How My OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Affects My Relationships

 The term OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) is often used to describe perfectionist behavior. While people with OCD may just seem overly organized, Medscape says OCD behavior stems from pervasive psychological pain, anxiety and "distressing intrusive obsessive thoughts."

Intrusive and distressing, these thoughts certainly are. I wasn't diagnosed with OCD until adulthood, but I recognize now that I've had OCD since early childhood. Here's a picture of what OCD feels to me and how it affects my relationship with my husband, kids and loved ones. Hopefully, this insight will help you if you're living with a person with OCD or if you experience it yourself. I've included ideas on what's helped me, too. How I Experience and Cope with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 

Levi Johnson Fathering Another Baby is No One's Business

 Levi Johnson, father of tea party figurehead Sarah Palin's grandson Tripp (with Palin's eldest Bristol), is fathering another child with his new girlfriend, Sunny Oglesby. I'm not sure what response the media expects of us: Shock, righteous indignation? The best I can muster is tepid apathy. The New York Daily News primly calls the pregnancy "out of wedlock." I don't think anyone is startled by revelations of babies born on the wrong side of the blanket. It's not like Johnson is a kid, either. The couple says they're happy. That's refreshing. With all the haranguing about abortion rights, you'd think pregnancy was some kind of randomly acquired infection. Levi Johnson Fathering Another Baby is No One's Business 

Michelle Duggar Unfairly Advocates Big Families

Is it wasteful to have a family of 21 in these times? No, according to Michelle Duggar, quiverful-mom of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting," because the population explosion is a myth. Duggar explained this in an interview with CBN's The 700 Club. I don't always see eye-to-eye with Jezebel, but I find myself nodding my head at their analysis that Michelle may not be seeing the big picture. Let me add that I'm sure the Duggars are lovely people-kind and loving. I just don't think they're being fair linking their larger-than-life family to God's blessings, when we all know their show nets them a lot of things that most large families couldn't afford. They also enjoy the support from many sources. There's a lot more that goes into caring for that large a family than what two parents could ever provide. Read more at  Michelle Duggar Unfairly Advocates Big Families

Why the Flap Over a Gay Marine's Homecoming Embrace Photo?

When gay marine Brandon Morgan posted a photo of him and his boyfriend Dalan Wells in a passionate kiss after Morgan's homecoming, I'm not sure what he expected. The hate comments probably weren't surprising nor was the fact it went viral, as The Lookout says. I'm not surprised; it was an intense kiss. That in itself engenders a lot of gawkers. Was it going overboard? Read more at Why the Flap Over a Gay Marine's Homecoming Embrace Photo?

Immigration, Not Homosexuality, is the Issue with Sheriff Paul Babeu - Yahoo! News

Something is rotten in Denmark, and it's not the fact Republican Pinal County, Ariz., sheriff Paul Babeu came out as gay. The issues in Arizona go much deeper. Babeu's former lover Jose Orozco's Internet abuses are problematic, says the Los Angeles Times. The coup de grace is immigration violation charges with subsequent deportation threats against Orozco, a Mexican national. The homosexuality, even the identity theft, is a smokescreen for the real agenda: Using personal issues to further political causes. Read more at Immigration is the Issue with Sheriff Paul Babeu

Relationship Glue Recipe: How to Keep a Marriage or Any Relationship Solid

In a few months, I'll celebrate 25 years of marriage to my first and only husband. When people ask about our recipe for relationship glue, I point out that we've made every mistake in the book and probably invented some. The failures, especially those we knowingly committed (and learned from), have taught us much more than any successes, particularly accidental ones. These are our classic "been there, done that" communication mistakes, along with bits of wisdom we've gained from those mistakes. Read more at Relationship Glue Recipe: How to Keep a Marriage (or any Relationship) Solid

Sexy, Sensual, Intimate, Romantic, Valentine's Dayay Gifts for Your Special Lady

Well, you did it again. February 14th is right around the corner and you haven't gotten your special gal anything. Don't panic; your friendly neighborhood cupid is here with some fabulous ideas that you can get last minute. Want to impress the socks off your lady and gain you some great brownie points with her? I promise that if you present her with one of these offerings, she will think that you are the most sensitive, savvy and sophisticated guy in the world. To shop for these gifts, you will need to visit a local antique store, consignment shop, secondhand store. You might even hit pay dirt with a Good Will. Here is what you are looking for. Read more at Last-Minute Valentine's Day Gifts Guaranteed to Impress

Michelle Duggar Miscarriage, Loses 20th Baby

Michelle Duggar Loses 20th Baby; Miscarriage Resources for Parents Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar, quiverfull parents of TLC's "19 and Counting" lost their 20th child. A 19-week ultrasound detected no heartbeat and the Duggars have opted to let the miscarriage occur naturally, says People magazine. Here are stillborn-infant and miscarriage information for parents. Medicine Net says 60 percent to 70 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Most occur before 13 weeks and many before mom knows she's conceived. Despite it's commonness, miscarriage, is one of the most guilt-producing events in parenting. Read more...

Romantic Gifts for Husbands, Boyfriends and Lovers - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

Best Gifts for Husbands, Boyfriends and Lovers We women often complain that our men aren't romantic. And then we buy them a tie and a wrench set for Christmas. If you want to light your man's romantic fire this holiday season, you need the right fuel. Here are romantic gifts for husbands, boyfriends and lovers. I've said this to men buying gifts for wives and girlfriends, and I'll repeat it to women buying gifts for husbands and boyfriends: do not buy gifts that represent work (appliances, tools). Do you want him to buy you a vacuum for Christmas? Also, do not buy your man a gift that you want him to use, but he will hate (aka a tie, tickets to the opera). This is a gift you would like. You have to buy him what he would like. Do you want him to give you season passes to the Possum Lodge Beer-a-thon? I thought not. The best way to shop for your guy is to get inside his head. Read more...

Sensual Gothic Victorian Pre-Raphaelite Ghost Halloween Costume Guide

Gothic Victorian Pre-Raphaelite Ghost Halloween Costume DIY Guide Zombies are not a new invention. They've walked the pages of horror fiction for centuries. The undead have plagued generations of Devil's night, Samhain and Walpurgis revelers. Looking to recreate some of those vintage creeps of yore? Here's a DIY guide to make Gothic Revival Victorian costumes for women. Originally, "Gothic" didn't mean the same thing as the "Goth" styles (black hair, dark clothing, vampiric overtones) of today. Gothic referred to a high medieval architectural style. Modern Goths are a throwback to the Gothic Revival (mid 1700s to early 1900s). They are influenced by the Victorians' dark obsession with rigid morality, morbidity and sexual frustration. Pre-Raphaelites opposed this hypocrisy and focused on innocent sensuality. Read on...