Well into his adult life, right after the birth of his twins, Andrew Lipstein started experiencing O.C.D. “I wasn’t always like this,” he writes. “The suddenness of it all was terrifying, even paralyzing, and yet, at the same time, oddly relieving.” If such a severe thing could come on so quickly, perhaps it could go away just the same way. “No, it wouldn’t—that quickly became apparent,” he continues. “As did the fact that, unless I got help, I might lose the ability to function in everyday life. How could I return from my parental leave in this state and keep my job? How could I write books? How could I possibly be a parent and husband?” Lipstein chronicles the ongoing process of learning to live with severe O.C.D.—while writing a book, going to exposure therapy, and caring for his family: newyorkermag.visitlink.me/Oo…