A comprehensive introduction to one of the most common psychiatric disorders, a condition that results in intrusive, irrational thoughts and/or repetitive, illogical physical or mental actions. Titles in this Health and Psychology Sourcebooks series address psychological, physical, or environmental conditions that threaten human health and wellbeing. This book presents a comprehensive overview of OCD—one of the five most common psychiatric disorders. Obsessions range from those associated with contamination, safety, and order or symmetry to scrupulosity, or the need the do the "right" thing. Compulsions range from counting, touching, and tapping to excessive cleaning/washing, arranging, or even hoarding. Written by a therapist among the most experienced in the world in dealing with this disorder, this book covers the incidence, symptoms, diagnosis, history, development, and causes, as well as the effects and costs of OCD. It also addresses theory, research, and treatments and offers insight into and case studies illustrating how the disorder displays in society, at work, and in relationships. A glossary of terms, suggested further readings, and resource websites and organizations listing are included.

He was tall, muscular and his suffocating good looks caught the attention of every woman he encountered. After two tours in East Africa, and receiving a bronze star for heroism, Joe returned home to find the CIA waiting with open arms. Was there a connection between the Taliban of Afghanistan and the murderous cartels of Mexico? Paired with a fun and whimsical pilot, and the gorgeous but deadly, Gabriella Mendez, Joe and his team faced the lords of evil and their empire of drug trafficking and sex slaves. From the poppy fields of Afghanistan, the paradise of Cozumel, to the deceitful halls of the nation's capital, Gringo Joe must rely on his warrior instincts and unwavering faith in God to save him, and those he loves. The beautiful and brilliant Michele Randle, or ‘Mel’ as she is affectionately known, graduated Stanford Law with such poise and ease; she was the recruiting target of every powerful, corporate law firm in the country. To consider her many and varied options, Mel made a rare, impulsive decision and drove to the Pacific Northwest where she happened upon the breathtaking hamlet of Steelhead, Oregon. When timber was king, Steelhead was its throne, but these days it was wine that vied for the crown. In the tranquil beauty of the Umpqua Valley, hillsides of giant firs retreated to the vast expansion of vineyards. Every square foot of Gringo Joe's Espresso was built by the gifted hands of Joseph Chandler, an ex-US Army Ranger, reeling from the scars of war. Mel strolled into the warm and inviting artisan cottage, and discovered true love; fresh shots of espresso, buried beneath a blanket of steamed milk, accompanied by warm, marionberry scones. It was a well-deserved break from seven years of demanding academic pursuits. Her ambitions and goals, never in question, were now suspect and vulnerable. Looking for a quiet place to resolve the conflicting voices within, instead, Mel found purpose and romance in the company of a barista with ridiculously green eyes. The greatest surprise was a rollercoaster adventure that almost took her life, but rekindled the embers of her dying faith.

Nearly six million Americans suffer from the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which can manifest itself in many ways: paralyzing fear of contamination; unmanageable “checking” rituals; excessive concern with order, symmetry, and counting; and others. Freedom from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder provides Dr. Jonathan Grayson’s revolutionary and compassionate program for finally breaking the cycle of overwhelming fear and endless rituals, including: Self-assessment tests that guide readers in identifying their specific type of OCD and help track their progress in treatment Case studies from Dr. Grayson’s revolutionary and profoundly successful treatment program Blueprints for programs tailored to particular manifestations of OCD Previously unexplored manifestations of OCD such as obsessive staring, Relationship OCD (R-OCD), obsessive intolerance of environmental sounds and chewing sounds Therapy scripts to help individuals develop their own therapeutic voice, to motivate themselves to succeed New therapies used in conjunction with exposure techniques “Trigger sheets” for identifying and planning for obstacles that arise in treatment Information on building a support group And much more Demystifying the process of OCD assessment and treatment, this indispensable book helps sufferers make sense of their own compulsions through frank, unflinching self-evaluation, and provides not only the knowledge of how to change—but the courage to do it.

This book explores multiple metanarratives of disability to introduce and investigate the critical concept of assumed authority and the normative social order from which it derives. The book comprises 15 chapters developed across three parts and, informed by disability studies, is authored by those with research interests in the condition on which they focus as well as direct or intimate experiential knowledge. When out and about, many disabled people know only too well what it is to be erroneously told the error of our/their ways by non-disabled passers-by, assumed authority often cloaked in helpfulness. Showing that assumed authority is underpinned by a displacement of personal narratives in favour of overarching metanarratives of disability that find currency in a diverse multiplicity of cultural representations – ranging from literature to film, television, advertising, social media, comics, art, and music – this work discusses how this relates to a range of disabilities and chronic conditions, including blindness, autism, Down syndrome, diabetes, cancer, and HIV and AIDS. Metanarratives of Disability will be of interest to all scholars and students of disability studies, medical sociology, medical humanities, education studies, cultural studies, and health. 'offers a well-structured, accessible collection of disability narratives that foreground disabled voices' Journal of Literary and Cultural Disability Studies 16.1 (2022)

An amnesiac must learn the truth behind his girlfriend’s death, but he might not like it, in this psychological thriller by the author of The Silent Girls. Who do you trust, when you don’t know who you are? Cameron Todd is recovering from a serious brain injury. A trauma suffered the same night his girlfriend Emma plunged to her death from a clifftop. The damage erases all memory of the incident and his life leading up to that moment. Both the police and Emma’s relatives are hunting for someone to blame and question whether his amnesia is a convenient fabrication. Desperate to understand what happened that fateful day, self-doubt creeps in when Cameron learns his relationship with Emma might not have been picture-perfect. Is he a victim, or the perpetrator? Can he trust his injured brain’s version of events? Or will unearthing the truth reveal something far more sinister? . . . The perfect read for fans of authors like D.S. Butler and Carol Wyer.

Drawing upon extensive interviews and assessments of school-age childr en who have lost a parent to death, this book offers a richly textured portrait of the mourning process in children. The volume presents maj or findings from the Harvard Child Bereavement Study and places them i n the context of previous research, shedding new light on both the wid e range of normal variation in childrens experiences of grief and the factors that put bereaved children at risk. The book also compares pa rentally bereaved children with those who have suffered loss of a sibl ing to death, or of a parent through divorce, exploring similarities a nd differences in these experiences of loss. A concluding section expl ores the clinical implications of the findings and includes a review o f intervention models and activities, as well as a screening instrumen t designed to help identify high-risk bereaved children.

This is the first book to address the clinical and neurobiological interface between schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). There is growing evidence that obsessive-compulsive symptoms in schizophrenia are prevalent, persistent and characterized by a distinct pattern of familial inheritance, neurocognitive deficits and brain activation. This text provides guidelines for differential diagnosis of schizophrenic patients with obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and patients with primary OCD alongside poor insight, psychotic features or schizotypal personality. Written by a leading expert in the coexistence of obsessive-compulsive and schizophrenic phenomena, Schizo-Obsessive Disorder uses numerous case studies to present diagnostic guidelines and to describe a recommended treatment algorithm, demystifying this complex disorder and aiding its effective management. The book is essential reading for psychiatrists, neurologists and the wider range of multidisciplinary mental health practitioners.