Hi, I'm sorry to hear you too struggle with OCD, but I guess now that you have the diagnosis, you might get a better idea of how to deal with this.
My OCD mostly revolves around checking, including needing to check something a certain number of times or count to a certain number while checking. I'll check to make sure windows and doors are locked, check that nothing is touching the water heaters in my house (irrational fear of fires starting), check that I have my homework in my backpack or phone in my purse, etc. You name it, I probably check it. I even have to check things I'm reading, so that I'm rereading like every other sentence!
So I
completely understand that part of the OCD, and although I'm not particularly paranoid about germs, I can definitely see where that comes from as well.
You might want to look into a therapist who does
exposure and response prevention therapy, I've found that to be the most effective with my OCD thus far. For example, right now I'm working on reducing my compulsions to check the heaters every night before I go to bed, so my therapist is helping me reduce the number of times I'm allowed to check each night. She had me buy a sleep mask that I can slip on as soon as I'm done checking, so that I'm not tempted to go back and check more. Then I have to get into bed and can't take the sleep mask off until the urges to check are gone (and if I fall alseep with it on, that's fine too!). Obviously, you'd use different techniques based on your specific compulsions, but this type of therapy is supposed to be really good for OCD, and it's worked the best for me so far.
I wish you the best of luck dealing with this. It
does get better, and you
can really reduce your obsessions and compulsions with the proper help. Let us know what you decide to do and how it goes.
*Hugs* <3
