Challenge Club-Merged Threads

[Guest NickNickNick]

Howdy.

Progress was made this weekend, I think.

I sat on the chair and couch at my girlfriend's and things went alright...I didn't shower or feel too anxious about it, so that went good.

I did 'feel' dirty and anxious at other times, however fro varying other reasons...I didn't act on any compulsions and it really didn't put much of a damper on the weekend, but they were still there bugging me.

It was a good weekend all in all.

[Guest sass]

I new to this site so hello everyone!

Setting goals seems like a good idea...the only problem is thinking what to start with.

[Caramoole]

Well Done NNN.....Smartie points winging your way

[Guest SallyB]

Had a really good day today. Went out of the house on my day off (which was my task for today) and managed to leave without checking at all (well I checked the front, back, patio and garage doors!) i even managed to leave the back door (which is the door we always use) without going back to check, when I really wanted to! I also didn't switch the plug off for the kettle (another big one).

It is always easier when I take my dog out as a lot of my anxiety involves keeping him safe - but even so I have done a lot better than I usually do.

Back to work tomorrow so usual checking but will still stop peeping under the lampshade at the light bulb. Am going to set myself a new task for Tuesday.

Sally

[Ashley]

I new to this site so hello everyone!

Setting goals seems like a good idea...the only problem is thinking what to start with.

13164[/snapback]

Welcome the the site Sass

Best advice for OCD challenges is to start small, dont try and attempt a task which is too much for you, start small and get strong and then increase your tasks as you gain confidence.

All the best and Good Luck

[Guest sass]

I new to this site so hello everyone!

Setting goals seems like a good idea...the only problem is thinking what to start with.

13164[/snapback]

Welcome the the site Sass

Best advice for OCD challenges is to start small, dont try and attempt a task which is too much for you, start small and get strong and then increase your tasks as you gain confidence.

All the best and Good Luck

13168[/snapback]

Thanks Ashie

[Caramoole]

Sally you're doing brilliant, I reckon it's a tube of Smarties for you

Welcome Sass, anything will do, Like Ashie says, pick something no matter how small, it's a step in the right direction.

Well it's now 10pm and I haven't checked my B.P once today...been tempted a couple of times but what the heck

[Guest SallyB]

Fantastic Caramoole - that's brilliant!

I had a bit of a blip today - I just couldn't convince myself that the bedroom light was off without looking under the shade at the lightbulb - so had a peep. However, the rest of the checking wasn't too bad (and it ususally is really rough after the weekend when I've not done it for a couple of days).

I have been thinking what task to add for this week. I am not going to check the downstairs loo window. I have had a thing about it since we had the hall decorated and the decorator had left it unlocked when he finished. I will see how I get on and do my best.

My aim is to add a new task every week until I can leave the house with gay abandon (or rather just leave the house without having to factor in 45 mins to an hour of checking time first!)

Sally

[Caramoole]

Well Done how did you do going to work?

I didn't check yesterday at all

I did today once this morning. I've had a bum (ish) afternoon where my anxiety's been high and my BP is probably up....so far, although sorely tempted, I've resisted the temptation

[manxpete]

Right,

I am going to stop washing my hands each time I touch next doors cat, which comes into the house..........Here goes

Pete

[Guest SallyB]

Yep - not too bad - still a bit late (I know I'm going to get a telling off soon for being late every day) but I am doing loads better on the bits that cause me real anxiety (the doors) but not so good on the cooker knobs.

I am determined to add a task every week and get this checking sorted - I'm a woman on a mission!

Sally

[Caramoole]

Lol Sally

Welcome aboard ManxPete......yes, stop washing but please don't stop stroking the cat

[Caramoole]

So let's see who we've got

Me - Checking Blood pressure

Sally B - Checking the lamp

Two Shoes - Letting husband wash up

Hayley - Not checking behind her

Adamski - Not asking for reassurance and working on contamination

Louise24 - Cutting down time in the shower

Matt - Trying to keep occupied & busy

NickNickNick - Sitting in a dirty chair

IrnBru - Reduce checking

Caveman - Stop cleaning toilets at 6.30 am

Patsy - Reduce checking

Xena - Not checking envelope contents

Queenie - Resisting cleaning rituals

Sammy Hostie - Checking Pulse

ManxPete Stop washing hands after touching the cat

[Northern Star]

I am going to try to reduce the number of times I wash my hair. Some days it's fine then others it's not (3 times so far today I think )

[Caramoole]

So let's see who we've got

Me - Checking Blood pressure

Sally B - Checking the lamp

Two Shoes - Letting husband wash up

Hayley - Not checking behind her

Adamski - Not asking for reassurance and working on contamination

Louise24 - Cutting down time in the shower

Matt - Trying to keep occupied & busy

NickNickNick - Sitting in a dirty chair

IrnBru - Reduce checking

Caveman - Stop cleaning toilets at 6.30 am

Patsy - Reduce checking

Xena - Not checking envelope contents

Queenie - Resisting cleaning rituals

Sammy Hostie - Checking Pulse

ManxPete - Stop washing hands after touching the cat

Northern Star- Cut down on washing hair

[Guest NickNickNick]

My dirty chair fear can go away now.

