Gaston:

I've used the Exposure and Response method. It only works in limited amounts for me. I once spent five days of H-E-double-hockey-sticks (because they won't let you type the word here), not washing my hands at all, and I got worse, not better. I can go for hours without washing when I need to, but I can't touch certain things. The anxiety may calm down, but the dirty feeling doesn't go away. And if I touch something "clean" when I'm dirty, it becomes dirty, too. I don't like how I feel when I feel dirty, and that doesn't stop, either. I've used the E&R method for minor things, but it doesn't always work, even for those. I've been using therapy and medication for 29 years.

My tears lack vitamins, and when they spill, they bring forth dirt from my eyes, and sometimes the goop that the dry eye causes. Plus, once on the skin, they can catch any sweat or dirt. Stuff gets in the eyes. Sometimes, when I wipe the gunk out of my eyes, I'll see bits of dirt or whatever, and clothing fibers.

By definition, I am a burden, and my boyfriend's told me so. My parents acted the same way around me, often frustrated by me. My dad never got it, although he loved me. I won't go into the hurtful things he said to me, because I loved him, too, but all those things affected me.

I don't think anyone's read anything I've given them or pointed them to about OCD. At least, they didn't seem to know anything mentioned in the info.

I don't think of OCD as an animal. I like animals!