao sit the fuck down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/shut-the-fuck-up-ur-so-annoying-and-you-think-your-the-shit-lmao-sit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only kind of freedom that the mob can imagine is freedom to annoy and oppress its betters, and that is precisely the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-kind-of-freedom-that-the-mob-can-imagine-is-freedom-to-annoy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Die, enemies of Ra!" Sekhemet yelled. "Perish in agony!" "She's almost as annoying as you," I told Horus. "Impossible," Horus said. "No one bests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/die-enemies-of-ra-sekhemet-yelled-perish-in-agony-she-s-almost-as/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [My middle finger is used when words aren't enough for people to understand that they're annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-middle-finger-is-used-when-words-aren-t-enough-for-people-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [...Be grateful for what you have to be thankful for instead of complaining about the little things that annoy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/be-grateful-for-what-you-have-to-be-thankful-for-instead-of/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Would you want people walking up to you and pointing at your d--k? I can't believe I'm still talking about this. But I've worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/would-you-want-people-walking-up-to-you-and-pointing-at-your-d-k-i/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I ceased in the year 1764 to believe that one can convince one’s opponents with arguments printed in books. It is not to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/i-ceased-in-the-year-1764-to-believe-that-one-can-convince-one-s/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [WikiLeaks is irritating and annoying for Germany, but not a threat. From an international perspective, I see their actions as totally irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/wikileaks-is-irritating-and-annoying-for-germany-but-not-a-threat/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [It doesn't annoy me but I think of myself as a presenter who is gay, rather than a gay presenter. It's a subtle distinction,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-davis/it-doesn-t-annoy-me-but-i-think-of-myself-as-a-presenter-who-is-gay/) [Evan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-davis/) Browse all 1,217 Annoying quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was diagnosed a number of years ago with obsessive-compulsive disorder - which everyone has, to some degree - and I have this really annoying trait where in conversation, I always steer it back to something that happened to me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paula Poundstone" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-was-diagnosed-a-number-of-years-ago-with-obsessive-compulsive/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Annoying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-was-diagnosed-a-number-of-years-ago-with-obsessive-compulsive/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/paula-poundstone-7706_annoying_i-was-diagnosed-a-number-of-years-ago-wi_1428696.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/paula-poundstone-7706_annoying_i-was-diagnosed-a-number-of-years-ago-wi_1428696.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd0/paula-poundstone-7706_annoying_i-was-diagnosed-a-number-of-years-ago-wi_1428696.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was diagnosed a number of years ago with obsessive-compulsive disorder - which everyone has, to some…” — Paula Poundstone", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paula Poundstone", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was diagnosed a number of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-was-diagnosed-a-number-of-years-ago-with-obsessive-compulsive/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-was-diagnosed-a-number-of-years-ago-with-obsessive-compulsive/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```