Reddit Reddit reviews The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook)

We found 36 Reddit comments about The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook)
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36 Reddit comments about The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook):

u/alejolucangeli · 14 pointsr/Meditation

Finally, a thread where I can contribute! Let me take my gloves off. And first of all, excuse my English as I'm self-taught (but getting better!)

First off, you are not alone. I was first diagnosed with OCD in early 2018, and later other professionals dismissed that diagnosis. So, according to many, I don't have OCD, but I have traits of it. My first advice would be to seek treatment, which you already have, so my first actual advice is to go to a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy center and have some tests run on you. You say you have a weird form of anxiety/OCD. Well, maybe you don't have OCD at all. I don't want to give you false hopes, as you did not detail what is "weird" about it, but I've had several professionals tell me that there is not such a thing as "a little OCD". You either have it or not. With that out of the way, and with the best wishes, here's your arsenal, which will help you whether you do have OCD or you have traits of it that interfere with your life, like I do.

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First, I wouldn't be answering your actual question and wouldn't be on this subreddit if I didn't recommend "The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD" (https://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Workbook-OCD-Overcoming-Compulsions/dp/1608828786/). This is really, really good. Then there's "Everyday Mindfulness for OCD" (https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Mindfulness-OCD-Tricks-Joyfully/dp/1626258929/) which I have not read but heard great things about, and, in the same venue, there's "The Mindfulness Workbook for Anxiety" (https://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Workbook-Anxiety-8-Week-Solution/dp/1641520299/) which is not just for OCD but for anxiety in general.

EDIT: I have not ignored your comment saying that mindfulness has not been effective for you, but I would stay with it. Maybe you can supplement it with loving-kindness meditation which also has been great for me, but mindfulness is mainly what I do. But yes, it is hard, and OCD or OCD-like traits are sometimes going to suck no matter what you do. You just have to learn to live with them, or despite them!

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Now, with meditation out of the way, I HAVE to recommend these books, because they have been great to me. The best of them all has been this one: "The OCD Workbook" (https://www.amazon.com/OCD-Workbook-Breaking-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder/dp/1572249218/). It's so helpful. Contact me if you can't get it. You are not going to be sorry, I promise.

The second best is "Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts" (https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Unwanted-Intrusive-Thoughts-Frightening/dp/1626254346/). I can't recommend this one enough. Once again, contact me if you can't get it.

There is also a new one which I have not read but have bought (again, contact me if you can't get it) that is called "OCD: A Workbook for Clinicians" (https://www.amazon.com/OCD-Workbook-Clinicians-Obsessive-Compulsive/dp/1559570504/). I have it in my to-read list but have heard only GREAT things about it, and it's a very short book.

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Now comes the memoir section. This is for when you don't want to feel alone (you're not). There's "Is Fred In The Refrigerator?" (https://www.amazon.com/Fred-Refrigerator-Taming-Reclaiming-Life/dp/1732177007/) Which I absolutely love. It's very motivational, at least to me. There is also "Pure OCD" (https://www.amazon.com/PURE-OCD-Invisible-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder/dp/1634919912/ maybe you referred to this as your "weird form of OCD"?) which is great but I had to put down because the girl started to talk about suicidal thoughts and it made me feel bad because it reminded me of my own struggle, and figured that for the time being, until I'm in a better place, I needed to stop. And then there's also this one which is pretty "funny" (without trying to be rude) that is called "Because We Are Bad" (https://www.amazon.com/Because-We-Are-Bad-Thought/dp/0062696165/) in which the author has a form of OCD that I have not heard of anybody else having.

​

And if you need to talk, feel free to message me. I love talking to other people who have to face mental health issues, because it makes me feel that I'm not alone, and it makes me feel that I'm contributing a little. Maybe we can even do some Skype sessions and endure the struggle together.

