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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Any police officers here ?

88 replies

Starrrz · 23/02/2026 18:31

Is there any police officers here that can help?

I accidentally didnt scan some items, has my daughter with me was so stressed. Had a migraine so had sunglasses on so people may of thought i looked weird.

i have awful anxiety, OCD , PMDD for sormone else it’s nothing. I realised when i got home. I rang the customer service and the said just return. This was at a different branch. Items have been returned and paid for. Im worrying what if they thought it was intentional cause the police and not aware ive returned and paid for items?
it happened 17 days ago.

thank you

OP posts:
SlothSpiritAnimal · 23/02/2026 19:18

Starrrz · 23/02/2026 18:45

@SlothSpiritAnimal thank you soo much for asking him! I was so worried in my head if in that branch ( out of county) thought i done something on purpose. And reported it but wasnt aware that i actually returned the items and paid. I have my receipt for proof. If anything was gonna happen it would of surely in the 17 days ? X

They won’t have reported it and yes, if anything was going to happen, it would have done already. Nothing is going to happen. As PP have said, this is your anxiety talking, which I appreciate is distressing. I hope you can get some peace from it soon, and feel more on an even keel.

Original poster
Starrrz · 23/02/2026 19:16

@SENhelp50 itd awful pain isnt it!! I also clench my mouth which makes it worse. I have recently had botox in the muscles in my mouth which has helped abit. I hope your ok !!

yes i have yoga booked for tomorrow hoping will help me x

OP posts:
Original poster
Starrrz · 23/02/2026 19:14

@batshitaboutcatshit thank you! I know i know, part of me thinks ive done everything i can. But something just wont let it go x

OP posts:
SENhelp50 · 23/02/2026 19:13

Starrrz · 23/02/2026 19:07

@SENhelp50 yes i think your right. Im gonnalook for some now.

yes so i take high doses of antihistamines because i now have MCAS due to covid, brain fog, rashes , allergies to things ive never had issues with.

im so sorry your in a lot or pain, have you found anything thats helping?

i take amitriptyline also for vestibular migraines, body pains and nerve pain in my face( all from covid) google and tik tok has made my anxiety 10 times worse x

It's all an immune response. I'm on a multitude of meds and what only helps really is reducing stress and overwhelm. Deep breathing, therapy, meditation.

I have neuropathy through my face and skull and it will itself cause anxiety. So any opportunity to help yourself and find a calm space is what you need. It's ok to bugger off for a few hours to have therapy and it's ok to go to a sauna which can help pain. Ask with confidence that you deserve it for help paying and childcare help ( hopefully husband and friends).

Original poster
Starrrz · 23/02/2026 19:13

@Megapint i know but my brain is going crazy.

OP posts:
batshitaboutcatshit · 23/02/2026 19:13

Would it help you to know that most people have accidentally taken something from a shop in their lives without paying for it and I would hazard a guess that when they realised they have just thought “ah well”. I would imagine most people wouldn’t even consider going back to pay for it.

It’s not a nice thought to feel this anxious about something but I absolutely get it. Glad that you got a response from pp’s husband. Hope you can relax a bit now x

Megapint · 23/02/2026 19:11

Mataland haven't contacted Scotland Yard. Same advise as last time. LET IT GO

SENhelp50 · 23/02/2026 19:09

Starrrz · 23/02/2026 19:04

@youalright i have been on there also, i think chatgbt thinks im insane 😩

I'm waiting for the police to come get me as in the midst of great stress and overwhelm I'm often walking round talking to myself, saying out loud how difficult people I know are total c*s and worse.

I know it's being logged by Alexa the absolute traitor 😆.

Original poster
Starrrz · 23/02/2026 19:08

@Endofyear thank you so much! I hope your right ❤️ xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Starrrz · 23/02/2026 19:07

@SENhelp50 yes i think your right. Im gonnalook for some now.

yes so i take high doses of antihistamines because i now have MCAS due to covid, brain fog, rashes , allergies to things ive never had issues with.

im so sorry your in a lot or pain, have you found anything thats helping?

i take amitriptyline also for vestibular migraines, body pains and nerve pain in my face( all from covid) google and tik tok has made my anxiety 10 times worse x

