You can get a grip on it if you focus on not doing it. I have to make myself stop. I too have a song running through my mind when I'm working in the yard and have to tell myself to stop it. Makes me crazy.

My shrink told me that it was something I developed in childhood to help me cope. I remember starting it around the age of seven. And, he said we bring it into our adulthood because we think it will still work for us but usually, it's just an irritation.

In school, I couldn't or wouldn't allow myself to listen to the teacher until I had counted the pictures on the wall, the number of buttons on her dress/shirt, etc. and it made it extremely hard to listen. I didn't know what the problem was, just that I struggled in school and this is one reason I didn't go on to college. I had worn myself down trying to listen and count at the same time.

I will still count the number of pieces on a blouse when I'm talking to someone...collar, sleeve, etc. and that is a little crazy making. I don't remember people's names because I'm busy counting different things they're wearing. It gets very tiring but I will continue to work on it, probably for the rest of my life.