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Stay strong over and over again (heh)

u/knowstuffsolveprobs · 8 pointsr/OCD

There are a number of self-help books out there that can give you support and even give you some guidance in some forms of treatment. The ones I used before I went into therapy were:

The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD (Mindfulness and ERP therapy)

Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life (ACT therapy)

The OCD Workbook (ERP therapy)

There is always an added benefit of therapy that you have a coach who can help you with the process of recovery. I tried self-help before therapy, and while self-help helped (heh), I still struggled. At a certain point, I could afford therapy, so I went for it and it helped a lot. I learned that I had underestimated the importance of the cognitive part of CBT, and I needed some coaching on that. But the themes I tackled during my self-help ERP--I had killed them dead. I learned I was kinda doing the exposures a little wrong during my self-help phase, but I still got the effect. YMMV.

I also recommend just general support groups like this one, ocdforums.org, and The OCD Stories. Not gonna lie--sometimes I go there for research/reassurance (as do a lot of the posters on the forums). But some days, I read or hear something that really clicks and is super helpful. And that can go a long way. I still use some of the techniques and phrases I learned on those sites.

Recovery is possible. Hang in there.

u/annaeatscupcakes · 7 pointsr/Parenting

The absolute best thing is CBT. You need to find a behavioral therapist that specializes in OCD.

When she is older, this workbook is amazing and literally saved my life: http://www.amazon.com/The-OCD-Workbook-Breaking-Obsessive-Compulsive/dp/1572249218

u/ladyboobridgewater · 6 pointsr/OCD

To say that people with OCD don't act on their thoughts isn't quite right. Checking compulsions can be overt and that includes testing the action. It wasn't a great thing to do, and yeah you shouldn't have done it, but also if you don't get help for your OCD you aren't going to be able to look after your dog properly. You might compulsively check again and hurt her, or you might start to compulsively avoid her because you're scared of checking. Your ability to look after your pet isn't hindered by some inherent evil, but it IS being hindered because you aren't working to improve your OCD. That is what you need to take responsibility for.

​

Stop worrying about the superficial fear-based situation (omgz what if I hurt my doggo because I'm evil?) and focus on the real problem (I'm not dealing with my OCD which is stopping me being a fit pet owner). If you can't access proper therapy atm, here's a workbook that really helped me https://www.amazon.co.uk/OCD-Workbook-Obsessive-Compulsive-Harbinger-Self-Help/dp/1572249218

​

Stop compulsively posting on here to try and get reassurance and actually start taking steps to tackle your situation.

u/_juicy_thighs_ · 6 pointsr/self

You might have a mild case of OCD. My brother was diagnosed that way. One of his main symptoms was having to wash himself multiple times in the shower, resulting in 2 hr long showers consistently. Or he would have to lock the door to our house like 30 times in a row, just to make sure it was locked. He's been seeing a therapist for a few months and he has improved greatly.

I'm no expert, but the way you described your symptoms reminded me of my brother. What worked for him was a therapist, an OCD CBT workbook and some SSRI medication.

Edit: https://www.amazon.com/OCD-Workbook-Breaking-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder/dp/1572249218/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483290266&sr=8-1&keywords=ocd+workbook

I believe that's the book my brother is using. You can do it yourself, but a therapist will make a world of difference. Good luck.

u/Marzipanicd · 6 pointsr/GenderCritical

Thought I'd chime as someone who has PureOCD (mostly obsessive thoughts, and few compulsions) and has experienced dysphoria relating to it. I have gone through a few episodes where I feared I was actually a man (like with XY chromosomes, or intersex, straight TIF) or I'd have a mild crush on a guy and think I was straight and was wrong about my entire life. I tend to easily obsess and fret over just about anything, and it's hard work to keep myself in check. These are all disordered thoughts, and they can be overcome.

However, being around people who feed into your OCD thought without realizing that they are not your true wants, and think they are genuinely helping, can make it much worse. In a more common example: When I'm paranoid about more serious things, like suddenly thinking my depression meds are secretly placebos, I have to avoid my dad, because in the back of my head I know it's not true, but he'll say some disparaging thing about doctors that will feed into my anxiety, and I might stop taking them.

