Whenever i leave the house or go to bed,i spend alot of time checking everything is locked,windows shut,taps off,and all plugs off etc. It's taking over my life. After i have closed the front door behind me i stand there for about 5-10 minutes checking it is locked by pulling it. On my way to work i keep thinking and worrying if i closed everything. This is driving me crazy but i cant stop. A few years back my house was broken into and valuables taken so i'm wondering if this has got something to do with my paranoia?
2006-09-13 04:39:38 · 50 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
Sounds like OCD. There are plenty people out there who can help you. Make an appointment with your GP and ask for a referral to a specialist who will be able to help you. Good luck!
2006-09-13 04:41:28 · answer #1 · answered by Trix 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You've grown OCD out of this experience. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be cured by a prescription, but more or less, it's better to break the habit naturally. Before you go to work, try leaving one window unlocked, and then progressively work your way to leaving the door open. Here's the thing, regardless if you've locked everything up, if a robber wants in, they'll find a way (breaking a window, kicking the door in, etc.) You have to trust that it won't happen again; it has been a few years. OCD is like an addiction. It can be broken, but it will eat away at your mind for awhile.
2006-09-13 04:52:54 · answer #2 · answered by youdontneedtoknowme 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard that there are quite a few people who have such habits , so don't feel bad about it. If it's affecting your life so much and you'd like to stop it, I'd recommend getting some professional psychiatric help.
As for a way to help reassure yourself that your home is secure... No home is really secure but if you make yourself a check list, you can go through it a write the time you check each point. When you wonder if things are secure, you can just refer to the list with the times written on it. Trust yourself to have locked the door after you've checked it once and noted the time it was secured.
Best of all is for you to seek professional help.
B well.
2006-09-13 04:54:14 · answer #3 · answered by Karl X 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is not really paranoia it is an illness called O.C.D obsessive compulsive disorder because of your past experience its no wonder,however there is not one single thing that can trigger this disorder and you are not going mad.
I would look on line and type in O.C.D where you can learn a lot more, you should consider some kind of therapy (counselling) as it can sometimes be easily treated, if you don't then things can get worse and you will be afraid to even leave the house,
I wish you all the best and get well very soon.
2006-09-13 04:47:26 · answer #4 · answered by mentor 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds a little like OCD. This is understandable if your house was broken into. Just regocnize the problem and set little goals for yourself. Try to break the habbit. If you feel you cant get control over it yourself then seek help from a counselor. I think that since youre allready aware of the problem if you just take it day by day and treat as if it were any other habbit and try to break it then you will be ok. There are worse things you could be doing. But something shouldnt consume so much of your time. Good luck babe!!!! : )
2006-09-13 04:59:01 · answer #5 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you are dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is an anxiety disorder that very well could have been triggered by the break in. You have so many options to help you! Talk to a therapist; you can overcome this without medication! There are also many support groups and web blogs for OCD and you'll find there are a lot of people who have the same feelings you do.
2006-09-13 05:01:10 · answer #6 · answered by Huh? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can identify this problem straight away, my mother was a victim as I was to a degree. It's easy to say go to a doctor, which is good advice, and they can probably give you temporary medication. What you should ask for is a self help group, there are many people out there who have this problem.
As for myself, I became a Christian some years back and the disorder left me completely. I believe the Lord Jesus Christ cured me of it. The strange thing is I never noticed the change until sometime later. I thought I was going mad, checking and re-checking everything. Even turning pages in a book, but what I said is true, as soon as I gave my life over to Christ, the symptoms disappeared completely. My sanity returned, and it wasn't until i noticed someone else with a similiar problem that I asked them what they kept doing that for, then it dawned on me, I used to be just like that. So, please, go for it, there are plenty of helplines and God Bless You.
2006-09-13 04:59:33 · answer #7 · answered by patch 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many people whose personal space has been violated by a thief find themselves checking and rechecking. But it sounds like you may have a post traumatic reaction to what happened several years ago.
I would suggest you find a licenses counselor/therapist to help you with the issue. Step by step they will help you reach a more normalized way of checking and still feeling safe.
In the meantime, decide how many times you can check something. When you reach that number, say three, then no more checking.
But you do sound like a professional in the field of mental health would greatly improve the quality of your life.
2006-09-13 04:45:42 · answer #8 · answered by banananose_89117 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fact that your house was broken into may have something to do with your paranoia, but probably very little. It sounds to me like you have OCD -Obsessive-compulsive disorder. You may want to check out websites on this psychological disorder and meet with a psychiatrist who can give you treatment and get your life back to normal!
2006-09-13 04:42:47 · answer #9 · answered by ehcgirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could be having an obsessive compulsive disorder. Try taking this test:
http://www.mental-health-today.com/tests/ocdtest.htm
This is just a screening test and not diagnostic. If it suggests you may have OCD, please see a therapist. There is nothing to be ashamed about it but you do need help coz it may get worse if you do not know how to manage it.
Some things that may help : Yoga, meditation and exercise.
Your doctor may prescribe you some anti-anxiety medications like diazepam to reduce anxiety.
P.S.
You may also be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder because of the break-in. Again, you need to talk to a therapist about this as they are best to advice you, and not mere lay people.
Don't worry :) There is hope!
2006-09-13 04:49:54 · answer #10 · answered by Liz^24 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
paranoia has a lot to with it. but it sounds to me like you have developed OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder) i know a person who has this and it has almost become crippling for them. they have taken it from just being in the house (like you are doing) to the car, work, public places....i would suggest you try and one night leave a door in your house unlocked...not the front door, nor back, just a door in the house...then if you still are doing everything like you have or leaving it unlocked..i would seek some advice from a doc....i mean not to be pumped full of meds, but maybe some advice on how to curve it and to get some mental release from all of this....good luck and best wishes
2006-09-13 04:45:17 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