Being me with OCD : how I learned to obsess less and live my life [downloadable ebook

Uses the author's own experiences with obsessive-compulsive disorder to discuss the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of OCD, and includes advice on finding help and living a fuller, happier life with the disorder.;Introduction: Climbing up from rock bottom -- Chapter 1: OCD and me: What is OCD? -- It's official: I have OCD -- What do OCD symptoms look like? -- Types of OCD (Karissa's story: what if? -- Josh's story: I had a germ phobia -- Why do I have OCD? -- Sophie's story, part 1: my OCD started with a dog attack -- What now? ; Sophie's story, part 2: I got the help I needed -- Chapter 2: Reaching out: Advocating for yourself -- Finding a psychiatrist or therapist -- My first visit with a psychiatrist -- Sometimes labels are a good thing -- Nicole's story: being diagnosed was a relief -- Chapter 3: How therapy can help: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) -- Robert's story: exposure and response prevention therapy helped me -- Facing your fears on your own -- "I don't want to go to therapy" -- Chapter 4: How medicine can help: Finding the right medication -- Kiersten's story: it took time to find the right medicine for me -- Side effects -- Worrisome side effects -- Paying for medication -- I missed a dose (and a dose and a dose and another dose) -- I took too many pills! -- How long will I need to be on medicine? -- Chapter 5: What else helps?: Self-help -- Beyond basic outpatient therapy -- Rachel's story: I got the help I needed in a residential program -- Surgery -- Believe in yourself -- Chapter 6: I am not OCD: popular perceptions and stigmas: Molly's story: stigma made OCD feel worse -- Everyone and their brother think they have OCD -- What OCD is not -- Using humor as a coping method -- Times have changed -- OCD and related disorders -- Chapter 7: Being you with OCD: Putting yourself in control -- Building a community of support -- OCD and dating -- OCD and school (and work) -- Keeping realistic expectations -- Looking back -- Looking ahead. Part memoir, part self-help for teens, Being Me with OCD tells the story of how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) dragged the author to rock bottom—and how she found hope, got help, and eventually climbed back to a fuller, happier life. In the United States, about 1 in 100 adults and 1 in 200 kids have obsessive-compulsive disorder; the age of onset in more than 50 percent of adult cases is before age 15. Using anecdotes, self-reflection, guest essays, and thorough research, Dotson explains what OCD is and how readers with OCD can begin to get better. The essays in the book by teens with OCD provide additional perspectives of OCD so all readers can see themselves reflected in the book. The eBook format makes content readily accessible for teens seeking information on a sensitive and personal topic. With humor, specific advice, and an inspiring, been-there-beat-that attitude, readers will find the book simultaneously touching and practical. ocd, obsessive compulsive disorder Part memoir, part self-help for teens, Being Me with OCD tells the story of how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) dragged the author to rock bottom#8212;and how she found hope, got help, and eventually climbed back to a fuller, happier life. Using anecdotes, self-reflection, guest essays, and thorough research, Dotson explains what OCD is and how readers with OCD can begin to get better. With humor, specific advice, and an inspiring, been-there-beat-that attitude, readers will find the book simultaneously touching and practical Part memoir, part self-help for teens, Being Me with OCD tells the story of how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) dragged the author to rock bottom - and how she found hope, got help, and eventually climbed back to a fuller, happier life. Using anecdotes, self-reflection, guest essays, and thorough research, Dotson explains what OCD is and how readers with OCD can begin to get better. With humor, specific advice, and an inspiring, been-there-beat-that attitude, readers will find the book simultaneously touching and practical One young woman's inspiring story of how she overcame OCD and how readers can do the same