It's likely that your friend has TransOCD. They might not realize that this can be a part of OCD, many people don't. People with OCD can fixate on literally anything, which is why it often masks itself as something else. This is why it is critical that she not see just any therapist. Misdiagnoses is incredibly common in OCD patients, and it's best to get someone who specializes in it, and will recognize that not every world changing thought the patient has is something they should follow through on. (Happened to me a lot)

https://iocdf.org/ocd-finding-help/how-to-find-the-right-therapist/

This organization is how I found my therapist who specializes in OCD, and it's helped me a lot. If therapy isn't an option, there are a ton of good articles on there to help.

I also have this workbook: OCD Workbook (it doesn't have a chapter for each specific category of obsession, but it includes the most common ones, and it's information can be applied to any)

and this youtube channel has great information about the different ways OCD can be expressed and can be helped: youtube

I hope you're friend gets the help she needs, and feel free to message me.

u/FoxesBadgers · 5 pointsr/OCD

Well, that's pretty unhelpful. 'Brain Lock' isn't even one of the best and most up-to-date books - a lot of OCD specialists have stopped recommending it because the 4-step method it recommends is a bit rickety and ineffectual for some.

Whether you choose a therapist or DIY, the truth is that you'll have to do the bulk of the work on your own time, and it's still going to be scary either way. There is no currently known way to do OCD therapy without passing through a period of unpleasant increased anxiety. The pros of having a therapist there to be 'on call' and to monitor you is that you won't have to waste time and effort designing your own exposure exercises, you don't run the risk of doing them wrongly and making your OCD worse (through inexperience), there's someone to advise and prescribe medication if you end up needing it at any point (and it will generally speed up recovery if you do), someone can tailor exercises to your exact situation accurately, you've got a 'cheerleader' for emotional support, and a professional can prod your ass into action when you're reluctant to go through with a scary exposure.

That said, the scientific evidence I've seen suggests that people who do DIY therapy for OCD CORRECTLY can get very good results. Provided you're still using the right Exposure And Response Prevention techniques, you might be ok to DIY. But you need to be self-motivated, and set proper time aside to do exposure exercises. It can be difficult to force yourself to do stuff that scares you, and you'd have to watch you didn't end up just avoiding your exercises and wriggling out of doing them properly. In the early stages, the levels of fear can get quite extreme and can take quite a long time to go down again afterwards. So if you do it alone, try at least having a mate or family member check in on you, and a backup plan for what to do if you really can't cope with the feelings (for example, I had an emergency-only Diazepam supply from my GP, so if I was freaking out to the point of actually hurting myself, I was to take a small quantity and sleep it off until I felt better and could try the exposure exercise again).

If your OCD has any of the characteristics that make it dangerous (suicidal ideation, feelings that you should kill or harm yourself to 'protect' others, compulsions that are damaging to your health, or any food-based compulsions that are preventing you from eating properly etc), then it's a good idea to have a professional monitor your OCD recovery so you're kept safe. Likewise if you've got unusual compulsions and obsession themes (I did) that aren't mentioned in any self-help books, because these will be much harder to correctly design exposure exercises for without a model example.

Ultimately it's up to you, there are pros and cons on both sides. The 'expert' you spoke to doesn't sound very well-qualified and I'm surprised they said that.

If you do try DIYing it with a workbook, a more recent book that I see recommended more often is Bruce Hyman's The OCD Workbook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Workbook-Your-Guide-Breaking-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder/1572249218/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488038959&sr=8-1&keywords=the+ocd+workbook

u/pathless-woods · 4 pointsr/OCD

A psychiatrist would be best but any general practitioner doctor can prescribe you a SSRI which treats OCD. Most SSRIs are super cheap even if you don’t have insurance.

If you are in the US there is likely a county mental health clinic which will offer psychiatric services and therapy on a sliding scale. You could also call a crisis line and they usually have a list of resources that they can use to help you find care.

