I’ve been dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for most of my life and honestly, it can be tough to manage. Over the years, I have learned how to try and control my compulsions so that they don’t interfere with my day-to-day life too much. It’s not always easy though; some days are worse than others and it takes a lot of effort just to get through them. I try to keep an open dialogue with the people in my life who know about my struggles so that they can help me out when I’m feeling overwhelmed but even then, it still isn’t always enough. I know that there are times when all I can do is take a step back and breathe – which is what gets me through those rough patches. It helps to remember that no matter how persistent this illness may be, it doesn’t define who I am.