OCD much...

[Mey]

I live in Halls at uni before i go out or to lectures, i need to make sue that my window is closed, it is, i go to the door put my coat on, go to walk out the door, need to look at the window again its closed, i go out the door, lock it, walk down the corridor to the elevator, run back to make sure its locked, its locked, i get down half way through the corridor and do the same.. Its getting abit tiresome, but if i dont make sure ive locked it i will have that feeling that i forgot too.. Anyone know any way i can like stop myself doing it?

 

[Blackjack]

I live in Halls at uni before i go out or to lectures, i need to make sue that my window is closed, it is, i go to the door put my coat on, go to walk out the door, need to look at the window again its closed, i go out the door, lock it, walk down the corridor to the elevator, run back to make sure its locked, its locked, i get down half way through the corridor and do the same.. Its getting abit tiresome, but if i dont make sure ive locked it i will have that feeling that i forgot too.. Anyone know any way i can like stop myself doing it?

I have had a ton of these like running back and forth between my bedroom and my kitchen 3 times in 2 minutes to make sure i closed the fridge. Running up 3 times to make sure i remembered to lock my door.

I found that trusting yourself is the way to go. Keep telling yourself; "i closed the damn window!" and even if you feel the need to check... don't. When you get home, after a day of <insert activity here> and discover that you did infact close the window the first time, you are one step closer to recovery . When you have come home to a closed window enough times you'll stop.

 

[Raven]

My wife has it with windows and doors and whether the iron has been left on, if we are going away for the weekend it helps her to have me check everything with her, room by room. the best thing we found was to make it part of the routine of leaving the house, then you know you have checked them.

 

[Rulke]

I live in Halls at uni before i go out or to lectures, i need to make sue that my window is closed, it is, i go to the door put my coat on, go to walk out the door, need to look at the window again its closed, i go out the door, lock it, walk down the corridor to the elevator, run back to make sure its locked, its locked, i get down half way through the corridor and do the same.. Its getting abit tiresome, but if i dont make sure ive locked it i will have that feeling that i forgot too.. Anyone know any way i can like stop myself doing it?

You're lucky, the window on my 1st year halls room didnt even close! You could lock it but there was a 2" gap along one side. The window was on the 3rd floor and right above the main door so at all hours of the morning you could hear every word the drunks/smokers said as if they were in the room, was lovely in the winter too. I ended getting some of that expanding filler foam and using it judisciously. Used a bit too much in fact and could never open the window again

Good ol' abertay

 

[Bahumat]

when i put change in my wallet i double check its there about 2 minutes after.

Once i was at the bus stop and i never double checked the front door, ended up running back, checking it, then running back to the bus stop but luckily made it in time!

Its horrible and everyone has it. I would have a think about how bad yours is (im not saying its bad, yet im not saying its fine). Then maybe look on the web for ways to improve your condition.

For instance if im going out and forget to double check the door, i dont mind if someone is in the house so its not that bad for me.

Our door is a bit funny tho, sometimes you close it and the lock doesnt always catch so it sways open a few seconds later. Its more a fault with the door thats cursed me haha

 

[old.Tohtori]

Its horrible and everyone has it.

Not quite true.

I never check anything, drop the change i get straight in my pocket with the rest of my cash, leave for a vacation with the computer on. I come home late at night and realise i left the oven on, turn it off and open a window to let the excess heat out, i leave the window open as i go to a x-mas holiday and find a snowangel in my hallway.

I don't stress, doublecheck and nothing has happened yet. Even most of the above didn't happen actually in that scale.

It's suprising how little actually will happen.

 

[Nate]

Sounds like you need to visit the hypnosis thread, might be able to help you out I do have the same happen to me though, tends to be with my car...but it's not central locking and I live in Essex so I feel it's justified

 

[Cozak]

I was exactly the same when I moved into my halls 3 months ago mate, like previously said you just need to trust yourself. Make sure you KNOW that the window is locked and that the door is locked before you walk away from your door then everytime the little nagging thought pops up ''have i locked this?'' fucking batter it with the big thought ''IT IS LOCKED!!! I KNOW THIIS'' or something like that.

 

[Takhasis]

Is this a reflection on how society is nowadays? everyone stressed out etc?


not me of course only thing i obsess about is lack of time on daoc....damn gf

 

[Marc]

It can be a symptom of depression too, not just an OCD

 

[Bracken]

Anyone know any way i can like stop myself doing it?

