i know its hard, ive been there. Maybe some professional cognative behavioural therapy whould help. it helped me. next time you go out on a walk say to yourself i will deliberatly step on ONE crack. when you see nothing bad happens maybe next time you can step on two. Who knows!

I don't really know what to say that would help. I know how hard it is to break a ritual.

Talk about silly thought our minds puts up throgh i had the problem with NOT stepping on the lines in the sidewalk. Was told as child if i stepped on them it would break my mothers back...

As children we belive these so i always made sure NOT to step on them and would walk on the grass along side the sidewalk or on the side of the road.

I did this all my life till my mother died and then it didn't matter no more could not hurt her back then..

it is not that i think i will break my mothers back it is just that i feel like my world will fall apart if i do step on a crack and dont step on the next crack with the other foot

I do this. It's really frustrating. The ONLY way out of it is to do the opposite of what your brain is telling you to do. It always feels better if I can curse loudly when I defy the voice. "You can't HAVE my ass, mother f***er." Just have to be sure you are truly alone. Hope it gets better.

I know it is very difficult, feeling like your life will fall apart, it is that feeling that is anxiety bringing on doom and gloom., but the way i am dealing with it and it really works, is exposure, dare not to step on that crack, enter the fear that you're afraid of and step by step, and i mean that, baby step, one at a time, you'll emerge stronger and stronger, in the end what it is, we are afraid of fear.

First of all, its not stupid. not at all. And I think we all here, understand what its like to feel as thought we "have" to do something or else. Try telling yourself that its ok even if you do ritually step on each crack. that your not weird, or different, and that you are absolutely not stupid. alot of people even without OCD have rituals, that might seem odd to others. remember that it just adds personality. as to advice on how to stop, i don't know as I have many odd rituals that I do too, which I would love to stop. But you could try stepping on every other crack. or say in your head just imagine your self stepping on each crack, instead of actually doing it. this might help to break the habit, without actually stopping the ritual, so that you still feel "ok". Also there is a book about OCD and specifically about stepping on cracks, that really helped open my eyes. Its called " kissing doorknobs" by Terry Spencer Hesser. Give it a try. Hope this helps. and good luck.

thanks everone i dont feel as stupid knowing now that others have problems simlar to mine. i have decided that it is not a big deal and that i will get over it but it might take some time but i can do it. so thanks again for all your support and suggestions.