Today, I would like to raise an important and rather difficult subject, which is, in a way, connected to Locky, and which was brought up by your messages and your positive feedback. I am talking about OCD.

In Locky: Origin Story, I told you how the idea for Locky was actually born out of intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and insecurity, all of which have truly disturbed my everyday life. Many of you have identified with this and, just like me, hoped that Locky would be your chance to have more peace of mind. I received many messages in which you shared your experiences, and for that I am extremely grateful.

OCD checking behavior

OCD relates to obsessive thoughts and behaviors, and feeling the urge to repeat some of them over and over. It is estimated that 1-3% of Americans suffer from OCD, but the reported numbers don’t really reflect the truth. First, many people don’t talk about it because of embarrassment, shame, or fear of being labeled. Second, many people don’t realize that it is something more than just a pedantic or meticulous personality. Anyway, the so-called checking behavior is one of the most common compulsions associated with OCD, affecting nearly 30% of sufferers. What it means is that a person will return two, four, or even ten times to make sure that the front door is locked. It could be driven by fear of getting robbed or even accusing oneself of irresponsibility. Of course, for some this kind of behavior would just show the need to have control and certainty, and just locking up with more intention would be sufficient to feel relieved. But for others, it could mean OCD, which requires much more work. Anyway, if checking behavior interferes with your daily life (by making you late for work etc.) or becomes an unwanted ritual that you can’t do without, Locky definitely might be a little help.

Auxiliary measure

It would, obviously, be very ignorant to claim that Locky is a remedy for OCD. It isn’t. It takes a lot more to deal with it. But for some it might be a quite relieving auxiliary measure, among other adequate solutions.

One of the messages I received was from George who wrote that closing the front door had become an overly big issue in his life, which resulted in diagnosis and therapy. “I just can’t trust myself locking the door. Rationally I can, but I keep doubting if it is really closed what results in numerous times checking etc, resulting in turning up late everywhere after some stressful moments” – George told me, hoping that Locky would be a helpful solution. George, thank you for your message and I truly hope that our product will serve you well! I know that Locky isn’t saving the world, but I am extremely happy that it can help a few people with everyday big little issues. That it can be more than just another fancy gadget.

Reassurance

Locky is for anybody who – no matter their motive – wants to be sure that their home is locked and secured. I know from personal experience that the compulsive thoughts from the before-Locky-era come from how important my hearth and home are to me. At work, I very often debated whether I should go back and check the door, or call someone who could do that instead of me. It was even worse on business trips, where I was distressing over the lack of control. This is why it was so crucial for me that Locky would have a family-functionality – when you share Locky overlays among your loved ones, you can track every door usage anytime and anywhere by your phone. You can check if they remembered to lock the door, if your child came back from school, or if your bone-tired partner didn’t forget to turn the key when they came home. For some, this might seem like a huge exaggeration or officiousness, but many will understand…

No matter your reasons, Locky should be useful to you! Whether it’s a little help in subduing your OCD-related compulsive behaviors, or a mean to control the safety of your home, the point of Locky is to give you a sense of security and a peace of mind. If we achieve that – we did our job.