You could also try a self-education type workbook like this

I hope that you get some relief soon.

u/peddlesbutterflies · 3 pointsr/OCD

Yes. There is the OCD Challenge , which is free. There are also lots of workbooks, though the only one I have personal experience with is The OCD Workbook which I thought was pretty good.

u/Floppyboobsack · 3 pointsr/relationship_advice

Wow, your dad is an ass. Has he never tried to get help? This is not 100 years ago, OCD is treatable and manageable. He should really be intervened on and forced to at least read The OCD Work Book.

The worst thing you can do to an OCD person is go along with it. I realise situations vary but to just become enablers is helping to ruin all your lives. This is coming from someone with OCD.

u/klsi832 · 3 pointsr/OCD

This is a main popular one that has helped me in the past.

u/GreenLightning2010 · 2 pointsr/psychology

I'm not a doctor, but I do have OCD, and that sounds like OCD to me. Take a look through the pages of this book you can preview on Amazon's website. I can't link you straight to it, but read the intro and especially the Forms of OCD part, you will probably identify with a lot of what is written. The thing to takeaway is you can leave it alone if it's not bothering you, or you can work with a self help book, or see a therapist, do CBT, or pursue medication. There's no right or wrong answer, it's all about how you feel about it and if you feel the need to change anything or not. Anyway, that link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1572249218/ref=sib_dp_pop_ex?ie=UTF8&p=S00Q#reader-link

u/Almyre · 2 pointsr/OCD

I also have a physical copy of The OCD Workbook, by Bruce M. Hyman and Cheery Pedrick. I'm a big fan of workbooks.

u/walk_just_because · 2 pointsr/OCD

I think if you are consciously and deliberately trying to avoid compulsions, that's great! You are already doing better than half of this sub.

That said, making mistakes is normal and human. Don't beat yourself up for giving in into a compulsion. After all, it's a human instinct to avoid anxiety.

By all means, keep avoiding doing compulsions (don't avoid obsessions / what causes your anxiety). Definitely be proud for what a step you took, but also try to avoid giving in to "fixing". But don't beat yourself up too much, just keep making a lot of effort consistently.

Consider trying self-directed ERP: https://iocdf.org/expert-opinions/expert-opinion-self-directed-erp/

Get yourself a couple of books on ERP/CBT:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1608828786/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1572249218/

Doing ERP feels like torture, but it's pretty effective. From the tone of your post, it sounds like you could do it on your own (i. e. without a therapist). So you could probably get better.

u/VelvetElvis · 2 pointsr/psychology

High dose SSRIs plus a low dose anti-psychotic does the trick for me. The AP prevents the intrusive thoughts and the SSRI helps with the obsessions.

Also check out this workbook. I got more out of it than any therapist I've seen for OCD.

http://www.amazon.com/OCD-Workbook-Breaking-Obsessive-Compulsive/dp/1572249218/

u/somethingtosay2333 · 1 pointr/OCD

Hi, I'm sorry I don't have resources but have you considered an OCD self-help book? I know The OCD Workbook has a section on Hypermorality. Another option could be to search the International OCD's foundation's website for a local therapist or contact your state's university and see if they have an OCD clinic for either outpatient or inpatient setting.

u/hanharr · 1 pointr/self

it's good that you at least have an understanding boss! i would still try to branch out if you have healthcare that covers mental health services. a lot of primary care physicians don't really understand or care about treating mood disorders. you can do a quick search on amazon for what would suit you best but i personally liked using this book when i was struggling more severely with my obsessive compulsive disorder. if you're not interested in paying money for something like that, a lot of books in this genre are easy to find around the internet too. hope that helps at least a little bit!

u/alidorology · 1 pointr/booksuggestions

There's also always Ye Olde OCD Workbook which is a little overwhelming at first but quite helpful. That said, pretty much any book is going to mainly be common sense but typed up. I'm glad she's going to see a therapist. Definitely look into a psychiatrist too for a more finely tuned approach to meds. Good luck to both of you. Getting OCD under control is tough but it can be done. I'd recommend r/OCD for more specific support.

u/-LemonFeet- · 1 pointr/OCD

Its on Amazon ( The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1572249218/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-PPOCb12W7XAR ) but I got mine on my phone on the Apple books app.

u/TheFakeZzig · 1 pointr/OCD

That sucks big ass. Meds are good, but a good therapist is invaluable. But, maybe you can meet in the middle:

https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Twentieth-Anniversary-Obsessive-Compulsive/dp/006256143X

https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Obsessing-Overcome-Obsessions-Compulsions/dp/0553381172

I used those two, along with meds (and therapy), and all-in-all, it pulled me out of a really bad cycle of suicide-OCD.

