Arithmomania is an obsessive-compulsive mania (OCD) in which the individual seeks to always be counting. This mania for calculating occurs in different places and situations, affecting the person’s life. For example, the individual wants to count all the steps on the stairs, if he does not count, he feels imminent fear and exacerbated anxiety.

Counting the steps, letters, number of floors, number of chairs, among others, are the main characteristics of the mania for calculating. Usually when we have or know someone who has this disorder, we can easily tell.

Arithmomania is one of the types of OCD , as it has the same cycle: it goes through obsessive and uncomfortable thoughts that cause anxiety. Human beings are always looking to live with less suffering, so when they realize this anxiety, they begin to create compulsions/acts to relieve this tension.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, as the name implies, is the presence of compulsions and/or obsessions (usually together). Obsessions are more characteristic for repetitive and intrusive thoughts causing discomfort, while compulsions are repetitive acts that the person feels he needs to perform an action to prevent anxiety. In the case of arithmomania, the habit of counting serves to generate this relief.

example of arithmomania

So what is the calculation craze like in practice ? One of the examples that you can explain about arithmomania is the following:

An individual who is always experiencing strong anxieties when climbing stairs, with thoughts such as “I can’t get up those stairs, I can’t go up, I don’t have the strength”, may begin to count the steps of the stairs as a way to relieve the tension of thinking. .

Yes, arithmomania can be cured, its treatment is based on the treatment of OCD. It consists of medication, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT/Behavorist). CBT is the best approach to treating this disorder because of its roles in treating anxiety and stress.

The drugs most commonly used in the treatment of mania for calculating are serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram). Since patients with this type of disorder responded better to serotonergic drugs (which increase serotonin in the blood).

Techniques used to treat Arithmomania:

• Mindfulness Techniques
• Psychotherapy
• Physical exercises to reduce anxiety and improve mood
• Jacobson’s Progressive Relaxation
• Behavior analysis and cognitive reconceptualization

mindfulness techniques

One of the most interesting techniques to treat calculating mania is through mindfulness. They are techniques linked with thoughts. After all, the mania for calculating begins with the need to count that comes through obsessive-intrusive thoughts.

One mindfulness technique for thoughts is “Current Thought Mindfulness,” which is focused on looking at thoughts as triggers, as something that came from the brain. But how so? Usually when we are thinking, we understand our thoughts as truths and facts. And this technique is exactly to break this false truth of our thoughts.

Then, the individual should perceive his thoughts not as truths, but only as “sensations in his brain”, thereby reducing the anxiety they cause and his compulsive telling symptoms.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is essential for any treatment of psychological disorders. Currently, most anxiety disorders have greater “cure” results when Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used, due to its techniques and way of working. Learn more about TCC in our other article.

Physical exercises

Physical activities and sports are closely related to the treatment of anxiety disorders, but due to their release of hormones that relieve these stresses, physical exercises are also used in the treatment of calculating mania.

Arithmomania has a strong link with anxiety and obsessive thoughts, so with physical exercises it will reduce anxiety and, with that, intrusive thoughts will be weaker.

Jacobson’s Progressive Relaxation

Within CBT psychotherapy we always use many relaxation techniques. For the mania for calculating, we can also use these mechanisms of tranquility, to calm our symptoms and thus deal with the compulsion and obsession of always counting.

Jacobson’s progressive relaxation consists of deep breathing, contracting and relaxing muscles. 

Behavior Analysis and Cognitive Reconceptualization

There is more than one reason why CBT is the most indicated therapy for the treatment of Arithmomania , within the psychotherapy of this approach there is also Behavior Analysis and cognitive reconceptualization. It is through these two techniques used that the patient, along with his psychologist, will be able to build new habits and behaviors.