Worry wart

I am a worry-wart by nature, anxious about everything and have also OCD (washing hands) for the past few years.
Worry - This is my biggest problem. Like the cliche, even on a good day when everything is going right, I worry when something might go wrong. I tend to magnify issues and give them more importance and time than they deserve. I keep anticipating the worst. An example - I recently bought an eatable at my regular shop, but noticed that it was stale only after coming home. I spent the whole night going over the conversation the next day - How the shopkeeper would refuse to take back the product, I could not convince him on why it was unusable, how I would have to throw it away and stop buying anything from that shop again etc. The next day, when I actually went to the shop, the shopkeeper took the product back and refunded the money without a word, leaving me feeling silly. I have gone through such scenarios in the past too, but everytime it happens, I think that I won't be in good luck this time. Whenever I am travelling in a car (not driving), even during long journeys (5-6 hrs). I cannot sleep/read a book or even chat with the others. Even if I am in the backseat, I keep looking at the windshield. I feel that something untoward will happen if I don't concentrate on the road.

In my house, my favourite place is a sofa in the living room with a wall at the back and side. I never sit on any of the other chairs or at the dining table, except when I have guests. I feel very secure in this corner. I keep the windows closed in the living rooms. and on some days when I feel very tensed, for no apparent reason, I keep the curtains drawn. This makes me feel protected and safe. I rarely go to the balcony. Part of the reason is that, I was previously in a flat on the top-floor. I then moved to a building to a middle floor. I used to initially spend a lot of time in the balcony, reading a book or just looking out, and almost everytime I was there, someone on the floors above would wash thier balconies and a torrent of dirty water would flow down and spray on to my balcony, or it would be some curls of hair or other garbage falling down. Since then, I have become so paranoid about this that I keep the balcony door closed and go there only to dry my clothes and rush back in.

After we moved into this building, our front door is frequently vandalised by a bunch of kids, everytime we lock and go out. So now, I avoid going out at all, and when I have to, I rush back home as soon as I can. When I am on vacation, I request my friends to check up every couple of days and call me and spend the time in between calls worrying about what might have happened. I know that this is a common problem for many city dwellers, but I am appalled at how a bunch of kids have managed to spoil my peace of mind.


I always have a tense and worried look on my face. Sometimes, even when I have been sitting at home, I suddenly realise how my face has been drawn into a pensive look or I have been clenching my teeth, and I have to make a conscious effort to relax.

I am also anxious before a much-awaited event/trip. I wont change anything in my routine until it has happened - I wont change the upholstery/regular shoes that I wear/utensils that I use, I wont buy any new items, except for daily necessities etc.

I cannot solve any problem on my own. My husband is a practical, down to earth person who feels that most of the problems that I spend so much time delving on should simply be ignored, but it is easier said than done. I call up my parents on an almost daily basis and need their help on how to handle things.

I would really appreciate your help in sorting out these problems.