[rtsmusicinohio]

I'm a 21 year old male. I've been dealing with anxiety and OCD for about 5 years now. I'm really trying to just find ways of self help to relax my mind, or even ways to avoid my fears altogether. My main fears have been contamination of food related to the recent E coli and Salmonella outbreaks, and also a fear of viruses from mosquitoes including west nile, ect. Any help would be greatly appreciated, especially if you can relate and would like to talk. Thanks.

[erin]

i try to tell myself how stupid i am being and try to embarass myself into gettting over it. it mainly only works in public

There was a time in my life where I had a mild case of OCD and I would also get anxiety while driving after I was involved in a car accident. I hope I can relate to you with this answer based on what I have been through. There was a time when I use to wash my hands a lot. It got to a damaging point for my skin but I told myself that it was ok, we should wash our hands a lot so we don't get sick. After the wreck I would always feel like the car was about to spin out of control and, when really in a sense it was me that was letting my mind get the best of me. The mind is amazing, it can control you, literally.The best way I found to deal with all of this was to try and realize that we CAN NOT CONTROL A DAMN THING THAT HAPPENS TO US! Sure, we can do our best, but ultimately we can die at any time for any given reason. Rather a meteor nails us in the head (yes, that does happen) or we accidentally ate someones pubic hair that ended up in our pasta at some restaurant. You are living in a fear. We all have fear, but your mind is using it against you. Just don't worry. Just let go. Reading the bible helped me deal with most of this. It really put things in perspective for me, like how we should focus on more important things in life. The bible is actually the manual to not worrying about anything. Of course this is coming from my beliefs and what HAS WORKED for me. I am sure someone will post below me about how I can believe in a snowman and get the same results, but whatever. You can get over this though, through the grace of God, by looking up stuff on the internet on how to deal, getting meds, etc.. I am sure one of them will work for you. I am just here to tell you that God helped me and I really do not worry about anything anymore, not even work or relationships. It actually sets you free and helps you cope with life much better. Good luck to you.