My big goal now is that when I get back to where I live during the school year, I will feel like I have to wash ALL of my clothes and bedding a couple of times.

With some help from my girlfriend, I am going to resist the compulsions to do this, and just enjoy my time there...

September 2nd will be the day I move back, so I have 2 weeks to prep myself.

This is the thing I've been decreasingly anxious about all summer...hopefully it will go away when I get there...

[Caramoole]

Good Luck with that Northern Star :grin:

Now I need to call the register and get some feedback here.

Hayley, where are you? I've seen you lurking How's it going with the not looking back, Donut's a new member who could do with some tips.

...and Two Shoes, any progress?

If it's getting difficult, drop back and make the task a bit easier

[Caramoole]

Well done with the dirty chair NNN, talk about washing your dirty linen in public I hope your girlfriend doesn't know you've been telling everyone on the world wide web that her furniture is dirty

Seriously, good luck with college, I'm sure you'll be fine, you're so determined

[Guest NickNickNick]

The only reason that the furniture is 'dirty' is because it is actually my furniture I am loning her.

For me, other people's clothes and things cannot become contaminated because of my touching them, at any point...

strange.

Thanks for the encouragement. I will let you know how it goes.

[Guest SallyB]

I did ok today - managed not to check the lightbulbs nor the downstairs loo window! Did feel quite anxious so I found it more difficult with the doors and was late for work (again!) but do feel that I'm making progress.

Sally B

[Northern Star]

Sounds good Sally! Obviously I don't mean about being late for work, but it's all big steps in the right direction. And one day you'll walk through that door on time with a big grin on your face and it'll be so worth it (although if you have a big grin on your face then they might worry you've been drinking en route to work! :drunk: )

[Guest SallyB]

Thanks Northern Star. I know that you mean! I know someone who used to live with a friend who often went out of the house and forgot to lock the front door! I couldn't believe it! I don't want to get to that stage, but I do want to be able to go out with a few minutes notice rather than always refusing to do stuff because of the stress!

Skipping out of the house with a big grin sounds great to me - I don't care what anyone else thinks of that!!

Sally

[Guest Dragonfruit]

Excellent thread

I am going to try not to Dettol the toilet seat and handle, and taps, and bathroom door handle and lock before and after I go to the bathroom each time

Once a day (or maybe twice) will suffice.

[Caramoole]

So let's see who we've got

Me - Checking Blood pressure

Sally B - Checking the lamp

Two Shoes - Letting husband wash up

Hayley - Not checking behind her

Adamski - Not asking for reassurance and working on contamination

Louise24 - Cutting down time in the shower

Matt - Trying to keep occupied & busy

NickNickNick - Sitting in a dirty chair

IrnBru - Reduce checking

Caveman - Stop cleaning toilets at 6.30 am

Patsy - Reduce checking

Xena - Not checking envelope contents

Queenie - Resisting cleaning rituals

Sammy Hostie - Checking Pulse

ManxPete - Stop washing hands after touching the cat

Northern Star- Cut down on washing hair

Dragon Fruit - Cut down on disinfecting bathroom

[Guest SallyB]

well - had a dreadful day checking yesterday. I so wanted to stay at home and not go to work so that I didn't have to finish checking. I got so mad with myself that I was shouting because I just wanted to check and leave the house and just couldn't. The trouble was that my in-laws had been staying overnight on their way back for hols and they never wash their hand after going to the loo. ( I know as in their house the toilet doesn't have a sink and is separate from the bathroom and have seen them coming out of the loo many times and not washing their hands).

Although I am normally not too worried about contamination, it really does stress me out when they've been to stay and I found checking really awful. I wanted to cry all the way to work.

Having said that today was better. I failed on the downstairs loo window as I always feel that my in-laws have opened or unlocked things whilst they were staying - but I managed to avoid the lights.

Will hopefully do better next week - but have then got my in-laws for Saturday- Monday for the Flora Light Race - I know my mother-in-law is supporting by running with me, but it is hard having her to stay!

Sally