Sharing an unusual phobia
Hello. I’m new to 7 Cups. I’m in my 40s, neurodivergent with OCD. I’m here mostly for my anxiety. I think it sounds ridiculous to say out loud, but I’ve been dealing with a painful and debilitating phobia for almost 10 years now.
I had a traumatic experience where I lived in 2 places where the smoke detectors didn’t work, and I only found out about it later, not during an emergency, but using sage or incense and then learning they didn’t work.
About 10 years ago, I had new smoke detectors put up and I tested them with incense to be sure they worked. They did, and I felt safe. Now, it’s almost time to replace them, and I’m terrified the new ones won’t work.
When I have this anxiety, my body won’t let me sleep. I go to fall asleep and wake back up in terror over and over again.
My biggest fear is not sleeping, and it triggers my OCD and anxiety. I’ve never told anyone other than my spouse and my therapist about this until now.
@CoralGrief
I do not think it is odd at all...
some one i know has similar fears that emergency will happen and item does not work there are sometimes test buttons and some i know test once or twice a year like an emergency drill that a business or school do.
maybe make a scheduled test once or twice a year many do this attached to a holiday or something you can remember to do.
Thank you for responding. I appreciate the support 😊
I do check them regularly. The phobia is, unfortunately, a bit more complicated than that.
It’s like I have to check a specific way to feel safe, and the way I feel safe checking is setting them off in a safe, controlled way, and that’s not always feasible depending on the type of detector. Wired in, battery-operated, etc.