OCD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

Description

When someone is diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), chances are they've been living with the symptoms for a long time. People with OCD may have long felt embarrassed by their thoughts and behaviors, which may include fear of contamination, the need for symmetry, pathological doubt, aggressive thoughts, repeating behaviors, and obsessive cleaning. OCD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed helps readers understand how OCD works so they can develop better strategies for coping with their symptoms. This pocket guide offers guidance for coping with the diagnosis itself, discusses stigmas related to OCD, and includes help for readers unsure of who they should tell about the diagnosis. Readers also learn about the most effective treatment approaches and easy ways to begin to manage their OCD symptoms. An OCD diagnosis can be a devastating event, or it can be a catalyst for positive change. Books in the Guides for the Newly Diagnosed series provide readers with all the tools they need to process a diagnosis in the healthiest way possible, and then move forward to manage their symptoms so that the disorder doesn't get in the way of living a fulfilling life.

Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, founding partner of the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy, assistant clinical professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and a diplomate and founding fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. Tompkins specializes in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders in adults, adolescents, and children. He has authored numerous articles and chapters on cognitive behavior therapy and related topics. He has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and on television and radio.

"OCD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed gives those who have been recently diagnosed with OCD a head start on treatment. It addresses their and their families' many questions and worries triggered by the diagnosis. Thereby, immediate support and anxiety reduction are available. In addition, the guide offers clinicians a wealth of information that can be readily made available to their patients. I strongly recommend this book to patients, families, and mental health professionals." --Paul R. Munford, PhD, clinical psychologist and director of the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center for OCD and Anxiety in San Rafael, CA "Michael A. Tompkins book, OCD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed, is a very helpful resource for those suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. In clear, direct language, Tompkins helps the consumer understand the nature of OCD, what treatment will involve, how to find the right therapist, and how to work effectively toward coping with this difficult problem. People with OCD and their families will find this book to be useful." --Robert L. Leahy, PhD, director of the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy "What a terrific book for individuals who have the very real illness of OCD, whether or not they have started treatment. This highly readable and practical book is also an important resource for families and friends who don't understand this often mystifying disorder or know what to do to help. I recommend it highly!" --Judith S. Beck, PhD, president of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy and clinical associate professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania