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Original poster

Checking I haven’t left things on/door locked ALL the time

26 replies

Raversville · 29/05/2022 16:01

Hi all
Sometimes I worry I haven't locked the door when I go out and return to check.

Recently I've been worrying I've left my hair straighteners on/oven on etc.

I check both before I leave & then still worry!

I'm 20 miles from home til tomorrow & am 95% convinced I haven't left my hair straighteners on but am convincing myself I have...
Desperately trying to distract myself.

Please tell me I'm anxious about nothing!!!
Does anyone else do this??
It's normally when I'm exhausted/stressed that I do this (which is basically my life)

🤯

OP posts:
TuTuLemon · 29/05/2022 16:03

Take a picture of the switch turned off/straighteners unplugged/key in the door, then when you panic the photo reassures you.

iwishiwasonhol · 29/05/2022 16:04

i do this all the time have often got 30 mins away from home and had to turn around to check for the 100th time i now take a photo of the straighteners /oven

Idontevenknow · 29/05/2022 16:09

I have this problem. Mine is when going to bed at night I worry I haven't locked up properly or left something switched on.

What helps is once I've checked it I write it on the notes on my phone. Then I glance at that if I start to worry and it tells me I've already checked it.

Sarah18220 · 29/05/2022 16:10

I do this. I take photos to so I can reassure myself.xx

Giveitall · 29/05/2022 16:12

Make it your habit to always always pull the plug out, even when you’re at home.
That repetitive, more physical action, will become a much stronger memory to hang on to.

swedex · 29/05/2022 16:20

I once made an ex drive an hour back up the motorway as I was convinced I'd left the straighteners on...i hadn't!
If I ever use my straighteners which nowadays is pretty rare I say to myself I am unplugging my straighteners and really focus on it! I also tell my husband and daughterGrin

DanceDanceDance80 · 29/05/2022 17:33

Omg, this is me all over 😬😭

OutDamnedSpot · 29/05/2022 17:35

I do this. It’s worse when I’m stressed about other things. Sometimes I have to go back into the house 3 or 4 times to check the same thing.

One thing I’ve found that helps is doing an ‘off’ dance. So when I check my straighteners / oven / whatever is off, I do a stupid dance at the same time. If I can’t remember seeing the plug unplugged, I can remember the dance, if that makes sense?

Jeansgoals · 29/05/2022 17:37

Take pics. We do things so automatically that we don't register that we've done them.

woodhill · 29/05/2022 17:39

Yes, like double locking front door etc

Stuffin · 29/05/2022 17:42

I say out loud that I have unplugged x, locked door y to myself.

This stops the 'have I done x,y?' thoughts later on as I know I did because I told myself I did iykwim.

Hehasdoneitagain · 29/05/2022 17:43

Get straighteners that will automatically go off if left idle so you know even if you had left them on, they won’t stay on. Same with iron etc. use an airfyer instead of an oven, same thing, as goes off automatically after cooking time.

Mindymomo · 29/05/2022 17:48

Yes, perfectly normal. I used to go back home to check I turned the iron off. Now I don’t use iron before I leave and also try not to use anything that needs plugging in. The door, I close it and say to myself a few times, yes it’s closed. Try and think of one thing at a time, I’ve found if I think of other things I can’t remember if I’ve turned things off. My neighbour had really bad OCD, she would check front door then garage door and repeat. Her children were often late for school.

amylou8 · 29/05/2022 17:51

I'm terrible for this. So is my daughter. When I do something I'm likely to forget I've done I associate it with something else that's different each time. So I'll lock the car and think car locked and there's a brown dog across the road. It sounds daft but it really does help to remember you've done it.

WombatNo12 · 29/05/2022 17:53

I finally did the thing I worried about, rushed out & left all the doors wide open. Not just unlocked but totally open...

I'm blaming adhd/menopause but I've always worried about ovens, jobs, doors. It sucks.

BridgetJonesDaiquiri · 29/05/2022 18:03

I do this. It's really irritating but I can't stop it. I take a photo of my unplugged hair straighteners when I leave - but it's funny that I barely ever feel like I need to check that photo. Just taking the photo is the reassurance I need, apparently.

I'm also like it with the oven and taps. Ugh!

LunaLoveFood · 29/05/2022 18:09

I had this problem. I now use smart plugs so can check on the app that they are all turned off if I panic.

We've got a yale lock on our door so it locks automatically, so I tend to panic that I haven't shut the door. I've slightly tilted the ring doorbell so I can now check that is shut too.

LadyHelenaJustina · 29/05/2022 19:06

I do this. I now make sure I touch things and say out loud their status to make sure I remember. So I touch the gas taps to make sure they are off, and count them out loud as I do it. I push the front door and say “that’s closed” before I drive away. Possibly not the ideal solution for hair straighteners, but I don’t use them so don’t have a solution for that.

Mol1628 · 29/05/2022 19:08

I have this problem and I’m definitely worse when tired or stressed. I also take photos of things- particularly if travelling a long way. Really helps.

Bopahula · 29/05/2022 19:08

I made up a stupid phrase, so even if I couldn't recall the action of something being unplugged I could recall the plug being pulled out. It's.m similar to the off dance someone said upthread. It helped me out hugely.

Ginger1982 · 29/05/2022 19:37

I went through a phase like this and would just say, 'I'm turning off my straighteners...I have turned off my straighteners...I'm locking the door...I have locked the door.'

Haribosweets · 29/05/2022 19:40

My friend takes her straightners out with her in her bag! I personally would pull the plug out of the socket and take a photo. With the door, I waggle the handle about 3 times going locked locked locked in my head. If it's a holiday, I always walk around the whole house about 5 times checking everything too. You are not alone I think most do it just no one says anything

megletthesecond · 29/05/2022 19:42

I'm bad at this. Taking pictures helps.
I have a ring doorbell too so I can check back and see I've locked the door.

Original poster
Raversville · 30/05/2022 08:47

So glad it’s not just me! Like others have said when I’m stressed, tired, anxious I’m way worse.
…taking photos it a great tip - thanks!
Might buy some hair straighteners that turn off. Will definitely help 😁

OP posts:
h0tXberns · 30/05/2022 09:09

I check the front and back doors are locked about 5 times every night before I can sleep. If someone else is up later than me I have to get up after I've heard them go to bed and check again. Also if I wake up for a wee in the night I often will check again, because I think if I don't I won't be able to get back to sleep. I hate it and my DP finds it weird! Glad it's not just me.