Touching something that’s dirty and wiping your hands on a damp rag, rather than washing your hands, is a step in the right direction but not a full and effective practice. Furthermore, relying on friends or family to help you practice facing your fears might increase your willingness to practice, but will dilute the effectiveness of your recovery unless you practice the same things without friends or family. You’ll learn more about getting the most out of every practice later in the chapter, when you learn to “FACE” your anxious response.

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