Did I lock the door? Checking OCD - How to STOP checking

What things do you get stuck checking? 🚩

I mentally review/check my past over and over. I scan for feelings, memories, conversations. I mull over details. I even worry that new details could surface, blocked memories, horrible remembrances that maybe I’ve blocked. Then I almost create scenarios where I think “did I actually do this”. It’s a loop that is so time consuming to be stuck in. And I’m working on not engaging with the need for certainty. But it’s hard. Sometimes I’m really successful in using my statements/tools. Other times I’m failing miserably and I give in to the need to know, to solve, to CHECK mentality.

Its mind exhausting when you see a piece of paper on the floor or something you threw away and you must go and check before its gone forever. 😮‍💨 tuff scenarios

Thank you so much for your videos. It feels so good to listen to someone that is a real specialist for OCD. I almost started to cry just because I feel so understand. Not only because of this video but for so many of yours. Thank you so much for your work!

Thanks for taking the time to post these videos.....they're very helpful. Best wishes from Liverpool UK 🇬🇧

Thanks sooo much for posting this video nate! I can relate so much to the checking of a lot of those things. Really appreciate you sharing your strategies how to reduce these compulsions

OCD and Anxiety….. this video is me. Other than contamination fear, this is a daily occurrence. I check multiple times for doors, windows, boiler etc. Thank you so much for making some sense of all this. I’ve felt so lost for years trying to find ways around all this.

can you do more videos on going crazy or insane ocd ? i’d love to see more on this theme. thank you! 🤎

Thank you for this. Although i know these stuff from therapy, it's good to refresh it and use this again. I have a lot of checking ocd in my life.

Anyone with this issue knows that trying to control the thoughts are way easier said than done. But I certainly understand the logic of exposing yourself to the compulsion in an attempt get over the fear.

This is a cool Video! I'll give it a shot. It has been a long and frustrating journey understanding myself and my OCD. I, clearly, have obsessive checking behaviors, but there is never really any reasoning or thought to it. Maybe it is because I've done it for so long that these rituals are just ingrained now. I don't know where it came from or when it started, but my habitual checking takes up a tremendous amount of my time. I check the door, windows, fridge, stove, faucet, and every single app on my phone to be sure I haven't missed anything. But you are right, what if I did miss something? - Probably not much would happen, and I'd just deal with it and solve the problem when it arises. My OCD isn't life-threatening or debilitating, but it is quite annoying for me, my friends, and my family. Moreover, I tend to enjoy how my things and my home are neat, clean, and in order. People are usually surprised and impressed with my organization, but they don't see all the rituals and effort that go on behind the scene. I just want to relax for once in my life and let my hair down. OCD is a constant in my life; It’s always there nagging me. I’m tired of wandering around my house at 2am pushing on the fridge door like a crazy person. I wish I could turn it off sometimes like a light switch.

Resisting is so difficult and uncomfortable. It’s so scary! Catastrophe sounds exaggerated, but 😂 that’s definitely how it feels. Yes, I’m trying to prevent catastrophes. I suppose I’m obsessed with finding all the such scenarios that could possibly come up. It really does occupy my mind all day at times and other times surprisingly, I forget. Sometimes I just don’t want to resist. I enjoy the rituals no matter how ridiculous or how sure I am that it’s unnecessary. Other times, it’s so exhausting thinking this way. It’s only recently I’m realizing I may have this. This anxiety and ocd checking combination. Here I thought I was just careful and thorough. What’s wrong with wanting perfection? Etc. My father had anxiety (undiagnosed) and it’s starting to seem I may have it too.

Being a young machinist (I machine parts for big electric motors on a manual lathe) I’m obsessed with the possibility that my inexperience or negligence on the job may cause fatal accidents if a part fails. I multiple chek tolerances and measures and I get yelled at for it. it’s really painful

I constantly mentally check my past, the what ifs of my past. What if my intentions were "bad", what if I had this thought back then because I wanted it, and I'm not a good wife. I always check because I'm addicted to that false relief

Thank you so much for these teachings.

This is me - it's awful and even just watching this and imagining taking a risk by not checking causes huge anxiety. My checking OCD has attached it to many different things over the years - now it's attached to my work which makes life extremely difficult as I feel if I make a mistake, the result will be that I lose my job - which immediately spirals into losing my home and everything that comes with that. Rationally, I KNOW this isn't so, but the compulsion to check one last time is just so strong. I've tried exposure with things that aren't as important as my job, but it's just easier to give in to the compulsion that put myself through the hell of being uncertain.

This guy is better than therapy tbh

Good things in internet the sayings yes internet can be useful yes it can be useful if they have people like you your channel 💛

I still take pictures out of outlets and stoves, and anywhere I've smoked a cigarette before I leave for work. Even several hours after it was over.

Hi! Can you also do a video for people who suffers panic attacks and agoraphobia. :) Thank you! That would be a great help!💗