OCD is more common than many of us think. Its estimated that up to 2.3 million American suffer with OCD In any given year.

I believe its also talked about less than anxiety issues or depression even though its so common. I believe the reason for this is that people believe that it may be closer to "crazy" than other diorders even though it is not.

OCD can take over your life and leave you feeling depressed and powerless. I've been there and I know what it like.

If you are suffering with this condition I have outlined below some steps that will help.

1)Please remember that you are not crazy or mad. When people are insane they have no awareness of what they are doing. Many insane people feel their thoughts are coming from outside themselves but OCD people recognize that that their thoughts are exaggerated even though their hard to control.

2) Everything we do no matter how maladaptive it may be serves a purpose. In other words every problem was once the solution as Milton Erikson used to say.Close your eyes and ask yourself why am I doing this ? and wait for an answer to come. It will if you are patient. Ask yourself where did this begin? and you might get an image or thought or something come to mind. There may be a trauma in your past that are reacting over and over again. It really helps for the conscious mind to understand where the pain is coming from so it can accepted.

3) let your self take on more uncertainity in life. OCD has been called the uncertainty disease. Only by flooding your body with uncertainty and letting it wash over you will You learn to accept the energy that you are fighting . Let your thoughts in and the compulsions will start to fade.