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My Life with OCD

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Ferguson</p><div></div></div></div><div class="css-4k1h7y"><div data-testid="page-widgets-list" class="css-m260rd"><div class="css-1wx75fd"><div class="css-1lag92m"><div class="selector toString"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="selector css-l5ik9o"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="Landing Page Engagement|Link Click_Untitled Section 1_Hero Article_1|/ocd/ocd-impacts-relationships/" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Landing Page Engagement|Hero Article - Untitled Section 1|LINK|How OCD Impacts My Relationships|lp1" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-impacts-relationships/" aria-label="image-link" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-rlaxw5"><lazy-image alt="" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/09/409129-my-life-with-OCD-how-OCD-has-impacted-my-relationships-thumbnail-732x549-1.jpg" className="css-10vopkp"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div><div class="css-p41rgh">NEWEST POST</div><a class="css-1uhtj6l css-1ilgjue" data-event="Landing Page Engagement|Link Click_Untitled Section 1_Hero Article_1|/ocd/ocd-impacts-relationships/" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Landing Page Engagement|Hero Article - Untitled Section 1|LINK|How OCD Impacts My Relationships|lp1" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-impacts-relationships/" data-testid="title-link">How OCD Impacts My Relationships</a><section data-testid="byline" class="css-111ilmn"><div class="css-1pz7193"><div class="css-xc63cd"><lazy-image alt="" src="//i0.wp.com/post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/07/500x500_Sian_Ferguson_Mug.png?w=73&amp;h=73"></lazy-image></div></div><div><span><span><span><span>Written by <a class="css-150s69f css-130mbve" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/authors/sian-ferguson">Sian Ferguson</a></span></span></span></span></div></section><p class="css-px8f4n"><a class="css-2fdibo css-v34bze" data-event="Landing Page Engagement|Link Click_Untitled Section 1_Hero Article_1|/ocd/ocd-impacts-relationships/" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Landing Page Engagement|Hero Article - Untitled Section 1|LINK|How OCD Impacts My Relationships|lp1" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-impacts-relationships/" data-testid="text-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Living with OCD means having obsessions and compulsions. Here&#x27;s how they have influenced my relationships and what I&#x27;ve done to manage it.</a></p><a class="css-150s69f selector css-18sjiqr" data-event="Landing Page Engagement|Link Click_Untitled Section 1_Hero Article_1|/ocd/ocd-impacts-relationships/" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Landing Page Engagement|Hero Article - Untitled Section 1|LINK|How OCD Impacts My Relationships|lp1" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-impacts-relationships/">READ MORE</a></div></div></div></div><div data-empty="true" class="css-q9supy"><div class="css-1hjaa0k"><span class="css-zya54r"></span></div><div id="MMR1__slot" data-adbridg-ad-class="MMR1" data-ad="true" class="css-1l7cd95"></div></div><div class="css-1wx75fd" data-widget-id="widget-small-listing-1"><div class="css-1jwivau"><div class="css-1obwrn8"><h2 class="css-1bq1xar chartbeat-section" style="color:inherit">MORE POSTS</h2></div></div><ul class="css-1q1zlz3"><li class="css-1lt6y1r"><div class="css-k008qs css-k3xa71"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-p8s4cr"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_0_/ocd/ocd-and-productivity/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-and-productivity/|cs1" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-and-productivity/" aria-label="image-link" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="Illustration by Brittany England" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/05/PC-352806-My_Life_with_OCD-How_OCD_Blocks_Productivity_and_What_to_Do-Gif-732x549-Thumbnail-v2.jpg" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div><a class="css-1uhtj6l css-1ilgjue" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_0_/ocd/ocd-and-productivity/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-and-productivity/|cs1" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-and-productivity/" data-testid="title-link">How OCD Blocks Productivity and What to Do</a><p class="css-ivs5d1"><a class="css-2fdibo css-v34bze" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_0_/ocd/ocd-and-productivity/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-and-productivity/|cs1" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-and-productivity/" data-testid="text-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Many think people with OCD are highly organized and productive. But some of us have a hard time with productivity. Here’s why and what to do.</a></p></div></div></li><li class="css-1lt6y1r"><div class="css-k008qs css-k3xa71"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-p8s4cr"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_1_/ocd/ocd-toxic-positivity-compulsion/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-toxic-positivity-compulsion/|cs2" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-toxic-positivity-compulsion/" aria-label="image-link" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="Illustration by Brittany England" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/04/PC-313212-My_Life_with_OCD-OCD_and_Toxic_Positivity-Can_Positive_Thinking_Be_a_Compulsion-732x549-Thumbnail.jpg" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div><a class="css-1uhtj6l css-1ilgjue" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_1_/ocd/ocd-toxic-positivity-compulsion/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-toxic-positivity-compulsion/|cs2" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-toxic-positivity-compulsion/" data-testid="title-link">OCD and Toxic Positivity: Can Positive Thinking Be a Compulsion?