Because of my OCD/Anxieties and perceived the loss of control that they project upon my life, it is not unusual for me to want to control or at least monitor the things in my life that I can.  I have been told that such behavior is "textbook" for someone with "my condition" and actually a part of the OCD.  Examples of these controls, might be knowing that the door is locked or the windows are closed when I am relaxing in my home.  Another would be keeping a log of things amount of particular food items purchased and stocked in the house. (I could list numerous other examples)

All is normal, right?  The one earlier fact that I failed to mention is that I monitor these things to an unhealthy extreme, which is hard to reconcile when you do not live alone. 

Someone leaves the window slightly open, when they wen to turn the  AC on. I should to say "Jane" must have forgotten to close the window, even though she doesn't remember.  Instead, it turns into, "'Jane' how could you not remember whether or not you left the window open!?!" My OCD then creates some paranoid conspiracy theory.  I deal with it, but now I have a new controlling behavior.  I must now check the windows every so often to insure they are still closed and I insist that "Jane" remember in the future when she touches the windows.

I have done two things now.  Created a new OCD ritual and alienated my housemate.  And although the "window story" was a hypothetical I just made up, I do similar things all the time.

Do others of you have behaviors that rely upon other people that you live with and create stress within the house? (not to mention are embarrassing) How do you deal with it? I can't afford to live on my own, nor do I think that would be the healthy thing to do.