“How do I know if I’m in the right relationship?” “What if my partner isn’t the right one for me?”
Many people in romantic relationships consider questions like these from time to time. After all, such qu
estions can be helpful to consider, even if anxiety-provoking. Evaluating a relationship can help us to notice how it is or isn’t meeting our expectations or emotional needs. It can also make it easier to tackle relationship obstacles and to identify ways of keeping [Read more…]
“Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position. But certainty is an absurd one.” – Voltaire
Uncertainty is an unavoidable part of life. Many of us feel distress when faced with uncertainty. This makes sense, given that sometimes things do turn out badly, or not as we would like. Nevertheless, the “not knowing” [Read more…]
Over the past week or two, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has been receiving considerable media attention. The news that two healthcare providers with the virus were being transported back to the United States was met with a mixed reaction. Some people were concerned that their travel to the U.S. could trigger an Ebola outbreak here. One may ask: how much concern about Ebola contamination is reasonable and prudent? When exactly do we cross the line into excessive? [Read more…]
We’ve touched upon violent obsessions that might be common for those with OCD in a previous post. I want to take some time to address other ‘bad’ thoughts that people may have, yet feel they must keep to themselves. Usually these unwanted thoughts fall into three broader categories that encompass violent, sexual, or [Read more…]
Many people with OCD engage in compulsive hand washing. This habit can become excessive, at times resulting in raw and broken skin. There are two ways that hand washing can get out of control: 1) time spent washing, and 2) frequency of washing.
Excessive hand washing may be the single most common observable symptom of OCD, and is probably the behavior most commonly associated with OCD. [Read more…]