For the more than 2 million Americans with obsessive-compulsive disorder, the intrusive thoughts and uncontrollable behaviors can take a harsh toll, as author Jared Douglas Kant knows all too well. Diagnosed with OCD at age 11, Jared became ruled by dread of deadly germs and diseases, the unrelenting need to count and check things, and a persistent, nagging doubt that overshadowed his life.
In The Thought that Counts, Jared shares his deeply personal account of trial, tribulation, and ultimately triumph. Using anecdotes, narratives and sidebars, this book adds a human face to a complex disorder. Jared's funny, often touching, sometimes harrowing tale makes for compelling reading. Yet his memoir is only half the story. With the help of psychologist Martin Franklin, Ph.D., and veteran science writer Linda Wasmer Andrews, Jared paints the big picture for other teens with OCD. Drawing on the latest scientific and medical evidence, he explains how to recognize warning signs, where to find help, and what treatments have proved effective. Jared also offers practical suggestions on managing the symptoms of OCD at home, at school, and in relationships with family and friends. The result is both an absorbing memoir and a useful guide that will help to ease the isolation caused by OCD, assuring anyone recently diagnosed with the disease that, with commitment and hard work, they can overcome this illness.
Part of the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative series of books written specifically for teens and young adults, this volume offers hope to young people who are struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder, helping them to overcome the challenges of this illness and go on to lead healthy, productive lives.
"This book is a searing personal account about life with OCD, and as a fellow sufferer, I was impressed by the unique insight it gives the reader...[I]t's the extraordinary testimony of a sufferer that makes the book so powerful; Kant takes the reader into that exclusive club sufferers belong to, and I found myself nodding in recognition throughout. This book will strike a chord with sufferers, and will help many readers understand what OCD really means. "--Ian Puleston-Davies, The Daily Mail, London
| Foreword | p. ix |
| Preface | p. xiii |
| On Second (and Third and Fourth) Thought: Obsessions and Compulsions | p. 3 |
| My Story | p. 3 |
| Diseases, Physical and Mental | p. 4 |
| Disasters Waiting to Happen | p. 6 |
| Less-Than-Happy Camper | p. 7 |
| Invasion of the Mind Snatchers | p. 8 |
| The Big Picture | p. 10 |
| So What Exactly Is OCD? | p. 11 |
| What Forms Can the Disorder Take? | p. 13 |
| How Common Is OCD? | p. 19 |
| What Causes the Disorder? | p. 20 |
| What's the Least I Need to Know? | p. 26 |
| Slippery Slope to the Hospital: Diagnosis and Hospitalization | p. 28 |
| My Story | p. 28 |
| Darkness Falls Early | p. 29 |
| The World Gets Scarier | p. 31 |
| Toxic Fears and Poisonous Thoughts | p. 32 |
| Desperate and Despairing | p. 34 |
| Inside a Psych Ward | p. 35 |
| The Big Picture | p. 38 |
| What Are the Warning Signs? | p. 38 |
| Where Can I Turn for Help? | p. 41 |
| How Is a Diagnosis of OCD Made? | p. 43 |
| What Kinds of Treatment Really Work? | p. 44 |
| When Is Hospitalization Helpful? | p. 46 |
| What's the Least I Need to Know? | p. 48 |
| Adventures in Daily Living: OCD at Home and School | p. 50 |
| My Story | p. 50 |
| Locker Room Meltdown | p. 52 |
| Just Following Orders | p. 53 |
| Retracing My Steps | p. 54 |
| Paying Scrupulous Attention | p. 56 |
| Sorry for Everything | p. 57 |
| The Big Picture | p. 59 |
| How Does OCD AFfect Life at Home? | p. 61 |
| How Does OCD Affect Life at School? | p. 63 |
| What Steps Help Manage OCD at School? | p. 65 |
| What Should You Tell Friends about OCD? | p. 67 |
| What's the Least I Need to Know? | p. 70 |
| Reaching for a Lifeline: Psychotherapy and Medication | p. 72 |
| My Story | p. 72 |
| Off to Boarding School | p. 73 |
| Hitting the Panic Button | p. 75 |
| Winning by Surrender | p. 76 |
| Cognitive-Behavioral Help | p. 79 |
| Looking East for Inspiration | p. 80 |
| The Big Picture | p. 83 |
| What Form of CBT Is Most Effective? | p. 85 |
| What Types of Medication Are Helpful? | p. 91 |
| How Can I Pay for Treatment? | p. 94 |
| Which Self-Help Strategies Are Useful? | p. 96 |
| What's the Least I Need to Know? | p. 97 |
| Rituals, Routines, and Recovery: Living With OCD | p. 99 |
| My Story | p. 99 |
| Staring Down OCD | p. 100 |
| Life Beyond High School | p. 102 |
| Hoarding 101 | p. 104 |
| Cleaning Up My Act | p. 106 |
| The Big Picture | p. 107 |
| How Does Substance Abuse Affect OCD? | p. 110 |
| How Are Tic Disorders Related to OCD? | p. 112 |
| What Are Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders? | p. 114 |
| Which Other Disorders Are Related to OCD? | p. 116 |
| What's the Outlook for My Future? | p. 120 |
| What's the Least I Need to Know? | p. 121 |
| Where I Was Is Not Where I Am | p. 122 |
| Romancing the Illness | p. 123 |
| Does That Sound Rational? | p. 126 |
| The One-Shower Rule | p. 127 |
| Sweet Stink of Success | p. 128 |
| Tooling Up for the Future | p. 130 |
| Frequently Asked Questions | p. 133 |
| Glossary | p. 143 |
| Resources | p. 149 |
| Bibliography | p. 157 |
| Index | p. 161 |
| Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved. |
ISBN: 9780195316896
ISBN-10: 0195316894
Series: Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands' Adolescent Mental Health Initiative
Audience:
General
For Ages: 14 - 17 years old
For Grades: 9 - 12
Format:
Paperback
Language:
English
Number Of Pages: 185
Published: 1st March 2008
Dimensions (cm): 21.031 x 15.215
x 1.346
Weight (kg): 0.264