Care of possessions

[kellie70]

Hi all,

Do any of you with depression and anxiety get upset if others touch your personal possessions?

For example, I don't like my Dad washing my car, or anyone using my computer, as I get worried that they will "wreck" them.

I have had this issue my whole life, and it is a family joke. Apparently my grandmother was the same with her possessions too. And now that I know a lot more about depression, I know my Nan suffered it too although it was never diagnosed with her.

Would love to hear if anyone else has this problem? How do you handle it?

It is not normal to not want people to touch everything we own, especially a favourite coffee mug.

Is it because we want control over something as our minds are out of control a lot?

Thanks for reading,

Kellie

[Jacko777]

Hi kellie70,

I have changed my connection with possessions over time but I am not sure how it relates to my depression. Interesting topic by the way! For me, the problem with being strongly connected to possessions is that I can feel loss if my possessions are taken away or damaged. The buddhist in me has decided that I can be 'me' with no possessions or any possessions. I take the middle road with my connection, if I value my connection too strongly then surely I will feel greater loss if we are separated. An example, my car gets stolen...I love and appreciate it, but it's not 'me', I cannot control some things, I cannot control the person that stole my car and I refuse to lose energy to something that I cannot control, I can keep my calmness and happiness, that is the only thing I can control and that is my response in the moment. This all takes practice!! I ain't perfect that's for sure, and the car is a tough one cause it costs big $$$$. 

So perhaps you can have a favourite mug, but if it's gone, no worries, you can find another? Hugs to you. 

Jack