Jun/Jul 2009
Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
by
David Veale and Rob Willson
Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a self help guide using Cognitive Behavioural techniques and is one of the ‘Overcoming’ series whose aim is to enable people with a range of disorders to take control of their own recovery. According to Professor Paul Salkovskis, who is well known to No Panic members as one of our patrons,
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a solvable problem and the solution is in our own hands. Professor Salkovskis works daily with OCD and describes this book as one he was hoping someone would write, as it is clear, focused, practical and helpful both to sufferers of this distressing condition and those who care for them.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has its roots in normal thinking. This book gives a clear understanding of how OCD works, which is the prerequisite of learning how to deal with it, using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a well established and evidence based psychological treatment. The introduction to the book is by Professor Peter Cooper of Reading University who explains ‘Why Cognitive Behaviour Therapy?’ He describes this self help manual as a lifeline to recovery and a better future particularly for people who have suffered silently and secretly for many years; too ashamed to reveal their problems to anyone, often for as long as ten years.
Part one is dedicated to understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and begins with a graphic account of a day in the life of a sufferer. It clearly illustrates why OCD has been listed by the World Health Organisation as one of the most disabling illnesses in the world.
The authors, David Veale and Rob Willson are both clinicians and researchers with a vast experience of helping patients with OCD. The question is asked ‘Is this book for you?’ An OCD sufferer may feel thinking about the problem will make it worse. In fact the reverse is true. The next fear might be that learning about obsessions and
compulsions may cause them to ‘pick up’ another worry they don’t already have. There is no evidence to show that this might happen. Thirdly, no book will be able to cover every single example of obsession or compulsion so it may not be relevant, in other words ‘mine is different’. Whilst it is true every OCD sufferer is unique the most helpful tool is to understand how you’re OCD works and what is maintaining the symptoms. The differences between obsessions and compulsions are described and explained.
Part two of the book is dedicated to Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and is broken down into seven chapters, including getting ready to change, taking it step by step, keeping OCD at bay, children and adolescents with OCD and finally what friends and family can do to help.
The self help approach to overcoming OCD is based on exposure and response prevention, a treatment which has been refined and developed over the years. The basic steps involved includes developing a hierarchy of triggers, facing fears, making the exposures long enough and frequent enough without using anxiety reducing strategies and monitoring exposures.
There is so much information contained in this book including case studies and the pitfalls that may be encountered. It is an extremely comprehensive book on the difficult condition that is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. To a sufferer it is a self help manual, to a family member or carer it is a vivid illustration of what might be
involved for your loved one; an insight into what they have probably been struggling with for years. How the caregivers and families of an OCD sufferer react is vitally important, with the need to show
consistency, support and praise without becoming complicit in the rituals and compulsions. The concepts described include the over importance of thoughts, inflated responsibility, magical thinking and an overestimation of a danger of threat together with an underestimation of the ability to cope.
The book concludes with information on medications, finding professional help, support groups, self assessment forms and progress charts. In conclusion, Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder shows how, by using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in this step by step approach can help to break the destructive cycle of obsessive
behaviour. It demonstrates how to reduce the distress caused by disturbing thoughts, images and urges and how to face fears, not only for the sufferer of OCD but for partners, relatives and friends. It would also be valuable to those professionals such as therapists, health professionals or teachers who need to understand how to best help a person struggling with OCD.
Rob Wilson, one of the co-authors of this book on self help for OCD, spoke on the subject at the No Panic Conference in Telford, Shropshire on 5th June 2009.
ISBN 978-1-84119-936-8
Published by Robinson
www.constablerobinson.com and www.overcoming.co.uk
Cover Price £9.99 from all good book shops
Available from Amazon at £8.99