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Why does it give me feelings of severe panic when people are in my personal space or going through my personal things? For example, when my mom cleans my room.

2 Answers
Last Updated: 05/23/2022 at 3:57pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
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Jennifer Fritz, LMSW, PhD

Clinical Social Work/Therapist

Day to day life can be stressful and overwhelming and my strength is assisting my clients in a supportive, empowering and practical manner.

Top Rated Answers
MouseS
March 14th, 2020 11:00am
It could be for a multitude of reasons. Maybe you have experienced someone go through your things before, which resulted in an awry outcome/feelings. Maybe you have been threatened with your personal belongings/information before, and it brings up a lot of anxiety over past situations. Maybe you feel a deep attatchment to your personal space/belongings and are concerned about something getting stolen, or broken. Either way, there's nothing to feel concerned about. We all are different people, and some are more private than others. I tend to keep my belongings tucked away within draws/cupboards in my room, as opposed to my roommate who keeps their things out on their desk/floor. Both of those methods aren't necessarily 'bad' or 'wrong' but they're just different. We all have reasons as to why we do things, so it may just be the way you are. Either way, it can always be worked on, and it's not something to be concerned about. Hope this helped!
naturalSunshine2980
May 23rd, 2022 3:57pm
It sounds like you are private person and it is anxiety provoking when others delve into your perosnal belongings and space. It can also be a matter of control as you do not know what they are seeing or thinking when they are in your personal space or belongings. It is a tough situation for sure and I do empathize with you! Maybe you can sit down and talk with your mom and let her know that it gives you anxiety and panic when she is cleaning your room and going through your stuff. She will understand and maybe it will change the dynamic for you. Stay strong!