OCD Action

Truddles
Member

I've just with my OT gone through two large suitcases of clothes that I had kept on the off chance that I'd fit into them again.

I find it difficult throwing things out for fear that I throw out something important with the rubbish. When it comes to either throwing clothes out or sending them to the charity shop I'm petrified of leaving something in the pockets. Hence my OT has helped me to check nought important thrown away and to help me be more ruthless, had it been me alone I'd have sorted through and kept everything I was petrified, but it had to be done and I'm fed up with being in a such a mess - I like some sort of order.

But I didn't realise just how many memories your old clothes can trigger, we also had a good laugh at some of my fashion disasters Didn't we wear some strange things in the seventies?

I'm now suffering severe 'separation anxiety' as she's kindly taken them to the charity shop. Stupid isn't it? How can you miss such fashion disasters and be so attached to clothes that you'll clearly never either fit into or want to been seen dead in??

Suppose it's something else for me to obsess about But it felt good to have actually achieved something all be it with help.

Thu Apr 15 2010 13:51:27 #
Unregistered

Trudy, you’ve accomplished so much, it’s very sad that there is the downside of missing your old clothes. Would anyone else react as we do?!

I have old clothes, too, and I know I’ll never wear them again. I even have my dad’s old things, because my mum didn’t want them and I couldn‘t bear to see them thrown away. They are still in a corner of a room in black bags. It would have been preferable for her to have taken them to a charity shop.

I’ve just been writing in my book about some of the bizarre items I have hoarded. My milk and wisdom teeth, milk teeth from several dogs, their nail clippings, sutures from one of their operation sites, hair from them and all the family….

Hopefully the separation anxiety will pass quite quickly and you’ll be left with a good feeling of achievement. I have reached that stage on occasion and it’s a good feeling. Well done for facing it, it must have been tough.

Thu Apr 15 2010 14:23:54 #
Truddles
Member

I'm sure that I will get over it given time. I feel such a fool though, but I suppose part of it is that I've lost everything else from my past (including my family, health, self esteem and dignity) that my OCD thought that it kept a link to my past

We had a real laugh though, there were clothes from when I left school (many many moons ago) to about ten years ago. I was proud of wearing them at the time but today although they brought back many memories, I thought 'Did I really go out wearing those?' No way would I be seen out in them today

They're only clothes, but I found it really difficult parting with them. But too late they're gone so I'll just have to survive. Stupidly even though the OT checked that I'd thrown nothing away that I shouldn't have and that there was nothing in the pockets I'm still saying 'What if?'

Does anyone else have this problem? The rational side of me finds it difficult to comprehend, but the OCD me says that it's perfectly normal to be so attached Thank goodness I can't manage to go out alone or know where she's taken them or I'd go and get them all back

Thu Apr 15 2010 14:40:34 #
aishah
Member

Hi Trudy,

Well done for having a turn out! I find it hard to part with things but not in a big way. Like Tricia I have got my childrens milk teeth and various other bits.

You must be getting so much more space now that you are de-cluttering.

Take Care
Bridget

Thu Apr 15 2010 19:28:20 #
Rena32
Member

Hi Trudy, I understand your seperation anxiety, I know that before I give old clothes away or take them to a charity center, I have to go through all the pockets, and make sure that I did not leave anything important in them, even if I have not worn them in years, then I have a sad feeling that I am having to part with old clothes, the feeling eventually passes and of course now, I don't miss those old clothes. I hope you feel better soon.

Fri Apr 16 2010 4:28:20 #
Unregistered

Trudy, Are you feeling better about your old clothes today? I should have thought, several of the ‘girls’ from my old school are looking for 70s clothes for their school reunion!

Bridget, I was so distressed by the thought of losing my milk teeth that my father ensured that the tooth fairy gave me sixpence, but kindly left each tooth under my pillow as well. I fretted for years about one which the dentist removed. I didn’t like to ask to keep it! To save my children going through that distress, I kept all their milk teeth. The funny thing is, neither of them could understand why! I suppose it’s because they, fortunately, did not inherit my OCD.

Fri Apr 16 2010 12:02:57 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Tricia,

Feeling a bit better though still keep thinking 'I should have kept this or that, and should have kept the smallest skirt to remind me just how small I used to be.' BUT if we kept everything we wouldn't be able to move at all would we? My flats cramped as it is so I should be ruthless, though I'll need help. So onwards and upwards hopefully.

I can understand keeping the milk teeth though, lots of mother's do. So it's not just an OCD thing.

Fri Apr 16 2010 12:19:22 #