Hi,
Let's just say that the dots are stitches.

. chain 5
. chain 4
. chain 3
. chain 2
. chain 1
. where you have your crochet hook

let's say that the bottom dot is where you have your crochet hook and the pattern says to chain 5 so the top dot would be your 5th chain, then you crochet around and the pattern tells you to slip stitch in the 3rd chain of beg ch-5. The chain you slip stitch in is the 4th dot from the bottom right?

or if a pattern says to sl st in 3rd ch from hook it's the 4th ch right cause you don't count the 1st one because your 2nd one is actually the first chain?
Jean