The action of checking everything is a reaction to a feeling, which in turn is a reaction to some other underlying tension - so it is actually serving a purpose. The key is to not try and force yourself to stop. Become familiar with the feeling that is driving the action - when you walk down the corridor and get the "urge" to go back, pause and allow yourself to feel the "urge". Then do what you do (such as go back and check the door). As you check the door feel what happens - is the initial feeling released? Each time you allow yourself to feel that initial feeling you will become more familiar with it - as you become more familiar with it and get to know it so you'll relax with it. Then something will start to shift. It may be that an underlying anxiety is revealed that you may decide you want help with looking at - in which case don't be embarrassed about seeking it. Either way, become interested in what is going on - not by labelling the "problem" as OCD (or anything else) but by allowing yourself to feel what is being revealed.

 

[crispy]

Make yourself a mental note. Like when you close the window look out and you might see three birds and a red car. Then when you're not sure you've closed the window you can think: yes i did, and there were 3 birds and a red car outside

I do stuff like that when its important stuff i have to remember.

 

[Mojo]

Make yourself a mental note. Like when you close the window look out and you might see three birds and a red car. Then when you're not sure you've closed the window you can think: yes i did, and there were 3 birds and a red car outside

I do stuff like that when its important stuff i have to remember.

Like Crispy says make a mental note thats it's done, i do stuff like that when im not concentrating or in a rush.

 

[Mey]

Will try and see what happens..

 

[Ezteq]

the thing of saying it out loud as your doing it helps bud " im locking the window *snick* window is locked" say it out loud rather than just thinking it though so it sticks, loads of people have an OCD aspect infact most people probably have something and dont even realise it. Dont worry about it man just deal with it its part of who you are accept it and be happy

 

[Mey]

O no i'm not unhappy, i'd just rather not have to run back and forth, lazy bugger you see.. I'm one of these people that keeps alot of there shit to themselves, neither really found anyone i could confied in so the "feeling suggestion" is probably bang on the nail tbh..

I'm going to try it tomorrow before i go to work, trusting that i have locked the door and so on!

 

[Taen]

The action of checking everything is a reaction to a feeling, which in turn is a reaction to some other underlying tension - so it is actually serving a purpose. The key is to not try and force yourself to stop. Become familiar with the feeling that is driving the action - when you walk down the corridor and get the "urge" to go back, pause and allow yourself to feel the "urge". Then do what you do (such as go back and check the door). As you check the door feel what happens - is the initial feeling released? Each time you allow yourself to feel that initial feeling you will become more familiar with it - as you become more familiar with it and get to know it so you'll relax with it. Then something will start to shift. It may be that an underlying anxiety is revealed that you may decide you want help with looking at - in which case don't be embarrassed about seeking it. Either way, become interested in what is going on - not by labelling the "problem" as OCD (or anything else) but by allowing yourself to feel what is being revealed.

Very good post. OCD is usually indicative of underlying anxiety. Ask yourself what is the worst that can happen if you dont perform the ritual? Sometimes simple rituals can get out of hand because the anxiety in your life has increased. If you start performing certain rituals because you are worried that if you dont do them then something disastrous will happen such as the wordl will end then I would recommend that you go see a psychologist. Psychologists can teach you certain cognitive behavioural techniques that will help alleviate the anxiety and its effect. Hope that helps

 

[Mey]

lol i am a psychologist, thats the problem anything i do to myself is going to be subjective and therefore not work as i know the desired affect from it....

 

[DocWolfe]

what you're describing isn't OCD... OCD is a dibilitating mental disease. Don't get them confused.

Alot of people claim to have OCD just so people pay them attention, when in fact they have nothing of the sort and its more of a habit thing.

 

[Chronictank]

i tend to check i have my train pass alot :S even straight after i used it and put it in my pocket to make sure i havent dropped it/got it pinched, may have something to do with the fact if i misplace/loose it its £20+ to get home depending where i drop it :/

 

[Mey]

what you're describing isn't OCD... OCD is a dibilitating mental disease. Don't get them confused.

Alot of people claim to have OCD just so people pay them attention, when in fact they have nothing of the sort and its more of a habit thing.

I haven't actually said i have OCD, i just used the title as that was the closest thing i could think of. I tried the saying it aloud method then just trusting that i had done it.. it worked sort of. Still worried but just walked away and eventually forgot about it.

 

[Haggus]

I have an idea, how about not locking it or closing it for a few times and telling your self you did (but actually you didn't!!) then getting really annoyed at yourself !

But when you do lock it you will make sure you remember to do it and you will remember you've done it so you won't need to check it again.

Is it OCD or do you just forget you locked it ??

 

[Glacier]

I have an idea, how about not locking it or closing it for a few times and telling your self you did (but actually you didn't!!) then getting really annoyed at yourself !

But when you do lock it you will make sure you remember to do it and you will remember you've done it so you won't need to check it again.

Is it OCD or do you just forget you locked it ??

ODC + alzheimers ftw