A6
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THuRSDAY, FEbRuARY 21, 2019
Friend is driven by OCD
Dear Annie: I have a then throw it out. However,
friend, “Sarah,” who openly I’m starting to feel like some
admits to having obses- kind of enabler.
sive-compulsive
disorder
Now Sarah’s hands are
but isn’t receiving any kind all cramped up. Her doctor
of treatment for it. She’s a gives pain medication for
middle-aged house-
it, and she keeps
DEAR
wife with no need or
on crocheting. Her
ANNIE
desire to work. Now
adult daughter who
she has taken up cro-
lives with her says
chet. What could pos-
Sarah has a crochet
sibly go wrong?
hook in her hand
She buys huge
from the minute she
quantities of the
wakes up until she
cheapest,
coars-
falls asleep at night.
est yarn I’ve ever ANNIE LANE
Do you know
Creators
seen. Then she cro-
any way I could
Syndicate Inc.
chets it up. It’s obvi-
suggest to Sarah
ous she has no con-
that she needs men-
cept of counting stitches, tal help for her OCD rather
paying attention to detail or than medication for her over-
even looking at the finished stressed hands? Other than
product. I was there when the OCD, she’s a really nice
another woman tried to tell person. I’m worried she’ll
her, very kindly and politely, develop an addiction to the
what she needs to learn, pain medication. — Worried
even suggesting a local yarn for My Friend
store that offers lessons. That
Dear Worried: You can
just made Sarah angry, and and should express your con-
she said she already knows cerns to Sarah. Do so with
everything she needs to an open mind and without
judgment, to avoid putting
know about crochet.
Sarah has covered her her on the defensive (though
house with this stuff, and I’m sure I don’t need to tell
now she’s started giving it you that, as you seem to be a
to me. I thank her kindly and thoughtful friend). Ease into
the conversation by asking
general questions about how
she’s doing. Then tell her
you’ve noticed that the cro-
cheting seems to be impact-
ing her health, with the
hand cramping and subse-
quent need for pain medica-
tion. You might ask whether
she’s ever followed up about
her OCD diagnosis and say
that though you know it’s up
to her, you think it might be
really helpful for her to see a
counselor for some insights.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
can be a very effective treat-
ment for OCD and could
give your friend a much bet-
ter quality of life.
Seeing as an adult daugh-
ter lives with her, you might
try having a private con-
versation with the daughter
about your concerns and see
whether she will join you in
encouraging Sarah to seek
help.
As for when she gives
you her crochet creations, it’s
perceptive of you to suspect
that you are enabling her, and
I think you’re probably right.
Gently but definitively put
your foot down and say you
really can’t accept any more.
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). OK, it’s not ideal, and yet
there’s something for you in this minor disaster — a
quiet need being fulfilled inside the undesirable
scenario. Figure out what the need is and address it
another way.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Wisdom, strength, knowl-
edge and courage: These are the everlasting qualities
of greatness. Never do you feel more alive than when
you are in the thrust of knowing what you do and
doing what you know.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). How seriously should you
take the issue at hand? With the amount of seriousness
that will allow you the greatest agility, as you’ll need to
move freely around this issue to make the most of it.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Travel opens the mind,
but it’s not automatic. The mind has to be slightly ajar
to begin with to let the foreign oxygen work its magic.
There are those who travel mentally vacuum sealed.
Pity, but there’s little worth doing something about it.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). In an ideal world, you would
ready yourself before you dared to wish, as it would
be a shame to see your wish granted before you know
what to do with it. Whatever the order, today is for
getting ready.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Again, it would be a mis-
take to assume they totally understand you. They really
only get a small part of what you’re doing right now.
They follow along anyway out of loyalty and respect.
Keep explaining. Keep showing.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). So much thinking takes
place in your mind that you share with no one.
Politically, it’s a good play, although emotionally, some
airing out would do you good. A private diary would
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
provide as much sounding board as you need.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). A large part of compat-
ibility has to do with logistics, such as schedules and
proximity. Then there’s chemistry, which tends to be a
game changer. People will change their schedules and
travel distances for great chemistry.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Whatever your
disadvantage is, it is also your advantage, but only if
you see, claim and use it. Don’t see the advantage? Ask
others for another perspective. This is money left on
the table, waiting to be noticed and pocketed.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Some people around
you are like bad journalists, listening for the soundbite
they need to make a sensational story, context not-
withstanding. For this reason, silence is a good option.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). While there’s not a
single thing in the world that is inherently boring,
you can’t be blamed for experiencing it as such, as
finding something new in the same old things takes a
conscious effort.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Everyone has filters and
limits to what they can comfortably take in. If they are
not hearing the breadth of what you have to express,
it’s because there’s a filter in place, one that you likely
have nothing to do with.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 22). Nothing you’ve
done to educate yourself has been a waste. Your
excellent efforts will be appreciated, but so will your
nonchalant efforts because you’ve earned “cool points”
on your way to becoming a more evolved person.
Promises and/or contracts get signed in May. Enjoy a
lifestyle upgrade in July. Leo and Scorpio adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 20, 2, 13, 33 and 38.