I've also seen people recommend this:

https://www.amazon.com/OCD-Workbook-Breaking-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder/dp/1572249218

u/MstrCylinderPants · 1 pointr/raisedbynarcissists

OCD here also, brought on by sexual abuse. I heard strep throat and mono can cause cases of OCD too, which I found interesting.

OCD is a beast, OP. I recommend the OCD Workbook https://www.amazon.com/OCD-Workbook-Breaking-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder/dp/1572249218 and Brain Lock https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/006256143X/ref=pd_aw_fbt_14_img_3/156-4783552-9915231?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=1G575XJQ1MDGGTWDCCF0

OCD is so different in everyone. I'd be happy to talk to you about it, but I'm more obsessive than compulsive. Therapy has worked for me as well.

u/PossibleAssHat · 1 pointr/mentalhealth

Totally could have been wrongfully diagnosed. It happens with EVERY mental illness, that someone, somewhere, is misdiagnosed with it.

For me it was anxiety. For YEARS it was "just anxiety." Now, that's not incorrect, as I have the same health centered shit you said you have (I thought my breathing was manual yesterday and surely I was going to die!) uhhh, but yeah. I thought I had depression as well, but psychiatrist wouldn't hear of it. "It's just anxiety!"

Oh, well, turns out I have bipolar disorder! I've gotten second, third, and fourth opinions on that because that was about the second to last thing I thought it could be.

But then when I start talking about it, it sounds just like bipolar lol.

So, for years something was overlooked for me.

These folks try hard at their jobs most of the time, but they don't know everything.

It's speculated that a number of people do actually "out-grow" BPD. I ticked a lot of boxes on that list even when I was in my early twenties. Now I can't relate to most of them at all.

What should you do? I think therapy is useful for every person alive. No matter how well they are doing. And you've gone before and that's awesome! Now, DBT is very useful for a range of folks, but it's the most recommended form of therapy for folks with BPD.

I'd find a therapist who specializes in DBT, work on (with that therapist) trying to stop obsessing about the label, and just go with that. Because really, DBT is great, it's great for BPD (if you don't have it, cool! Therapy will still help!)

So your idea of getting appropriate therapy is a good one, but in the sense that therapy is appropriate and DBT is great, so you could give that a shot. Definitely talk about all these worries with your therapist.

Your anxiety feels pretty horrible, doesn't it? I just kind of read that.

I'm glad you're still here! I wish I could somehow re-assure you but anxiety is such a terrible fuckwad. Here's a book recommendation for that:

http://www.amazon.com/The-OCD-Workbook-Breaking-Obsessive-Compulsive/dp/1572249218

I'm only putting in the one for OCD because it's good for obsessive thoughts. I don't know if you have OCD, but this book is supposedly one of the best for anxiety. Disclaimer: I've never read it, can't give my own review. But a million times it's been recommended to me.

I'm sorry you're feeling so crummy about this :( I hope you feel better soon.

u/00rat_daddy00 · 1 pointr/OCD

I can't recommend this book enough as well for OCD. It's basically everything you need to know about the disorder and how to effectively treat it. It's really handy because our minds get super scrambled and we get off track. It's nice to know I can come back to this book and look for guidance when i'm up to my ears in panic. They don't mention DP/DR in the book but I expected that because DP/DR is something that psychologists are just starting to figure out exists.

u/lioninawhat · 1 pointr/GradSchool
u/TheIceKween · 1 pointr/OCD


You guys should be a partnership so even if she's dealing with her own issues, you probably have things that you need to talk about too. It's okay to set some boundaries while still being there for her. I will say though that having a professional to talk to will probably make her less likely to feel like she needs to tell you everything.

