Can't go to stores alone

[on_edge]

I have had some strange experiences about five months ago. I went to a store and ended up so disoriented that I had to walk around the store several times to get my bearings and why I was there. This is a store I shop at quite frequently. Then, several weeks later I was at the grocery store and when I got to the cashier, I realized my purse was stolen. I can't remember anyone coming around me and the store only had a few people in the store. I had my bank accounts emptied, 15 checks cashed, credit cards used, mail box broken into, and credit aps filled out. The paperwork was messy and took several months of harrassment to finally have things fixed. I finally had to ask my husband to do the paperwork because I would procrastinate.

I can't help second guessing myself if I was zoning out at the time the thief was able to come up to me and take my purse while I was not even aware anyone was around. It's like when I have been driving and suddenly becoming aware of my surroundings. I had been zoning and driving on autopilot. I don't even remember passing cars or following behind someone.

I don't go out to stores anymore and my husband is getting tired of going with me. I just don't trust myself out in public anymore.

[Beckie]

I do this, too. Though, I usually have the kids with me, so I'm brought back to reality pretty quickly.
I haven't been to the store for anything but a gallon of milk by myself in a long time. My husband and I have done the grocery shopping together since we got married 9 years ago. He has gone by himself twice in that time because I couldn't get myself up and moving by the time we needed to leave. For the most part, we do all the store-going together.
When I'm driving, I also zone. My mind is somewhere else. I'm especially bad at doing this while I drive on the country roads to my mothers. 45 minutes of fields and I am always surprsed to find out that I'm in town and don't remember passing this or that landmark.
I wish I could offer some advice, but all I can do is say that you are not alone. I hope someone else can give some helpful advice on making this better.

Beckie

[Linda]

Oh my gosh....were you by any chance having a "panic attack"? I used to do this when I was pregnant(long long time ago).

[eaccae]

I do this all the time too. A few weeks ago my 3 year old pipes up from the backseat, "I thought we were going to school? It's the other way!" I have no idea where I was going but I was across town in the opposite direction of school! My sisters make fun of me because they say the can tell when I zone - apparently (except while driving) my eyes tend to drift downward and then my head starts to follow.

But in all fairness - alot of these theives are so adept you wouldn't necessarily feel it. And the ways things were emptied out and cashed - sounds like a professional. So don't beat yourself up too much. This person was a pro.

[Honeysmom]

I zone out too. I think everyone does sometimes. If it is really bothering you talk to the doctor about it. The guy who took your purse probably has done it a dozen times before so don't feel too bad. Maybe you are just stressed and zoning out is how you deal with it.

[Blue Oreo]

When I go into stores, I take the child seatbelt and strap in my purse.. that way if they want my purse that badly, they have to take the whole cart.. and I would surely see that going away. I had one attempted many years ago, and this lady told me to use the childs seatbelt. It had worked for years for me, I also tell other ladies about using the strap for theirs too...

[on_edge]

The person from the bank that was helping me with all the paperwork gave me the suggestion of the child strap and I do use it now. I know this was basically a personal violation for me and it could have been much worse. But, I have obsessed daily for months and still cannot write a check because of all the hassles and threats from the stores that accepted the stolen checks. Is obsessing over life issues be part of ADD? This seems to be common with me whenever I or someone else does something I feel is unjustified like notes from school, complaining parents, etc. I am only able to focus on that event and ignore everything else until it is fixed.

[Jenn]

Not to scare you or anything but has Absence Seizures ever been suggested? There is a boy at the kids school that the nurse said he will be talking than his head will drop and his eyes get glassy and go down and 30 seconds to a few minutes later he starts talking where he left off. WE also watch Kat for signs of that since she has had 2 grand mal seizures.

It is only a suggestion. The only way to find out is have neuro do a EEG.

[sierra]

I put my purse crosswise across one shoulder and resting under the opposite elbow. I only buy purses with straps long enough to wear this way. That or I wear a fanny pack. No way somebody could touch it without me realizing. A purse gets tangled up if I"m wearing a scarf or jewelry. Very rare for me to wear jewelry but my oldest sprout has started making beaded jewelry so I sometimes wear something he made.

I didn't do this to prevent theft. I did it to prevent me leaving it in a grocery cart or something. But there's the extra benefit.

For the same absent minded reason I never lock the car using the inside lock. I either use the key or the beeper. That way I know I have the keys in my hand or purse not in the car I just locked.

I look at the typical goofs I make and I arrange my habits so that they don't happen again if possible. I probably act OCD in the process. But there is method to my madness ;D

[Roxy]

I lose my car in the parking lot - often.

But the problem for me is that I can't go to stores (or shouldn't go) alone or with anyone else; I'm so impulsive that I buy things I don't need and pay for them with money I can't spend.

It's been a lot worse in the past year. Anyone else go through this?

Thanks

[rosyred45]

I can see Jenn's point. We have a kid at SACC that has absence seizures. His mom said that he controls them with meds. She DID say it wasn't life threatening on his part, more of a wierd thing. He would just zone, and pick up where he left off after about a minute or two.

I have never seen him while he's had one, but I've zoned quite a bit lately and have been on "auto-pilot" .

Personally, I think it's your minds way of telling you you need to relax, even though your body says no. Listen to your body. If it says to slow down, slow down. If you feel a cold or sickness coming on, it means that your body isn't in the proper working order.

That said, the same thing for the mind. I have finally started listening to my body and mind, and I haven't worried as much or been as sick.

Hope this helps
Kaiti