OCD can give rise to more dangerous conditions, as well. If you're washing with chemical solvents, for instance, you'll need to stop immediately. Please enter into therapy, or see your physician or psychiatrist, as soon as you can. As you no doubt know, your behavior is hurting you now. You may think you'll just have to address it later. But don't wait.

You May Be Seriously Harming Yourself

Some OCD patients go so far as to drink bleach or swallow rubbing alcohol. If this is so for you, please get help right away. You do not have to continue to suffer and to damage your health and well-being.

We know that getting started can be scary, but we urge you to do so anyway. If you need to bring a friend or family member for support, or hold your first session over the phone, do so. Whatever it takes. Getting well should be your first priority and, though this may seem hard to believe, it is quite possible to begin to make significant progress quickly.

Nutrition Problems

Some people who have OCD fear certain foods or food-borne illness. Of course, it is true that even generally wholesome foods are sometimes associated with tragic illness. Nonetheless, you may be letting yourself in for some serious health developments if you eat far too little, or if you choose only foods in one particular group. If you're eating mostly carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta, rice, and other starchy or sugary fare, you may be putting yourself at risk for diabetes, especially if you have a family history of the disease.

While most of these foods are healthful in moderation, and many people with anxiety disorders crave them for their calming properties, it is unwise to subsist almost exclusively on them.

Dehydration is also possible if you avoid drinking plain water. Dehydration can result in dizziness and premature skin aging, as well as more serious health conditions.

Of course, malnutrition or poor nutrition is also a possibility. And living with constant, or near constant, hunger is not pleasant, as you may know. Insufficient nutrition can cause impaired cognitive function, loss of bone density, and other ailments, many of which cannot be reversed.

In addition to a therapist, medical doctor, psychiatrist, or psycho-pharmacologist, you might want to consider consulting a nutritionist. Some health maintenance organizations will cover your visit. A nutritionist may be able to help you to discover alternate foods you can eat while you recover from your fears, and can also explain the consequences of too little (or too much) of certain nutrients. If you can take vitamins or nutritional supplements, you're well advised to do so. However, you should not take mega-doses, as these may be unsafe. It's best to stick with a basic multivitamin, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Eating disorders are also a concern. Some researchers classify anorexia and bulimia among the OCD spectrum disorders, and it's not hard to understand why. Both involve obsession, accompanied by behavior that's harmful and often feels as if it's beyond the control of the sufferer. If you have, or think you have, one or both of these, it is vital that you get treatment immediately to keep it from getting any worse. Bulimia in particular (an illness characterized by “purging”) can lead to oral, dental, and esophageal problems, and malnutrition can also put you at risk for a host of serious health problems.

Fear of Doctors and Dentists

It is probably beneficial for you to have at least an occasional checkup with your doctor or dentist. And, of course, if you have any symptoms of illness, it could be very dangerous to put off doctor visits or avoid them entirely.

Your best bet for overall good health will be a preventive strategy, not just in terms of disease, but also when it comes to choosing your health provider. It's best to meet your doctor, and also your dentist, at least once, if possible, before the need for their services actually arises. For one thing, this will help you to assess the doctor's personal style and whether it's right for you. For another, your doctor can perform certain baseline tests. If she knows how your systems work when they are healthy, she can do a better job of helping you to heal when you're sick. Plus, generally speaking, it's not a bad idea to go for a checkup every year or two, either. It may help you to stay healthy, arrest any incipient illnesses and relieve whatever anxieties you may have about your health. If you're fearful about doctors, dentists, or their offices, it will be good practice for you, as well.

If you're working with a behavioral therapist, you might make a doctor or dentist visit a priority in your recovery. Together, you can work on achieving that.