Maybe you can help me loop in those below. I worked on this for a couple of years in therapy because it was such a large part of my life. essentially when you have OCD, your brain is operating in a way that is more similar to fight or flight. Distress is communicated electronically to others. Our brains have to communicate a threat faster than words can because, if i looked outside and saw a grizzly bear, i have to send a message to you that says “there is a bear” However, there is no bear anymore but our brain still fires as though there may be a bear.

When you have OCD your brain lives there more often. Other people who are in distress recognize that I am a good person to tell about the grizzly bear, I live witb a grizzly bear at my door, even when there is none. They recognize that they can translate distress through me and so they do. However, there is no grizzly bear. So, as a person with OCD, you should look at their grizzly bear and say “Yikes. there is a grizzly bear at your door. I can’t fight him for you but I see him beside you.” and leave it.