There's a workbook I'm doing that's got a section for loved ones dealing with someone with OCD. One of the reasons I am even less likely to share with my husband now is because I know it's not good to seek reassurance since this is a compulsion and makes the illness worse.

Here's the book I'm using: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1572249218/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7NexCb1H7NA5S

Also great for when she starts therapy is the NOCD app. It'll help her continue exposures on her own.

One more resource is Mark Freeman's channel on YouTube. He recovered from OCD and he has a lot of great videos that you and her can both watch to get a better understanding of what she's going through.

u/dpash · 1 pointr/TrollXChromosomes

I've seen the effects that ocd can have in a person. The anxiety and panic attacks it induced. I wouldn't wish that on any one. hugs

Have your doctors been any help? Do you have any CBT? My ex saw good results from that. Anti depressives also helped take the edge off the worst of it.

I apologise for giving unsolicited advice over the internet, but you said you had no other support. I think that sometimes making proactive actions can sometimes feel very empowering and reduce the feeling of powerlessness. Two books I've heard good things about:

u/0bsessive · 1 pointr/OCD

I know exactly what you're describing, I have been there many times and it's terrifying. Agreed with getting books - Imp of the Mind, Brain Lock, and possibly the OCD Workbook (you can take a peek online, check out chapter 10). Visit stuckinadoorway.org. Absolutely find a therapist in addition to a psychiatrist. Medication and therapy can help, you will not feel like this forever. Go to the emergency room if you feel like you're unable to handle it anymore.


In the meantime - distraction and self soothe. Find things that consume your mind as intensely as the anxiety does (video games, friends, tv shows, books, whatever works) and engage in them as much as possible. Do nice things for yourself and others, to keep your morale up. Devise a comforting bedtime routine that makes you feel safe, to help combat the night time anxiety. Just be patient and get help. You will be ok and you're absolutely not alone.

u/dontheteaman · 1 pointr/OCD

m4meredith, This does sound like OCD to me. The constantly checking things and tapping. It sounds like it is affecting your life to a certain degree and starting to get worse?
Depression and stress will fuel your ocd along with lack of sleep and caffeine. I would imagine the lack of sleep may help at the moment but might be fueling this later on. It's similar to someone who may drink for relief of their ocd but the next day that drink may flair things up.
The more you indulge your compulsions the more they will continue to grow down the line. So it's best to cut it off right away before it starts to turn into other things. At least you have the power to stop them, many don't or are working towards that.
To get better from it you need to be active about it.
You might want to look into seeing a family doctor, or a therapist who specializes in ocd.
I would suggest you get some books and read up on ocd so you have a better understanding on how it works.

Here are a few of the most refereed books from r/ocd:
OCD Workbook Breaking Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
http://www.amazon.com/OCD-Workbook-Breaking-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder/dp/1572249218

Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Personalized Recovery Program for Living with Uncertainty
http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder-Personalized/dp/042519955X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

*Brain Lock
http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Yourself-Obsessive-Compulsive-Behavior/dp/0060987111/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332741170&sr=1-1

u/Ahlec · 1 pointr/OCD

The OCD Workbook: Your Guide to Breaking Free from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. I haven't finished reading it, though, so I can't say that it's helped me yet. But I think I've been bettered for starting to work through it, at least.

u/HypochondriacTales · 1 pointr/HealthAnxiety

Yep! There's an entire chapter about Health Anxiety OCD in "The OCD Workbook," which is one of the first books that my therapist recommended that I use early in my therapy. https://www.amazon.com/OCD-Workbook-Obsessive-Compulsive-Harbinger-Self-Help/dp/1572249218/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511722537&sr=8-1&keywords=the+ocd+workbook

For what it's worth, she also recommended the book "Coping with Anxiety" https://www.amazon.com/Coping-Anxiety-Simple-Relieve-Worry/dp/1626253854/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1511722618&sr=1-1

u/lex917 · 1 pointr/OCD

Amazon

I've been working on it the last few weeks, and it's pretty helpful.

u/okay5758 · 1 pointr/OCD

is seeing a doctor for medication a financial option for you?

