Thriving in Relationships When You Have Ocd: How to Keep Obsessions and Compulsions from Sabotaging Love, Friendship, and Family Connections

“To the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) sufferer, this condition ‘others’ you. It separates you from the people you love, work with, confide in, or just pass on the street. It tells you that your thoughts and feelings are wrong and gross, and everyone else must just be in on a joke you can’t hear. In Thriving in Relationships When You Have OCD, Amy Mariaskin expertly demonstrates how to navigate and reconnect to the relationships impacted by the disorder. She brilliantly balances the compassion for those suffering with a charm and humor that never condescends. The book is an easy read that also takes the time to explore the often-confusing nuances of OCD, such as the relationship between avoidance and compulsive behavior. In this book, Mariaskin has identified a missing piece of the self-help literature and readers will find their OCD much less puzzling as a result.”
—Jon Hershfield, MFT, director of The Center for OCD and Anxiety at Sheppard Pratt

“If OCD is taking over your relationships, this book offers hope and guidance. Amy Mariaskin provides tools and suggestions for how to thrive in relationships based on the best available treatment for OCD—exposure and response prevention (ERP). This fantastic book fills a significant gap in the field, and I will be recommending it to my own clients!” 
—Jonathan S. Abramowitz, PhD, professor, and director of clinical training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

“A life well lived has rich, meaningful, and caring relationships with others! And yet, when a person struggles with obsessions, this basic need and natural capacity for connection are affected by confusion, doubt, and shame. But there is hope; there are skills you can learn to discover deeper intimacy with the ones that matter in your life.

Relationships, all of them, are the ultimate unknown. In this book, Amy Mariaskin will show you how to navigate relationship anxiety and obsessive doubts without losing yourself—in a compassionate and actionable way. There will be ups and downs in this learning process, and Mariaskin will prepare you to navigate all of those moments so you can thrive in your relationships. This is a must-read book for anyone dealing with OCD that wants to experience rich and fulfilling connections!” 
—Patricia E. Zurita Ona, PsyD, author of Acceptance and Commitment Skills for Perfectionism and High-Achieving Behaviors and Living Beyond OCD

Don’t let OCD be the third wheel in your relationships! This practical guide will help you build and nurture the connections you deserve.

If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you may seek constant reassurance from others, lose time to compulsions, struggle with unwanted thoughts and intense emotions, or act out in ways that are ineffective. These symptoms can put a major strain on your relationships—whether it’s with family, friends, partners, or other relationships. And you may feel alone, embarrassed, and ashamed of your symptoms, which can lead to further withdrawal and social isolation. So, how can you reduce the impact of OCD on your relationships?

Drawing on evidence-based practices grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindful self-compassion, psychologist Amy Mariaskin offers a comprehensive guide for managing your toughest symptoms—before they hijack your relationships. With this book, you’ll find hands-on skills to move toward what you truly want in your relationships and strengthen feelings of intimacy, trust, and connectedness. And finally, you’ll learn how to cultivate self-compassion, mindfulness, and curiosity—all while challenging the beliefs and behaviors that keep you feeling stuck in isolation.

If you’re tired of OCD sabotaging your relationships, this book will help you take control of your symptoms—and your life.

Amy Mariaskin, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with fifteen years of experience treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and related disorders. She is founding director of the Nashville OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center, faculty of the International OCD Foundation’s Behavior Therapy Training Institute, and adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University. Mariaskin has provided individual and group therapy to adults, adolescents, children, and families affected by these disorders. She strives to create a sensitive and affirming therapeutic experience for her clients, and incorporates humor and creativity into evidence-based practice.

Foreword writer Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT, is a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders. She is host of the Your Anxiety Toolkit podcast, and founder of www.cbtschool.com—an online psychoeducation platform for OCD, anxiety disorders, and body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs).