[Silent_tsol]

I don't know if this is entirely anxiety related but that's my official diagnosis so I've come here.

Every once in a while I'll be triggered by my clothing. It usually happens when I'm out of the house so it's not a matter of just putting something else on. But it's not always a public setting either. I think it's anxiety related because I usually start to panic and get overwhelmed.

It's led me to run into Walmart to buy a new outfit. It just feels like I NEED to be in different clothes.

Has anyone else felt this way? Or anything that seems similar?

[Elana05]

Hi Silent_tsol,

I used to have this when I was about age 12 to 14. Especially when I went to see this certain friend I really looked up to. I have always wondered about it. I would be like, "Hi, here I am - OK, now I have to go..." And I would go home and change. It felt like a compulsion. I needed to feel like I was comfortable and accepted for what I was wearing, but it was so hard to feel that way.

Do you see a therapist? Since then, I haven't had that type of experience but I have had a lot of other things feel as though they get in the way... I have found therapy and medication very helpful.

Sending supportive thoughts your way.

[BrokenNBeautiful]

Originally Posted by Silent_tsol

I don't know if this is entirely anxiety related but that's my official diagnosis so I've come here.

Every once in a while I'll be triggered by my clothing. It usually happens when I'm out of the house so it's not a matter of just putting something else on. But it's not always a public setting either. I think it's anxiety related because I usually start to panic and get overwhelmed.

It's led me to run into Walmart to buy a new outfit. It just feels like I NEED to be in different clothes.

Has anyone else felt this way? Or anything that seems similar?

This got my attention. I am not sure I relate or not, but I do try to wear clothes that look presentable but do not get attention, esp. male attention. I will sometimes bring a plain-looking pair of earrings when I wear some pretty ones, in case I get scared of looking "too pretty" and then I can wear my studs. On Solstice Night, when I went out to dinner with Ani, I freaked out when I put on my pants suit; I was scared of looking too pretty or too curvy.

I am not sure how your clothes trigger you. Is it the style or color? Are you afraid of getting attention?

Billi

Another thought. Do you mean a sensitivity thing? Like... something is too loud (literally, in sound, not style)? If so, yes. Overwhelm, panic, flip out. Check. It's not something that would happen all the time, but combined with a certain state of agitation, it has. I have BP. Which may be irrelevant. Don't know.

(Panic has sent me running out of Walmart, but never in. But that is another story...)

[Perna]

I would try to trace back to what you were thinking about right before you felt the need to change clothes; I use to have a need to go get my hair cut as a disguise so "they" could not find me You could be reacting to a difficult thought or something and unconsciously trying to get away by becoming a different person so you can't be recognized by your thoughts.

[Silent_tsol]

I'm SO glad I got some replies on this! I was pretty sure it was such a bizarre thing that no one would have anything to say. Thank you all

I've never really been able to, or tried that hard really to find out why I do this. I just no that I'm very short with myself when I feel that way. Like I feel gross in those clothes. I don't know if it's really my worries about how others see me. I don't think it happens when I'm doing anything special or seeing someone new/special or anything.

Elana,

I used to have this when I was about age 12 to 14. Especially when I went to see this certain friend I really looked up to. I have always wondered about it. I would be like, "Hi, here I am - OK, now I have to go..." And I would go home and change. It felt like a compulsion. I needed to feel like I was comfortable and accepted for what I was wearing, but it was so hard to feel that way.

Do you see a therapist? Since then, I haven't had that type of experience but I have had a lot of other things feel as though they get in the way... I have found therapy and medication very helpful.

I think I would find this less frustrating if I was 12-14, it seems like it could me better chalked up to the age. I don't really try to fit in with my clothes, I just try to wear what I'm comfortable and look ok in. There are times when I get in a tither in the mornings where I feel like I have NOTHING to wear but that's not as extreme feeling as my need to change

I do see a therapist, but it's a new development so we have a lot to cover

Billi,

This got my attention. I am not sure I relate or not, but I do try to wear clothes that look presentable but do not get attention, esp. male attention. I will sometimes bring a plain-looking pair of earrings when I wear some pretty ones, in case I get scared of looking "too pretty" and then I can wear my studs. On Solstice Night, when I went out to dinner with Ani, I freaked out when I put on my pants suit; I was scared of looking too pretty or too curvy.

I am not sure how your clothes trigger you. Is it the style or color? Are you afraid of getting attention?

Sometimes I'm think I'm scared if my clothes are too revealing (they aren't) but they will be clothes that I've worn comfortably before to similar situations without freaking out.

Innerzone,

Another thought. Do you mean a sensitivity thing? Like... something is too loud (literally, in sound, not style)? If so, yes. Overwhelm, panic, flip out. Check. It's not something that would happen all the time, but combined with a certain state of agitation, it has. I have BP. Which may be irrelevant. Don't know.

(Panic has sent me running out of Walmart, but never in. But that is another story...)

I do have sensitivity problems with sounds, so I get what you're saying. I hate when things are too loud or sound gross. I have no theories for that but that's sort of how I feel with my clothes. They feel gross -I feel gross in them. I don't think I think other people would think I look gross in them, just that I feel like I can't wear them anymore

I've definitely gone running out of Walmart before too. But when I go in I'm like power shopping. I grab things and walk at the speed of light and I don't even really acknowledge there are other people in the store -I just NEED clothes!

Perna,

I would try to trace back to what you were thinking about right before you felt the need to change clothes; I use to have a need to go get my hair cut as a disguise so "they" could not find me You could be reacting to a difficult thought or something and unconsciously trying to get away by becoming a different person so you can't be recognized by your thoughts.

I think it probably is some kind of unconscious thought that gets me this way. Next time it happens I will try to slow down and figure out what's going on. It usually feels like there was no before it though.

Thank you again everyone. This doesn't happen too often but when it does it really messes with my day making me late for things sometimes because of my shopping trip