OP posts:
youalright · 23/02/2026 19:05

Starrrz · 23/02/2026 19:04

@youalright i have been on there also, i think chatgbt thinks im insane 😩

🤣🤣 No they don't you should hear some of the conversations we have 🙈

Original poster
Starrrz · 23/02/2026 19:04

@youalright i have been on there also, i think chatgbt thinks im insane 😩

OP posts:
Endofyear · 23/02/2026 19:03

Please don't worry. You've returned the items and I'm sure if you were going to going to hear from the police, you would have by now. You were honest enough to sort out your mistake, which I'm sure the shop appreciates! Look after yourself lovely 💐

SENhelp50 · 23/02/2026 19:03

Starrrz · 23/02/2026 18:57

@SENhelp50 i paid about £500 for hypnosis, i seemed ok and then boom! I also have long covid andheart issues that have caused me major anxiety . I deffo will look into it x

That's a lot to pay whoo. Whilst you're going through this, could you look at fortnightly therapy. That's going to be anything from £50 to maybe £100 depending where you live. With this, you can talk through each experience you're dealing with, not just this incident but whatever comes up.

I have agonising full body sensory neuropathy and it triggers anxiety and palpitations. Some of us take antihistamines. Fexofenadine is non drowsy. Long COVID looks like an immune response and sometimes calming the mast cells with antihistamines can help a little. Worth a try.

I agree with the suggestion you write this out. No one is coming for you I promise. I would consider the absolute worst outcome ( it won't happen) - even if the Police turned up, you have committed an innocent minor error and they'd see that. It won't happen. They can't resource following up genuine thefts these days.

I would avoid the news, social media stories attached to the news. It significantly feeds anxiety and fear states.

youalright · 23/02/2026 19:00

This might sound silly and absolutely should not replace proper counselling and medical support but I find chatgpt really good for rationalising problems

Original poster
Starrrz · 23/02/2026 18:59

@UnhappyHobbit thank you so much x

OP posts:
Original poster
Starrrz · 23/02/2026 18:58

@Alwaystired23 thats a good idea ill try it! Thank you! Its a vile feeling isnt it? I feel like i need to escape sometimes and i dont know why x

OP posts:
UnhappyHobbit · 23/02/2026 18:58

I am so sorry to hear this OP. I really hope you can at least get some reassurance on here that you don’t need to worry about this incident.

Original poster
Starrrz · 23/02/2026 18:57

@SENhelp50 i paid about £500 for hypnosis, i seemed ok and then boom! I also have long covid andheart issues that have caused me major anxiety . I deffo will look into it x

OP posts:
Alwaystired23 · 23/02/2026 18:57

Op I did something similar years ago. I was suffering from anxiety at the time. I didn't scan a large bag of crisps in m&s at the self checkout. I emailed them when I got home to tell them (it was a Saturday evening). I couldnt relax at all, so I then drove to another closer store to pay for them. The shop assistant looked at me like I was mad when I explained. I totally get where youre coming from, but looking back, I was unwell. You've rectified the problem. Why don't you write everything down, that happened and your time line, or send it as a text message to yourself. I find writing things down helpful, it can sometimes stop the thoughts going around in your head.

Original poster
Starrrz · 23/02/2026 18:56

@youalright ok thank you, im really trying my hardest to move on from it. Im annoying everyone around me. X

OP posts:
SENhelp50 · 23/02/2026 18:55

Starrrz · 23/02/2026 18:52

@SENhelp50 im worried of losing my kids, or me being see as an awful person. Ive had a lot of ocd issues since looking after a mother with schizophrenia. Its always been an uncertainty x

Your hormones, life experience are causing this reaction. The ADs will hopefully help alot.

Can you afford therapy? I was in a session today being supported to meditate out my horrific pain and the frantic thinking this pain causes. It can offer some respite from any thinking and the stress of thst.
It's worth paying believe me. Talk to your husband and see if he can help fund this maybe .

Original poster
Starrrz · 23/02/2026 18:55

@UnhappyHobbit i know its not, i dont feel like myself at all atm. Ive upped my medsC i went to the go about 4 weeks ago crying just not feeling right. I dont know what else to do at this point.

OP posts:
youalright · 23/02/2026 18:55

I work in retail the police will not of even been contacted. You did the right thing, just try to forget about it and move on

Original poster
Starrrz · 23/02/2026 18:52

@SENhelp50 im worried of losing my kids, or me being see as an awful person. Ive had a lot of ocd issues since looking after a mother with schizophrenia. Its always been an uncertainty x

OP posts: