Tips for managing OCD

Wow, you're my closest match so far. I hope I'm able to help you. I actually got a workbook to help with my OCD. I did a lot of research and finally settled on "Getting Over OCD, Second Edition" by Jonathan S. Abramowitz, PhD. This is basically designed to follow the same steps the author takes with his patients in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It gives a lot of information on OCD, provides reassurance that OCD is not your fault, and guides you through different exercises to manage it better. I found that it was most helpful in identifying what my primary struggles were. For example, I didn't realize that so many of my obsessions were based on my fear of rejection. It also helped me not feel so inferior because of all the real OCD examples he used - I felt less alone, too. I highly recommend this book if you can afford it. One thing it had me do what focus on specific areas first. Not to try healing everything at the same time, but rather the things that were most problematic. I also had my boyfriend help me. I spend the most time with him, so I had him keep me accountable and give me limits that would force me into discomfort from an obsession. I also gave myself limits for the same reason. Eventually, some of my minor obsessions almost completely faded away, only returning on bad days. In the end, though, a lot of the help has come from taking anxiety medication. I could have kept working through that book instead, but my anxiety and OCD were so severe that I decided I didn't have the luxury of staying all natural with the book. I tried meds. They have helped me more than I ever imagined. I don't obsess as much as I used to, and so I'm happier. I still do the things from the book, though. It helps me not fall into the thought processes that cause me to obsess and panic.