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Mental health

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Original poster

Anxiety and superstitions

8 replies

hopefulsunshine11 · 02/01/2023 07:16

Hi all, I have severe anxiety and especially health. I also have OCD. I hadn't heard of the superstition about no washing on New Years Day until someone put it on Facebook and literally just after I done a wash. I know it's a superstition but apparently it means death as "washing a loved one away" anyway, the comments were from people who said they have done this and went on to lose people that year. I now have major anxiety about it and terrified I'm going to lose someone. I have a newborn baby and I'm terrified as I have family that don't keep that good too. Am I being silly? Do people believe in this?

OP posts:

Etinoxaurus · 02/01/2023 07:20

No they don’t. Reframe it as a nice joke/ tradition that saved your ansisters some toil and enjoy your baby.

LucyyG · 02/01/2023 07:27

I've never heard of this. I actually did a lot of washing yesterday as it was a dry day and I could put it out on the line.

Come to think of it I always wash the bedding on New Year's Day.

My neighbors also had washing out as did someone on my walk as I could smell the fabric softener I like from their garden.

Even if someone told me about this I would have still done my washing.

KangarooKenny · 02/01/2023 07:28

Never heard of it.

disgustingtaste · 02/01/2023 07:28

I have never heard of this, and always do washing on New Year's Day!

Eyesopenwideawake · 02/01/2023 07:29

When and how did the anxiety start?

Original poster

hopefulsunshine11 · 02/01/2023 07:48

@Eyesopenwideawake Tbh I can't pinpoint it. I've actually had OCD since I was very young. I actually think I have undiagnosed ADHD. I battled with intrusive thoughts and a lot of behavioural issues growing up and looking back my behaviour was odd, I hid a lot from my parents though and it was only as I got older I realised what I was doing was "not right". I have seen a psychologist and tried all the self help methods for anxiety but it doesn't work so I am going to ask for medication, it is the only thing that has slightly helped in the past.

I'd say my anxiety started maybe 10 years ago roughly, I've always been a worrier but the bad anxiety started when my mum became ill, she still doesn't keep right and I started losing grandparents, I was also in an abusive (mentally) relationship for a while and I seemed to have got worse since then. I just feel like something bad is always going to happen.

OP posts:

chergar · 02/01/2023 08:16

I have intrusive thoughts and OCD so know exactly how you are feeling about this.

Logically you know that superstitions aren't real but you stick to them "just in case" as the anxiety of not doing them is worse than just doing/not doing the thing. It doesn't matter what anyone says as your mind will look for reasons to justify any coincidences. Validation and checking are another symptom of this OCD and not helpful as it encourages your mind to seek out more reassurance, you will never be satisfied with the answer.

Superstitions, lucky charms, good omens, tempting fate, etc are not real, it is just the significance we place on them, and confirmation bias when something happens.

Eyesopenwideawake · 02/01/2023 09:29

It might help you to have a look through Tim Box's channel on YT. He specialises in anxiety and has produced many short, free videos on the subject. One (or more) will resonate with you;

https://www.youtube.com/@TimBoxMindCoach

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