Dear Scott:

OCD like other defined disorders exist on a continuum and your symptoms are indeed on that OCD continuum. Are you on SSRI antidepressants? For how long?  And are you considering an anti anxiety drug, for the short term?

You wrote: ” It’s difficult to separate anxious and inaccurate thoughts from normal and realistic thoughts”- this is what Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is about. You can get a good book/ workbook on CBT, with exercises you can do. The principle of it is correcting our thinking. By doing so, or as I say, fitting our thinking with reality, our feelings automatically improve.

I think it is a good idea to have a serious conversation with your girlfriend. Indicate to her specifically what behaviors you would like her to change, as long as it is reasonable on your part. You can negotiate certain things with her. For example, the time between you texting her and her responding to you. You can suggest an hour limit, ask her if she thinks it is reasonable, get her input and together decide on a time limit.

anita