</a><p class="css-ivs5d1"><a class="css-2fdibo css-v34bze" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_1_/ocd/ocd-toxic-positivity-compulsion/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-toxic-positivity-compulsion/|cs2" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-toxic-positivity-compulsion/" data-testid="text-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Positive thinking may be good for you but when does it become toxic? Toxic positivity can become an obsession or a compulsion in OCD. Here&#x27;s why.</a></p></div></div></li><li class="css-1lt6y1r"><div class="css-k008qs css-k3xa71"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-p8s4cr"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_2_/ocd/ocd-anxiety-as-a-safety-mechanism/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-anxiety-as-a-safety-mechanism/|cs3" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-anxiety-as-a-safety-mechanism/" aria-label="image-link" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="Illustration by Brittany England" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/03/PC-286139-Who_Am_I_If_Not_An_Anxious_Person-732x549-Thumbnail.jpg" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div><a class="css-1uhtj6l css-1ilgjue" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_2_/ocd/ocd-anxiety-as-a-safety-mechanism/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-anxiety-as-a-safety-mechanism/|cs3" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-anxiety-as-a-safety-mechanism/" data-testid="title-link">Who Am I If Not An Anxious Person?</a><p class="css-ivs5d1"><a class="css-2fdibo css-v34bze" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_2_/ocd/ocd-anxiety-as-a-safety-mechanism/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-anxiety-as-a-safety-mechanism/|cs3" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-anxiety-as-a-safety-mechanism/" data-testid="text-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Living with OCD can mean experiencing anxiety all the time. But what if you don&#x27;t want it to go away? This is how I discovered I was using it as a defense mechanism.</a></p></div></div></li><li class="css-1lt6y1r"><div class="css-k008qs css-k3xa71"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-p8s4cr"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_3_/ocd/new-year-resolution-letting-go-of-magical-thinking/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/new-year-resolution-letting-go-of-magical-thinking/|cs4" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/new-year-resolution-letting-go-of-magical-thinking/" aria-label="image-link" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="Illustration by Brittany England" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/01/PC-257783-My_Life_with_OCD-New_Years_Resolutions_Letting_Go_of_Magical_Thinking-732x549-Thumbnail.jpg" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div><a class="css-1uhtj6l css-1ilgjue" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_3_/ocd/new-year-resolution-letting-go-of-magical-thinking/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/new-year-resolution-letting-go-of-magical-thinking/|cs4" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/new-year-resolution-letting-go-of-magical-thinking/" data-testid="title-link">Letting Go of Magical Thinking</a><p class="css-ivs5d1"><a class="css-2fdibo css-v34bze" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_3_/ocd/new-year-resolution-letting-go-of-magical-thinking/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/new-year-resolution-letting-go-of-magical-thinking/|cs4" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/new-year-resolution-letting-go-of-magical-thinking/" data-testid="text-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">If you&#x27;ve set your New Year&#x27;s resolutions but also live with OCD, you might find magical thinking takes the lead. Here&#x27;s how I manage.</a></p></div></div></li><li class="css-1lt6y1r"><div class="css-k008qs css-k3xa71"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-p8s4cr"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_4_/ocd/when-ocd-compulsions-hurt-you/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/when-ocd-compulsions-hurt-you/|cs5" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/when-ocd-compulsions-hurt-you/" aria-label="image-link" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="Illustration by Brittany England" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/11/PC-206585-My_Life_with_OCD-When_Compulsions_Hurt_You-732x549-Thumbnail.jpg" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div><a class="css-1uhtj6l css-1ilgjue" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_4_/ocd/when-ocd-compulsions-hurt-you/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/when-ocd-compulsions-hurt-you/|cs5" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/when-ocd-compulsions-hurt-you/" data-testid="title-link">When OCD Compulsions Hurt You</a><p class="css-ivs5d1"><a class="css-2fdibo css-v34bze" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_4_/ocd/when-ocd-compulsions-hurt-you/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/when-ocd-compulsions-hurt-you/|cs5" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/when-ocd-compulsions-hurt-you/" data-testid="text-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Living with OCD may also mean that your body takes a toll. Taking care of your physical health may also help you heal mentally.