“The Man Who Couldn’t Stop: OCD And The True Story Of A Life Lost” in Thought by David Adam

Many people have asked me when I knew I had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and the truth is I can’t remember when it started, but I remember the moment I had to try to make it go away. I was performing the ritual of getting my twin girls ready for school, and they were in Kindergarten then, each six years old.  I would load up their backpacks, and as we started to leave the kitchen, I would say in my cheery voice, “Ok. Let’s all check the stove and make sure the burners are off.” The girls joined in and we would all repeat, “Straight up. Straight up. Straight up,” as we reviewed each burner knob. One morning, my then-husband Bill entered the kitchen and caught us chanting to the burners. He looked right at me and said, “You need to cut that out or you are going to drive the girls crazy.” It felt like a slap. He had never said much truer words than that. So I knew at the moment I had to start addressing my OCD. I compulsively raced to talk therapy, but it took me years to realize that talk therapy does little to help or resolve OCD. This book, “The Man Who Couldn’t Stop,” addresses many of the mysteries, concerns, debates and dilemmas of OCD. The author, who has struggled with OCD most of his life, states the facts clearly: no amount of therapy or prescription medication is going to “cure” OCD, but the right combination of both might help you manage it. Adam’s OCD manifested itself through a fear of contamination, specifically AIDS and HIV. He used to call the National AIDS Helpline so many times each day that the staff began to recognize his voice. After hiding his compulsions for many years, he sought help when his fear of infection began to involve his daughter. He embarked on a successful treatment plan that included an antidepressant, group therapy and cognitive behavior therapy. Those with OCD will enjoy reading this book because it will make you feel like you are not alone. Those without OCD might also find the Adam’s tale interesting   because it includes many quirky stories, such as a man who used 18 linen napkins each night to clean his cutlery. Last year I joined a free support group for people with OCD in San Francisco. Members of the group share their OCD stories once a month as well as their coping strategies. They talk about the stress it brings into the relationships -- with their children, partners and co-workers. People with OCD have good days and bad days, and days that are in between. Sometimes just the fact that you can get up, get dressed, leave your house and go to work without driving back around to check if the garage door is closed, makes it a good day. Sometimes that is all you need to be happy. To purchase this book on Amazon click here.