Also, this book has helped me do a lot of self-guided work on my OCD:
http://www.amazon.com/The-OCD-Workbook-Breaking-Obsessive-Compulsive/dp/1572249218

u/not-moses · 1 pointr/mentalhealth

If one was regularly ignored, abandoned, discounted, disclaimed, and rejected -- as well as invalidated, confused, betrayed, insulted, criticized, judged, blamed, embarrassed, humiliated, victimized, demonized, persecuted, picked on, dumped on, bullied, scapegoated, and/or otherwise abused -- by others upon whom they depended for survival in early life, they may have been in-struct-ed, programmed, conditioned, socialized and/or normalized to beliefs, values, ideals, principles, convictions, rules, codes, regulations and requirements about how we or they (or the world) should / must / ought / have to be.

But even though OCD has a major cognitive component, unlike OCPD, OCD is psychotic and requires a medicinal as well as behavioral treatment scheme.

Here's a road map:

  1. Medications, but only if really needed to get one stabilized enough to do the next six things on this list: Find a board certified psychopharmacologist in your area by using the clinician locator on the Psychology Today website. Getting psych meds from a GP or primary care doc can be useless or even risky. Psych diagnoses, meds and med interactions are just too complex now for most GPs and primary care docs.

  2. Support Groups: AA, MA and/or NA if one is using intoxicants to try to cope with emotional pain; OCDA, ACA, EA and CoDA... where you will find others in similar boats who have found explanations, answers and solutions.

  3. Books and academic, professional websites including Mayo Clinic, WebMD, NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health), NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), and even Wikipedia (when everything asserted is solidly documented with citations). Strongly recommended: Grayson's Freedom from OCD, and -- because they all understand the upshots of having been stressed for too long, including complex PTSD into extreme coping behaviors: Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine, Patricia Ogden, Ronald Kurtz, Laurence Heller, Bruce McEwen, Sonya Lupien and Robert Sapolsky. This article will get you oriented. Accurate information is power.

  4. Psychotherapy: I currently use Ogden's SP4T as the interoceptive 9th of the 10 StEPs of Emotion Processing to manage any "time bombs" that turn up, but had good results over the years with several of the

    . . . a) CBTs including REBT, collegiate critical thinking, schema therapy, and CPT; as well as the

    . . . b) "super-CBTs" like MBCT, DBT (the long-time gold standard for BPD symptom management), ACT, MBBT, and MBSR; and the

    . . . c) "deep cleaners" like EMDR, HBCP, SEPt, SP4T and NARM.

    The CBTs deconstruct one's inaccurate beliefs, values, ideals, principles, convictions, rules, codes, regulations and requirements about how we or they (or the world) should / must / ought / have to be. DBT, MBCT, ACT, MBBT and MBSR are terrific for emotional symptom management. EMDR, HBCT, SEPt, SP4T and NARM are first-rate for memory-reprocessing, sense-making and detachment from the conditioning, programming, etc.

    To find the clinicians who know how to use these psychotherapies, look here, and here, and here, and (for DBT specialists in particular) here. If you dig a little on each page, you will be able to see which therapies they use. Then interview them as though they were applying for a job with your company. Most MD / psychiatrists, btw, are not therapists themselves (they are medication specialists), but can refer you to those who are, and are often -- though not always -- excellent sources of referral.

  5. Mindfulness Meditation: Try the Vipassana-style? (For a lot of people with anxiety, this stuff handles anxiety chop chop. Not sure about depression. Many of the modern psychotherapies for anxiety are actually based on it now.)

  6. Therapy Workbooks: I got a lot of lift-off by using inexpensive workbooks like these, and these, and these, and these. But specifically for OCD, I would suggest this and this, because the Tx methods used -- and mechanisms of delivery here -- are research-proven.

  7. Moderate Exercise: Because it is the single healthiest of the distractions one can use to yank oneself out of the paradigm for a while... and it can help to "massage" the brain so that it responds more quickly to psychotherapy.
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