To think I have a problem or is anyone else like this?

[Insightfulusername]

I am so worried every time I leave the house that I haven’t locked it. I have to go back and check at least a few times before I drive to work and even today I had to force myself to just drive off even though I had checked probably three times already! Is anyone else like this? I’m the same about locking the door at night as well, particularly if I’m on my own overnight.

If I’m with someone else and they can also check it or they’ve locked it up, I’m fine with that, almost like if it’s someone else’s action I trust it!

I know it’s silly and it’s very unlikely I won’t have locked the door or can’t remember having not locked it etc. but it makes me dread leaving the house as I know I’ll have that few minutes of stress! I start thinking about how awful it would be if someone broke in and what would happen.

Any tips?? I’m not calling myself ‘OCD’ as I know that’s a serious disorder and I don’t want to make light of it but I would love to know if I’m not alone and more importantly, if anyone has any tips for just getting over it and leaving the house without worrying!

I have a friend who does this but she does have diagnosed OCD. She doesn’t find it easier when someone else is with her though, she still has to check.

I’m like this with my hair straighteners, sorry not much help but understand how you feel.

How many times had you actually forgotten when you went back to check?

I do have OCD and this is one of my obsessions and compulsions. I think it would be a good idea to speak to your GP. It’s causing you distress and fear, which is the key difference between genuine OCD and those idiots who claim to be ‘a bit OCD’ when doing something they enjoy.

Sometimes I say to myself out loud "the door is locked" or whatever if we are going on holiday, I feel like it helps anyway hehe.

I used to do this.

Now I lock, and take a photo of the locked door to prove to myself I've done it

YANBU but I do think you should discuss this with your GP. Good luck x

I get a bit like this with some things and find it useful to actually say out loud ‘ I’ve locked the door’ or ‘ I’ve turned off the iron’ of whatever it is.

I can get stuck in a loop where things like this can get out of hand very quickly. I find the only way is too get on top of it straight away by making myself walk away. Eg locking the door: do it mindfully, check it once and make myself walk away without checking again as I know it's done. Locking the car: lock it, check it once then walk away as I can see the flashing lights. I try and work on the basis that it can't undo itself, eg doors can't unlock themselves! Straighteners can't plug themselves in again.

I’m the same. The hob, straighteners and locking the door - either to leave or whilst indoors. I check multiple times.

I do have OCD and this is one of my obsessions and compulsions
Ditto. Especially at night.

I am the same.
I stand at the front door, lock it and say under my breathe The front door is locked.
I check it then say it again, then head off. Seems to be working so far.

Is this a new thing, or have you always been like that?
I ask because this was the first sign that I had an underactive thyroid.

I'm like this with the hob and grill before I go to bed

It does sound as if you do have a problem if you have to check the door is locked several times and it is causing you anxiety to the extent that you "dread" leaving the house. There is obviously a point at which behaviour tips over into being OCD.

I'm not sure what trusting others when you can't trust yourself means though. It sounds like you would benefit from a referral for psychological therapies.

Have you always done this since living alone or can you pinpoint when the behaviour began? That might help you understand the rationale behind it and set you on the way to overcoming it.

I do this from time to time and it is mainly about locking the door. I’m in no way OCD. It’s just that it is such a practised thing that you do it’s done on autopilot most of the time. You then have a mild panic because you can’t remember doing it.

A tip I have is to force yourself to remember doing it at the time. So say to yourself as you lock the door “remember doing this” it will reinforce in your memory.

I agree with others that saying out loud ‘door is locked’ might help you - I do the same with hair straighteners.
I’ve never once left them on but have ruined days out by worrying I have and my house is burning down whilst we’re at Lego land or wherever!

@insightfulusername

Ds was becoming like this and so I encouraged him to listen for the click as he pulled the door shut when he left for school. It worked for him and he’s not obsessed with going back to check now.

You do need something physical perhaps......

A click
A photo of the locked door
An out loud comment of ‘I’ve locked the door.’

HTH

I do this! And with hair straighteners. I hate being the last to leave on holiday, but ok for a day trip!
I just say it to my self I've locked it, and check the handle a few times whilst telling myself I've done it. It's the times I'm not paying attention I get stressed.
My neighbour has phoned me and vice Verca when we've been worried!
No idea why, maybe I don't want to have someone walking in my house.
Definitely not so concerned I need help. If it got in the way of my life all the time then I would but just put it down to one of those things!

I take pictures of the oven/hob knobs, the slow cooker setting and the hairdryer plug switch. That's after doing a visual and touch check in a particular pattern and rhythm. I also have to check that the house and car doors are locked in the same pattern and rhythm. It can be quite stressful - at one particularly stressful time in my life I would spend up to 15 minutes on the front doorstep before I could leave for work, as I was convinced that I couldn't trust myself to have locked the door properly. We joke about it in a light way, but my family are supportive when it comes to reassuring me. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is available on the NHS and could help you, although it didn't work for me. Anti-depressants do help me, but your best bet is to speak with your GP.
Good luck!

Hi I am also finding I am becoming more and more like this - double checking windows are locked, the car is locked, plugs are turned off etc. Even to the point at work I am now doubting myself and double checking I’ve done what I’m supposed to have done which I have but my mind will not rest until I have checked!
I have had problems like this before and is normally triggered by stress and anxiety. I am having problems at work at the moment nothing I seem to do is right.... i was taken into an “informal” meeting at work on Wednesday as a colleague had reported to have had issues with me. After this meeting the colleague came to me and basically told me that all the things that had been said had come from management and she had been encouraged to have the meeting. I don’t know who to believe! I feel like the workforce is against me.... to add to this my employer does not have the best reputation when it comes to manage staff one minute they work there and the next minute they’re gone with what appears to no procedure followed this is causing me huge anxiety as I feel I’ll be next out of the door due to my pregnancy.
I have an appointment with my go today but can’t afford to go on sick leave ..... I feel so trappped and alone.
I was under the impress that the meeting was to resolve issues but they have suggested that we both just don’t work together until I go onto maternity leave. I don’t know who to trust!
Sorry for the long post.
Z

It might be an age thing?

I was advised to do something that you remember- like make a chicken noise or stamp your feet. You can then recall doing that and so you know that you have locked the door.

I’m like this too and take photos of for example my hair straighteners unplugged so I know I turned them off. Same with the front door etc.