</a></p></div></div></li><li class="css-1lt6y1r"><div class="css-k008qs css-k3xa71"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-p8s4cr"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_5_/ocd/ocd-regret/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-regret/|cs6" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-regret/" aria-label="image-link" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="Illustration by Brittany England" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/10/PC-190277-My_Life_with_OCD-When_OCD_Meets_Regret-732x549-Thumbnail.jpg" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div><a class="css-1uhtj6l css-1ilgjue" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_5_/ocd/ocd-regret/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-regret/|cs6" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-regret/" data-testid="title-link">When OCD Meets Regret</a><p class="css-ivs5d1"><a class="css-2fdibo css-v34bze" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_5_/ocd/ocd-regret/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-regret/|cs6" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-regret/" data-testid="text-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Living with OCD often involves feeling regret about things you really couldn&#x27;t control anyway. Here&#x27;s how I&#x27;ve learned to manage this.</a></p></div></div></li><li class="css-1lt6y1r"><div class="css-k008qs css-k3xa71"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-p8s4cr"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_6_/ocd/religious-beliefs-ocd-symptoms/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/religious-beliefs-ocd-symptoms/|cs7" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/religious-beliefs-ocd-symptoms/" aria-label="image-link" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="Illustration by Brittany England" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/09/PC-167950-My_Life_with_OCD-Can_Religious_Beliefs_Make_OCD_Harder_to_Navigate-732x549-Thumbnail.jpg" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div><a class="css-1uhtj6l css-1ilgjue" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_6_/ocd/religious-beliefs-ocd-symptoms/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/religious-beliefs-ocd-symptoms/|cs7" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/religious-beliefs-ocd-symptoms/" data-testid="title-link">Can Religious Beliefs Make OCD Harder to Navigate?</a><p class="css-ivs5d1"><a class="css-2fdibo css-v34bze" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_6_/ocd/religious-beliefs-ocd-symptoms/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/religious-beliefs-ocd-symptoms/|cs7" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/religious-beliefs-ocd-symptoms/" data-testid="text-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Here&#x27;s how I realized my religious beliefs were influencing my obsessions and compulsions, and what I did about it.</a></p></div></div></li><li class="css-1lt6y1r"><div class="css-k008qs css-k3xa71"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-p8s4cr"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_7_/ocd/when-people-doubt-ocd-diagnosis/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/when-people-doubt-ocd-diagnosis/|cs8" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/when-people-doubt-ocd-diagnosis/" aria-label="image-link" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/08/PC-150454-My_Life_with_OCD-When_People_Dont_Believe_Your_Diagnosis-732x549-Thumbnail.jpg" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div><a class="css-1uhtj6l css-1ilgjue" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_7_/ocd/when-people-doubt-ocd-diagnosis/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/when-people-doubt-ocd-diagnosis/|cs8" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/when-people-doubt-ocd-diagnosis/" data-testid="title-link">When People Don’t Believe Your Diagnosis</a><p class="css-ivs5d1"><a class="css-2fdibo css-v34bze" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_7_/ocd/when-people-doubt-ocd-diagnosis/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/when-people-doubt-ocd-diagnosis/|cs8" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/when-people-doubt-ocd-diagnosis/" data-testid="text-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">When you live with OCD, some people don&#x27;t believe you because you don&#x27;t fit the stereotype. This doubt can be hurtful, but there are ways around it.