A recent article from MSN asks just this question... Of all the potential health concerns out there (for people with and without OCD), which are genuinely scary?

Examples include public toilets (unlikely to pass disease through intact skin), doorknobs (best to wash one's hands) and microwave ovens (most should be safe). Interestingly, dirt may have some health benefits. Studies have shown that children who grow up with pets, or who attend daycare, may end up with stronger immune systems down the road!

Yesterday's episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show focused on OCD. Regular Oprah guest Dr. Mehmet Oz and OCD expert Dr. Jonathan Grayson held a 3-day "boot camp" for six people suffering from OCD.

Dr. Grayson used techniques like "exposure and response prevention" to help lessen his participants' symptoms. Examples included group hugs and touching toilet seats (and then licking one's fingers!), without compensatory washing.

Dr. Oz noted that OCD is quite the opposite of Oprah's recommended "living in the moment." He described recovery from OCD as embracing one's life and one's fears.

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