Any police officers here ?

[Starrrz]

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

@Griffindor1979 just thought maybe you’ve received an email from mumsnet? As i get emails with every notification. X

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

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

@Bourneo ok im gonna give it a try for sure! Thank you! I loveee listening to music makes me feel so much happier.

not sure if i do tbh, as a young girl ive always had to hide my emotions. My mum has schizophrenia / bipolar and i always had to walk on egg shells. Could never say if i was sad , worried etc because putting stress on her could cause an episode. So ive always been a worrier in my own mind. Ive always put a smile on and people think im such a happy person with no problems at all. Since my health got bad i was at the drs crying ALL THE TIME. But having a baby has maybe made me worse yes. I really hope this will settle x

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?

@Namechangeforthis88 yes i think your spot on there. Whatever i do has to be right and perfect do people dont think any less of me. I always go above and beyond for everyone to not have people be mad at me for saying no. Its hard being in my brain. When i cuddle my little ones i feel so much hsppier x

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.

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

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

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

@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 💐.

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.

How many times are you going to post this?