My name is Tina Barbour. I have been living with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) since I was a child. I was officially diagnosed with OCD and depression when I was in my 20s.
I live in a small town in Virginia with my husband and cats. I am a writer, a bookworm, a mental health advocate, and an animal welfare advocate. I work at our local library part-time.
My OCD manifests in checking, contamination, and scrupulosity. I obsess about things I may or may not have done that could cause harm to others. I try to assuage my anxiety with compulsive actions and avoidance.
My OCD is not nearly as bad now as when I was a girl and young woman, but it still affects my life. Medications and cognitive therapy, including mostly self-directed ERP (exposure and response prevention) therapy have helped me tremendously.
I am not an expert on OCD, depression, or anxiety. I just know what it’s like to suffer from them. I urge you to seek the help of medical professionals if you suffer symptoms of these conditions.
I hope that the writing I do about OCD will help you understand and deal with the disorder. Thank you so much for visiting the blog.
