Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz from UCLA has had good succes in treating people with OCD without drugs using a very rigorous program of exposure and ritual prevention. The support group I attend used his model for success. (His book is Brain Lock). That being said, I only know one person who is doing relatively well with no medications, and he has some recurrent obsessions and compulsions.

Most of the people who I know who have severe OCD use medications in conjunction with intensive therapy. Generally neither the medications nor therapy can relieve all of the obsessions or compulsions but when used together a great improvement can be seen.

My goal is to reduce my OCD medication as I progress with the therapy, but I realize that since there is a long history of OCD in my family that I may never be off it entirely.

Have you talked to a therapist? You may have to "interview" a few to find one who knows a lot about therapy for OCD but it will be well worth it!

Good luck!

-apislily