I've got OCD.

Hmm I don’t know. I just wanted to say that I think your OCD with books is the most weird and wonderful :P

It’s great that you’ve been reading up on your disorder. From what I see, it cannot really be ‘cured’ but the frequency and intensity of the condition can be somewhat alleviated by medication and psychotherapy.

Medication may be combined with psychotherapy, and for many people this is the best approach to treatment. As stated earlier, it is important to give any treatment a fair trial. And if one approach doesn’t work, the odds are that another one will, so don’t give up.

If you have recovered from an anxiety disorder, and at a later date it recurs, don’t consider yourself a “treatment failure.” Recurrences can be treated effectively, just like an initial episode. In fact, the skills you learned in dealing with the initial episode can be helpful in coping with a setback.

• Encourage active diversionary activities, such as whistling or humming a tune, to divert attention from the unwanted thoughts and to promote a pleasurable experience.

• Help the patient develop new ways to solve problems. and cultivate more effective coping skills by setting limits on unacceptable behavior (for example, by limiting the number of times per day she may indulge in compulsive behavior). Gradually shorten the time allowed. Help her focus on other feelings or problems for the remainder of the time.

• Identify insight and improved behavior (reduced compulsive behavior and fewer obsessive thoughts). Evaluate behavioral changes by your own observations and the patient’s reports.

• Identify disturbing topics of conversation that reflect underlying anxiety or terror.

• Help the patient identify progress and set realistic expectations of herself and others.

• Work with the patient and other treatment team members to establish behavioral goals and to help the patient tolerate anxiety in pursuing these goals.

(http://www.depression-guide.com/how-to-cure-ocd.htm)

However, I think hypnotherapy would be an interesting alternative.

Keep at it, I’ve been working on not washing my hands 100 times a day and not showering 10 times a day, and I know it can be distracting, but you just got to deal with the anxiety (in the short term it will be difficult but it will help you in the long term… you dont want to be doing this forever, and you especially dont want it to get worse) If you cant do it on your own, you should talk to a therapist about dealing with the anxiety…

thanks a bunch. hopefully it’s gets better over time. I’ve really been working on it and trying not to do the book thing, but if I don’t I just have bad anxiety the whole day. so I tried the humming thing and that helped a bit but I can’t hum in the middle of class and my anxiety makes it hard to concentrate.

thanks again though! I really appreciate it. cross your fingers for me! :)

Hmm just talked to my therapist about OCD and basically the only way to deal with it is to stop the behaviors and tolerate the anxiety that comes from it… I know it sounds easier said then done, but every time you perform the behavior it reinforces the belief, and so the only way is to deal with the anxiety (which will peak, unfortunately, before it goes down) is to tolerate it…