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New ocd theme
user123
Posts: 39 Boards Initiate
I have recently developed a new ocd theme. I have ocd but it’s usually about relationships in my life and this is completely new.
It’s to do with the washing in the house. I am part of a family of four. Me my mum dad and older sister. She’s 3 years older than me. I’m 20 and she’s 23.
I just feel like if I put out dirty clothes to the wash etc they go missing. Our wash also has a really long turnover. It could take three weeks for something to come back. We have everyone’s clothes in together for the wash and my parents do them.
I’m anxious to even throw dirty stuff into the wash because what if I don’t get them back? My older sister and my stuff often gets mixed up as well which also stresses me out. Socks don’t ever come out as pairs either in the wash.
I don’t know how to put a wash on and yes it’s embarrassing. But is that what I should start doing? Get a laundry basket and do my own washing? I feel like I’ll even find doing that stressful. I’m so embarrassed and feel so stupid but I’m so anxious about this.
I also am anxious about how people dress themselves. How do they know what pants to wear for example? How do people buy clothes in shops and online when there is so much out there? I’m genuinely not fit for adulthood and am scared.
If anyone has anyone advice
It’s to do with the washing in the house. I am part of a family of four. Me my mum dad and older sister. She’s 3 years older than me. I’m 20 and she’s 23.
I just feel like if I put out dirty clothes to the wash etc they go missing. Our wash also has a really long turnover. It could take three weeks for something to come back. We have everyone’s clothes in together for the wash and my parents do them.
I’m anxious to even throw dirty stuff into the wash because what if I don’t get them back? My older sister and my stuff often gets mixed up as well which also stresses me out. Socks don’t ever come out as pairs either in the wash.
I don’t know how to put a wash on and yes it’s embarrassing. But is that what I should start doing? Get a laundry basket and do my own washing? I feel like I’ll even find doing that stressful. I’m so embarrassed and feel so stupid but I’m so anxious about this.
I also am anxious about how people dress themselves. How do they know what pants to wear for example? How do people buy clothes in shops and online when there is so much out there? I’m genuinely not fit for adulthood and am scared.
If anyone has anyone advice
2
Comments
It sounds like a good idea for you to get involved and help with the washing. Learning to put the machine on and ironing clothes are good skills to have, and you'll quickly learn where in the process everything is getting held up.
No one is born knowing how to do all this, so it's perfectly reasonable to ask your parents to show you how to do it (they'll likely be happy that you want to help and learn!), and help them until you feel you can try it by yourself. Take it a step at a time - easing yourself into it will help it seem less overwhelming.
In terms of dressing, there's a few things to consider - size, materials, colour and style are important ones. Size is the easiest - making sure you buy something that fits you well means you'll be comfortable and look good in your outfit. Measuring yourself and trying on different sizes is a key part of clothes shopping! For materials, they have different properties - some keep you warm, some keep you cool etc. Also worth finding out if you find any particular materials irritating for your skin.
For colour, learning which colours go together takes some time, but there's lots of guides online on how to colour-code your outfit. It's important that you like the colours you wear, so give some thought as to what colours you really like to wear. Some colours are "safe" so can be paired with lots of other colours, while others only go with particular shades. So if you're not sure, start with the "safe" colours, and as you learn more about clothes, you can find new pieces that branch out in terms of colour.
Style is probably the hardest one to work out, and it takes a combination of trying things out and looking at what styles people tend to wear. Sites like Pinterest are full of style and outfit ideas, and some shopping websites will showcase their clothes as part of an outfit. There's lots of outfits to choose from, and many pieces of clothing will overlap across styles. Often, people will shop with friends or talk about shopping with friends, so you can get ideas from other people too.
It takes time to figure out what best suits you, and what you like to wear. The key thing is to be curious - try things out, look for inspiration, learn about materials and colours. As you do this more, you'll become more knowledgeable and confident in how to dress yourself. No one knows how to do it when they're born, so it's something that everyone is working on - with time and effort, I'm sure you'll be able to learn to dress yourself with confidence too!