Just a Dude Grappling with Harm Obsessions and the Checking Game
What stood out to me recently was how sneaky harm obsessions can be. It’s wild how your mind can take something innocuous and twist it into this intense fear of causing harm. Sometimes, I find myself getting caught in this loop where I obsessively check things—like whether the stove is off or if I locked the door. It’s like my brain is convinced that if I don’t check, something terrible will happen.
I remember one day, I had to leave the house for a friend’s gathering, and I ended up standing in front of my front door for what felt like an eternity. I was running through a mental checklist, but no matter how many times I checked, that nagging thought would pop up: “What if I left the stove on?” It’s bizarre because I know, logically, that I turned it off, but that little voice in my head is relentless. Does anyone else have that voice too?
After a while, I realized that the time spent checking actually made me feel more anxious. It’s like I was giving power to those thoughts, and I didn’t want to let them win. So, I started trying to challenge that urge. I’d tell myself, “You know you turned it off. You’ve checked before, and everything is fine.” It’s still a work in progress, but there are moments where I feel a bit more in control.
I’ve also found that talking about it helps. Like, when I bring it up with friends or even just jotting it down in my journal, it takes some of the power away. I guess it’s kind of a way to externalize the thoughts, making them feel less like a part of me and more like something I can manage.
What about you all? Have you dealt with similar types of obsessions? How do you cope with that overwhelming need to check? I’m curious to hear what strategies have worked—or haven’t worked—for you. I think sharing our experiences can really help lighten the load, right?