Any police officers here ?

How many times are you going to post this?

How much was the stuff that you didn't pay for?

honestly trying to work out why you are so worried... 17 days is a really long time to be worked up over something so trivial.

please take a deep breath and move on with your life.

@Starrrz I don't have any advice (other than you have done absolutely everything right and have nothing to fear) but as a fellow sufferer of sometimes such debilitating anxiety, I just want to send you a hug and some 💐.

Aw OP :( If it makes you feel better, DH recently saw two men openly stealing from M&S - filling a trolley with packs of steaks with both hands after they were spotted and recognised by an employee, they clearly had form for it. Which means they were going back to the same branch as well! Absolutely nothing the employees could do either, and that aisle has a camera up and a screen showing anyone that goes to that section. So brazen.

It probably made their day that you returned the items and paid for them! I have GAD as well and completely understand the rumination, it's especially hard when you feel like people are losing patience with you but it's all consuming

It's happened to me three times I can remember, either payment declined and didn't realise or found an item hidden in the trolley that wasn't scanned. I assume shops factor this in to the money they are saving by reducing staff, I wouldn't give it a second thought. People make honest mistakes and police have much greater priorities

That sounds really hard. And as pp said it seems your brain has learnt to be overactive to protect yourself. That can be really hard to get out of. Do you practise gratitude? It can be hard to get started, but it does help. On my hardest days I have to force myself to start it, bit it puts things in perspective.

In this circumstance you can be grateful that you realised the error in the shopping, that the shop assistant was helpful and understanding, that it's all sorted out and all over, that you have proof you've returned the items, so there can't possibly be any come back on you.

Then repeat. Every time you catch yourself thinking of it, if you can't send the right away, turn it into gratitude, then as pp says distract yourself! Sing, dance, raise your mood and get some endorphins following to get rid of the adrenaline xx

I can totally understand that you might feel that way, but please trust me, nobody is going to think that from the circumstances you described.

Sounds like your brain has learned to stay hyper vigilant to keep the peace, and you have internalised a terror of making mistakes or breaking the rules.

It can be hard to stop thinking about things that trouble and upset us. It's often easier to get your mind to just think about something else instead. Sing along to some music maybe? Chat some nonsense to the baby?

It takes a lot of practise and I find distracting my mind with something mundane a word or number puzzle can give my brain a problem to focus on that's not the one that's on my mind. Singing also helps. I found when my kids were little I stopped listening to my own music, it's such a mood lifter, so i try to listen once a day. It's hard with little ones, but doing painting and play dough with the kids really helped quieten my mind. Find something that works for you that's meditative. Something repetitive that you don't need to think about can often still thoughts. Or following a recipe, etc.

You have to find what's right for you. It'll take trial and error.

Do you think you may have post natal depression? Xx

You haven't stolen the items, you have paid for them. There is no crime. Please don't worry.

Ok, you need to learn more about how thoughts work and patterns of thinking. Your brain is stuck in a loop. It may not feel like it but you have control of your thoughts. Start with something smaller than this, but tell yourself that you are in control. Say no to the thought and think a better thought. You are catastrophising. I find it helps me to label the thought patterns. Then I imagine myself drop kicking the thought out of a field. It takes a lot of discipline but over time it gets easier.

I also find looking for all the green things, then blue, etc helps when I'm having a panic attack. Grounding my feet into the floor and feeling the temperature in the air.

I think it would really help you to speak to someone who can help you change your thinking styles otherwise this will ruin your life xx

This sounds really familiar - I have severe generalised anxiety disorder. Can’t switch off, can’t stop fixating on one issue, panic attacks can’t breathe etc. argh I wish I could see your message to reply privately !

@Starrrz

I know from experience that everyone else gets looked after but you in these scenarios. And I’m sure you use lots of mental
energy presenting a calmer image than you might feel internally.

If the Dr is aware and you have upped your medication maybe it’s a case of giving that time to work and being very kind to yourself whilst you wait.

I also have a very relaxed DH and am prone to being much more anxious than him (not to this level but certainly more than is sometimes helpful) but it comforts me to know that annoying as it is, he’s never usually wrong and his relaxed approach is usually the correct one.

OP, please don't worry. You have NOT committed any offence.

For someone to be suspected of theft, the police need to prove that you had 'intention to deprive'. That basically means that you took the items out of the store with no intention to pay and that you knew that's what you were doing at the time.

This doesn't apply to your situation, so no crime has been committed.

OP, I think you can see now that this isn’t a big deal, and your reaction is very strong and a therefore bit worrying.

Can you go back to the doctor? I worry that you don’t sound well. With small
children to look after it can be hard to look after yourself but you must prioritise your health. Can your DH look after the baby whilst you go to the GP so you can talk uninterrupted?

Not at all - wish everyone was so honest! 😃 don't know how to find your message can't see anywhere on the app?