Thriving in Relationships When You Have Ocd: How to Keep Obsessions and Compulsions from Sabotaging Love, Friendship, and Family Connections

Don't let OCD be the third wheel in your relationships! This practical guide will help you build and nurture the connections you deserve.

If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you may seek constant reassurance from others, lose time to compulsions, struggle with unwanted thoughts and intense emotions, or act out in ways that are ineffective. These symptoms can put a major strain on your relationships--whether it's with family, friends, partners, or other relationships. And you may feel alone, embarrassed, and ashamed of your symptoms, which can lead to further withdrawal and social isolation. So, how can you reduce the impact of OCD on your relationships?

Drawing on evidence-based practices grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindful self-compassion, psychologist Amy Mariaskin offers a comprehensive guide for managing your toughest symptoms--before they hijack your relationships. With this book, you'll find hands-on skills to move toward what you truly want in your relationships and strengthen feelings of intimacy, trust, and connectedness. And finally, you'll learn how to cultivate self-compassion, mindfulness, and curiosity--all while challenging the beliefs and behaviors that keep you feeling stuck in isolation.

If you're tired of OCD sabotaging your relationships, this book will help you take control of your symptoms--and your life.

ISBN-13: 9781648480584

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: New Harbinger Publications

Publication Date: 12-01-2022

Pages: 200

Product Dimensions: 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

Amy Mariaskin, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with fifteen years of experience treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and related disorders. She is founding director of the Nashville OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center, faculty of the International OCD Foundation’s Behavior Therapy Training Institute, and adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University. Mariaskin has provided individual and group therapy to adults, adolescents, children, and families affected by these disorders. She strives to create a sensitive and affirming therapeutic experience for her clients, and incorporates humor and creativity into evidence-based practice. Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT, is a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders. She is host of the Your Anxiety Toolkit podcast, and founder of www.cbtschool.com—an online psychoeducation platform for OCD, anxiety disorders, and body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs).

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction 1

1 The Third Wheel: OCD's Role in Your Relationships 3

2 Accommodation and Reassurance: Your Relationships' Role in Your OCD 21

3 "I Can't See You Anymore": OCD Subtypes That Center on Relationships 39

4 The Family You Choose: Friendship and OCD 61

5 Putting Yourself Out There: Dating, Romance, and OCD 77

6 In the Bedroom: Sexual Intimacy and OCD 97

7 Moving In: Roommates and Partners at Home 115

8 We're All in This Together: Family and OCD 133

9 Managing OCD While Managing Kids: Parenting with OCD 151

10 Nine-to-Five: Relationships at Work 169

References 177