Q: Force yourself to start paying extra close attention in the situations you typically become obsessed about. Little tricks can help you feel more control in such situations, which can be just enough to challenge your stress producing patterns.  For example, if you constantly worry about whether or not you’ve turned off the stove, create a mental picture of yourself turning off the stove every time you do. Creating this mental picture should help you to remember that you actually turned the stove off. If creating a mental picture doesn’t work, try keeping a notepad by the stove and make a note to yourself every time you turn it off. Journaling is a great tool for working with your emotions and learning more about yourself. Take some time each day to sit down and write about any experiences you might have had that produced anxiety or distress. Putting your obsessive thoughts down on paper and analyzing them can be a great way to feel some degree of control over them. Journaling may also help you make connections between your anxiety and other ideas you’ve had or behaviors you’ve exhibited. Building this type of self-awareness can be a great tool for learning which types of situations contribute to your OCD. Try describing your obsessive thoughts in one column, and then label and rate your emotions in another. In a third column, you might even describe any interpretations of your obsessive thought that followed the emotions.  For example, imagine you have an obsessive thought like, “This pen is covered with germs from strangers. I could contract some terrible disease and pass it on to my children, causing them to be sick.” Next, you might have reacted to the thought with something like, “If I don’t wash my hands knowing that I could be passing on some terrible disease to my children, then I would be a terrible and irresponsible parent. Not doing everything in my power to protect my children is as bad as hurting them myself.” Record and discuss both thoughts in your journal. Self-affirmation has been found to be very effective against negative feelings. Don't get down on yourself or let OCD define who you are. While it may be hard for you to look beyond your OCD sometimes, remember that you are more than your condition. Make a list of all the amazing qualities you possess and read it every time you feel down. Even reading one of the qualities and looking at yourself in the mirror can help to boost positive feelings about yourself. It is important to set goals as you work through treatment. Setting goals, not matter how small, will give you something to work towards and reasons to celebrate. Every time you achieve something that you could not achieve before you began treatment for your OCD, compliment yourself and feel proud. While you are getting treatment for your OCD, it is important to take good care of your whole body, mind, and soul. Join a gym, nourish your body with healthy foods, get plenty of rest, and nurture your soul by attending religious services or engaging in other soul soothing activities. OCD causes lots of stress and anxiety. Therapy and medication may help to relieve some of your negative feelings, but you should also take time to relax every day. Incorporating activities like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, aromatherapy, and other soothing techniques will help you cope with your stress and anxiety. Experiment with different relaxation techniques until you find something that works for you, then add it into your daily routine. Dealing with OCD may cause you to feel like abandoning your usual routine, but this will not help you. Stick with your daily routine and keep moving forward with your life. Don’t allow OCD to prevent you from going to school, doing your job, or spending time with family. If you have anxiety or fears about certain activities, discuss them with a therapist but do not avoid them.
A: Work with your triggers. Keep a journal to write about your feelings. Remind yourself of your good qualities on a regular basis. Congratulate yourself for reaching your goals. Take good care of yourself. Incorporate relaxation techniques. Maintain your daily routine.

Q: Function is more important than style in this case. Select a bag that has a few different pockets and is lightweight. Keep your bag as light as possible. You will put all of your supplies in your bag for easy access. Grab a first aid kit so you have supplies for any injury. Make sure it includes bandages, gauze, antibacterial ointment, cotton swabs, tissues, alcohol wipes, thermometer, and hand sanitizer.   Bring common medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. SAM splints are lightweight and are useful to carry in case of injury. If you need an EPI pen, be sure to carry it. Bring an inhaler if you have asthma. You cannot have too much water when desert hiking. Dehydration is a serious possibility, so drink lots and drink often. The absolute minimum you should carry is one gallon per person.  When you are halfway through your gallon, it is time to turn around. Make sure you have extra water in your car to rehydrate after your hike. Desert temperatures can drop drastically as soon as the sun goes down, even below 50 degrees. Bring a jacket if you will be hiking past sunset. If you plan on being out past twilight, bring a thicker jacket and warmer clothes. Eat before, during, and after your hike. Your body will burn through resources quickly in the desert, so make sure you keep refueling. Eat about twice as much as you would on a normal day. Eat things like nuts, trail mix, or beef jerky to keep energized. It is also helpful to eat a large breakfast before your hike. Maps are a necessary tool to help you orient yourself in the desert. Compasses or GPS devices can help you orient yourself as well. You never know when you will need to scrape off a cactus spine, so bring a knife or multitool like a swiss army knife to be prepared. It is helpful to also have a headlamp or flashlight in case you are out after dark If you are injured or encounter a threatening animal, you want to blow a whistle so other hikers or rangers can help you. Clip this to your daypack for easy access. Blow the whistle loud and clearly if you find yourself needing assistance. Be mindful not to toss any litter into the desert on your hike. Bring a plastic shopping bag or a small garbage bag to dispose of any trash. You will want extra water, snacks, and maybe an extra pair of clothes. After your hike, it is important to refuel with water and food since your energy will be depleted from the desert conditions. Drink some water before you leave, and change into fresh clothes if you are very sweaty. Desert heat is no joke, so be over-prepared rather than under-prepared.
A:
Grab a lightweight backpack or fanny pack to store your gear. Include a first aid kit just in case. Pack at least one gallon of water per person, per day. Bring an extra jacket if you hike at night. Bring energy-boosting, high-protein food. Bring things to help you navigate, like a map, compass, and GPS. Include a knife, multitool, and flashlight for extra preparation. Pack a whistle in case of an emergency. Throw in a trash bag to remove any litter. Put extra supplies in your car for after your hike.