The Literary and Linguistic Construction of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: No Ordinary Doubt (Literary Disability Studies)

This book presents a literary and linguistic reading of obsessive-compulsive disorder to argue that medical understandings of disability need their social, political, literary and linguistic counterparts, especially if we aspire to create a more inclusive, self-reflective society. "What does it mean to live with obsessive-compulsive disorder in a time when the word "obsession" has become synonymous with "driven", "focused" or "infatuated"? This book presents a literary and linguistic reading of obsessive-compulsive disorder, both in its contemporary form and its historical antecedent, to argue that medical understandings of disability need their social, political, literary and linguistic counterparts, especially if we aspire to create a more inclusive society. The chapters visit memoirs, historical texts, novels and movies to demonstrate how each of these manifestations becomes a part of the "story" of OCD. In that sense, we construct reality based on the discourses that are available to us, and the discourses of OCD are yet to encompass all of its diversity and complexity"-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 List of Illustrations 9 Preface 10 Acknowledgments 12 1 OCD Inside Out: The Forging of Disorder 14 2 Recurrent Doubt: A Brief Story of OCD through its Literary Texts 42 3 Just for Fun: The Misappropriation of OCD for Humor and the Role of Critical Disciplines in Claiming It Back 80 4 Someone Else’s Words: OCD, Language, and Discourse Power 108 5 Me and My OCD: Memoirs and the Challenges of Self-Representation 139 6 Not “Just” a Story: Literary Invention, Innovation, and OCD 160 7 Bioconcerns, OCD Fears, and Other Worrisome Things: Healing through Narrative 183 Bibliography 204 Index 215 Front Matter....Pages i-xii OCD Inside Out: The Forging of Disorder....Pages 1-28 Recurrent Doubt: A Brief Story of OCD through Its Literary Texts....Pages 29-66 Just for Fun: The Misappropriation of OCD for Humor and the Role of Critical Disciplines in Claiming It Back....Pages 67-94 Someone Else’s Words: OCD, Language, and Discourse Power....Pages 95-125 Me and My OCD: Memoirs and the Challenges of Self-Representation....Pages 126-146 Not “Just” a Story: Literary Invention, Innovation, and OCD....Pages 147-169 Bioconcerns, OCD Fears, and Other Worrisome Things: Healing through Narrative....Pages 170-190 Back Matter....Pages 191-209