People with OCD often feel that by engaging in their compulsions they are preventing bad things from happening, but they really are not. Most realize the faulty logic there, and others not.
Fear response is hard wired into our CNS, but anxiety disorders in general are an expression of this response that is outside the norm for the situation. If you are anxious around mountain lions, that is normal, if you are anxious around small spaces, groups etc... that is a disorder.
I feel that believing your anxiety is protecting you will only reinforce the anxiety.

Dr.S.