very illuminating...

I have a niece and for years we cannot for the life of us understand if she has OCD, there are elements you shared she does have and others she does not...Ugh - it's so hard because I'm sure for most of these, there are never two identical cases.

Will share this with them - and thanks for helping us to understand it more clearly. Congrats Benighted on what you've achieved in not only working through it all, but empowering yourself with the knowledge to help others and be able to share what you have experienced. Must make you even more effective and helpful - since you can tell them, "I know what you're feeling..."

Great article!