</a></p></div></div></li><li class="css-1lt6y1r"><div class="css-k008qs css-k3xa71"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-p8s4cr"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_8_/ocd/ocd-relaxation-techniques-compulsion/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-relaxation-techniques-compulsion/|cs9" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-relaxation-techniques-compulsion/" aria-label="image-link" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="Illustration by Brittany England" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/07/PC-123655-My_Life_With_OCD-When_Relaxation_Techniques_Become_a_Compulsion-1200x628-Facebook.20210730001653534-e1627678835377.jpg" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div><a class="css-1uhtj6l css-1ilgjue" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_8_/ocd/ocd-relaxation-techniques-compulsion/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-relaxation-techniques-compulsion/|cs9" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-relaxation-techniques-compulsion/" data-testid="title-link">When Relaxation Techniques Become a Compulsion</a><p class="css-ivs5d1"><a class="css-2fdibo css-v34bze" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_8_/ocd/ocd-relaxation-techniques-compulsion/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/ocd-relaxation-techniques-compulsion/|cs9" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/ocd-relaxation-techniques-compulsion/" data-testid="text-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Living with OCD means you may constantly seek ways to manage your anxiety and obsessions. I tried a deep breathing technique that worked — at first. Then it became a compulsion. Here&#x27;s my experience.</a></p></div></div></li><li class="css-1lt6y1r"><div class="css-k008qs css-k3xa71"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-p8s4cr"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_9_/ocd/dog-itch-helped-me-understand-ocd/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/dog-itch-helped-me-understand-ocd/|cs10" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/dog-itch-helped-me-understand-ocd/" aria-label="image-link" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="Collage by Brittany England" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/06/PC-107509-My_Life_With_OCD_How_My_Dog_Helped_Me_Understand_My_Condition-732x549-Thumbnail.jpg" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div><a class="css-1uhtj6l css-1ilgjue" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_9_/ocd/dog-itch-helped-me-understand-ocd/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/dog-itch-helped-me-understand-ocd/|cs10" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/dog-itch-helped-me-understand-ocd/" data-testid="title-link">How My Dog Helped Me Understand My OCD</a><p class="css-ivs5d1"><a class="css-2fdibo css-v34bze" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_9_/ocd/dog-itch-helped-me-understand-ocd/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/dog-itch-helped-me-understand-ocd/|cs10" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/dog-itch-helped-me-understand-ocd/" data-testid="text-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health condition that&#x27;s often misunderstood and stigmatized. I&#x27;m on my journey to understand it better and my dog has helped me.</a></p></div></div></li><li class="css-1lt6y1r"><div class="css-k008qs css-k3xa71"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-p8s4cr"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_10_/ocd/fear-law-of-attraction-manifesting/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/fear-law-of-attraction-manifesting/|cs11" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/fear-law-of-attraction-manifesting/" aria-label="image-link" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="Illustration by Brittany England" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/03/PC-37583-My_Life_With_OCD_Law_of_Attraction_and_My_Fear_of_Manifesting_My_Thoughts-732x549-Thumbnail.jpg" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div><a class="css-1uhtj6l css-1ilgjue" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_10_/ocd/fear-law-of-attraction-manifesting/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/fear-law-of-attraction-manifesting/|cs11" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/fear-law-of-attraction-manifesting/" data-testid="title-link">When You Fear Manifesting Negative Thoughts</a><p class="css-ivs5d1"><a class="css-2fdibo css-v34bze" data-event="Content Series_Series Hub|Article Link Click_ALL POSTS_10_/ocd/fear-law-of-attraction-manifesting/|my-life-with-ocd" data-element-event="INTERNALLINK|SECTION|Content Series_Series Hub_Article Link Click|Small Image Listing - MORE POSTS|LINK|my-life-with-ocd_/ocd/fear-law-of-attraction-manifesting/|cs11" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/ocd/fear-law-of-attraction-manifesting/" data-testid="text-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">As someone living with OCD, I was afraid of the law of attraction and how I could be manifesting my negative thoughts and obsessions. Here&#x27;s my process.</a></p></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div><span class="css-zya54r"></span><span class="css-zya54r"></span></div><div class="css-i9gxme"></div><footer class="css-1kxg2hz"><div class="css-1dppxl0"><hl-social-nav></hl-social-nav><div class="css-1b2ri56"><div class="css-uktbta css-1tn87m4"><hl-newsletter-cta buttonText="SIGN UP" source="footer_widget" subscribeEventTracking="Newsletter Acquisition|footer_widget|submit" className="css-13njx2h" category="Newsletter Acquisition" formatType="footer" name="footer_widget" productId="footer_widget" variant="footer_widget"></hl-newsletter-cta><div class="css-16bllps css-17cs55w">© 2025 Psych Central, a Healthline Media Company. All rights reserved. Healthline Media is an RVO Health Company. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. 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