Dear Eric: My cat died in 2013. Everyone said I treated him like a child. He got so sick, so suddenly, it freaked me out so badly.

Then my dad died out of nowhere in 2018. I wanted to die to be with him, because he was my best friend.

Now I’m afraid I’ll lose anyone at any time. I have OCD and all my rituals are focused around keeping my mom, sister, husband and current cats safe and alive. I text my mom constantly, and if she doesn’t answer for a few hours, I panic.

I’ve started crying and hyperventilating if she didn’t send her usual “I’m OK” morning text by the time she always does, ready to drive to her apartment, prepared to find her body.

How do I ever stop this?

Please don’t say to see a therapist. I had one for many years, then she left the practice. I don’t have the energy to

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