Understanding and Overcoming the Fear of Someone Touching Your Belongings: An OCD Perspective

When someone touches my stuff, I feel like I don't want it anymore. This is a feeling that can be deeply distressing and is often rooted in underlying issues, including OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), anxiety, and possessiveness. Let's explore why this happens, and how you can work toward overcoming it.

Is It OCD?

It's possible that your fear of others touching your belongings may be linked to OCD. OCD can manifest as excessive focus on cleanliness, order, or contamination, leading to behaviors that might seem excessive to others. If you're struggling with OCD, you may have experienced a germaphobic phase, where touch and cleanliness were major concerns.

If you're dealing with OCD or anxiety, it's important to understand that your fears are symptoms of an underlying issue. While these fears might feel all-consuming, they are often rooted in past experiences or trauma. It might be helpful to process your emotions and work to identify the root cause of your fears. Seeking professional assistance can be a valuable step in addressing these issues.

Childhood Experiences

Your childhood experiences might play a significant role in your current feelings. If someone in your family, such as a sibling or parent, took things from you or broke something of yours, it could have left you feeling disrespected and angry. This experience may have taught you to be more possessive and protective of your belongings, even to the point of feeling that you don't want your things anymore when others touch them.

Additionally, if someone invaded your privacy, such as reading your diary or journal, or took your toys without your consent, it could have made you feel vulnerable and mistrustful. These experiences can linger, and as a result, you might approach new situations with a heightened sense of caution and fear.

Developing Tolerance and Building Trust

Developing tolerance and trust in people and the world around you is crucial. Here are some steps you can take:

Process Your Emotions: Take time to understand and process your emotions. Identify the root cause of your fears and try to address them head-on. Understanding why you feel this way is the first step toward overcoming it. Build Trust with Others: Start building trust by interacting with people in a way that feels comfortable for you. Gradually increase your exposure to situations where others might touch your belongings. This can help you build a sense of trust over time. Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries with others about what you consider private or personal. While it's important to be respectful of other people's belongings, it's also important to protect your own personal space.

Theoretical Solutions: A Survivalist Experience

If you're highly possessive and have a difficult time letting go of your belongings, you might find it helpful to participate in a survivalist experience. By going without certain items, including basic necessities, and experiencing the importance of these items in a harsh environment, you can gain a deeper appreciation for what you own.

Consider an experience like this:

Go into the wilderness for a week with an experienced survivalist. Without your gear, survive as best you can. Bringing back to the edge of civilization, let people use or abuse your gear for a day. Then, choose only half of it to be returned to you, and you will need to survive in the wilderness again for another week with only half of your gear.

Through such a challenging experience, you might find that you still value your gear, even after it has been used by others. This can help you recognize the true importance of your belongings and reduce your fear of others touching them.

Conclusion

While it may be challenging, understanding and overcoming the fear of others touching your belongings is possible. Through therapy, self-reflection, and practical experiences, you can work toward building trust and finding a healthier perspective on your belongings.