Dr. David Rosmarin

And then you're ruminating about all the stuff that you said that you shouldn't have said because you're a little bit tipsy.

And then you're ruminating about all the stuff that you said that you shouldn't have said because you're a little bit tipsy.

And then you're ruminating about all the stuff that you said that you shouldn't have said because you're a little bit tipsy.

Great. So let's just say these hands have been in many places that I will not tell you about. Today? Not today. Not today. Don't worry. And I do wash my hands before I eat. But before washing my hands and before eating, you'd be surprised where these go. Because part of being an anxiety therapist means you have to do everything that your patients do also.

Great. So let's just say these hands have been in many places that I will not tell you about. Today? Not today. Not today. Don't worry. And I do wash my hands before I eat. But before washing my hands and before eating, you'd be surprised where these go. Because part of being an anxiety therapist means you have to do everything that your patients do also.

Great. So let's just say these hands have been in many places that I will not tell you about. Today? Not today. Not today. Don't worry. And I do wash my hands before I eat. But before washing my hands and before eating, you'd be surprised where these go. Because part of being an anxiety therapist means you have to do everything that your patients do also.

Okay, so I'm thinking of a specific patient who came in who was terrified of germs and for many years had been avoiding all sorts of situations.

Okay, so I'm thinking of a specific patient who came in who was terrified of germs and for many years had been avoiding all sorts of situations.

Okay, so I'm thinking of a specific patient who came in who was terrified of germs and for many years had been avoiding all sorts of situations.

Really wouldn't open car doors, certainly wouldn't ride the subway, and was at one point putting gloves on their hands, lots of Purell, lots of excessive washing, had actually had very significant chafing, even needed some medical treatments in order to be able to deal with abrasions on their hands from all the washing. And

Really wouldn't open car doors, certainly wouldn't ride the subway, and was at one point putting gloves on their hands, lots of Purell, lots of excessive washing, had actually had very significant chafing, even needed some medical treatments in order to be able to deal with abrasions on their hands from all the washing. And

Really wouldn't open car doors, certainly wouldn't ride the subway, and was at one point putting gloves on their hands, lots of Purell, lots of excessive washing, had actually had very significant chafing, even needed some medical treatments in order to be able to deal with abrasions on their hands from all the washing. And

Really, we started with touching things that would make them feel uncomfortable. Started with things in the office. It could have been as simple as this desk surface. It could have been things that, you know, in the bathroom would be next.

Really, we started with touching things that would make them feel uncomfortable. Started with things in the office. It could have been as simple as this desk surface. It could have been things that, you know, in the bathroom would be next.

Really, we started with touching things that would make them feel uncomfortable. Started with things in the office. It could have been as simple as this desk surface. It could have been things that, you know, in the bathroom would be next.

And eventually moving towards the inside of a toilet bowl or things that are way over the top that you wouldn't normally do in order for them to develop the resilience to stand up to their anxiety head on.

And eventually moving towards the inside of a toilet bowl or things that are way over the top that you wouldn't normally do in order for them to develop the resilience to stand up to their anxiety head on.

And eventually moving towards the inside of a toilet bowl or things that are way over the top that you wouldn't normally do in order for them to develop the resilience to stand up to their anxiety head on.

The first step is always the same, which is do you want to do this? Once somebody wants to face their anxiety and build their resilience, by deliberately putting themselves in an anxiety-provoking situation, like once you catch the bug, like once you want to do it, there's nothing that'll stop you.

The first step is always the same, which is do you want to do this? Once somebody wants to face their anxiety and build their resilience, by deliberately putting themselves in an anxiety-provoking situation, like once you catch the bug, like once you want to do it, there's nothing that'll stop you.