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New Harbinger Guides for the Newly Diagnosed
OCD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed
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 doesnít get in the way of living a fulfilling life.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
34 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Michael A. Tompkins
40 books21 followersMichael A. Tompkins, Ph.D. is co-founder 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. He is the author or co-author of numerous articles and chapters on cognitive-behavior therapy and related topics, as well as six books. He is a certified supervisor for the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy and the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and serves on the Advisory Board of Magination Press, the children’s press of the American Psychological Association. He has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and on television (The Learning Channel, Arts & Entertainment) and radio (KQED, NPR).
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 1, 2016
This is an excellent and very comprehensive look at OCD. I learned so much about what I'm going through and have been my entire life without knowing it.
With every flip of the page, I found myself breathing a sigh of relief because someone got it. The clusterfuck of my brain is something countless others have experienced and learned to adapt in the past.
I was really grateful that so much was covered as when I open up to people about my OCD it's often met with comments about hand washing, which I do not do and is frankly a really distressing point because it's why it took me so long to get a diagnosis. Through this book I was able to see how much OCD has impacted my life.
I am purchasing this book both for personal reference and having others reading to understand me in ways I cannot form words to explain.
With every flip of the page, I found myself breathing a sigh of relief because someone got it. The clusterfuck of my brain is something countless others have experienced and learned to adapt in the past.
I was really grateful that so much was covered as when I open up to people about my OCD it's often met with comments about hand washing, which I do not do and is frankly a really distressing point because it's why it took me so long to get a diagnosis. Through this book I was able to see how much OCD has impacted my life.
I am purchasing this book both for personal reference and having others reading to understand me in ways I cannot form words to explain.
May 7, 2012
This book really helped me. I was left feeling less alone. I highly recommend it to anyone whose life has been touched by OCD.
February 11, 2024
Spot on title. Very short primer with clear, easy-to-read and understand information. If you’re looking for a jumping off point, this seems like a good one. I wish I could find some more current materials at the library, though. I appreciate the acknowledgements of how hard it is to find treatment, especially if you’re not in a metro area, and how often misdiagnosis happens. The idea of ERP still makes me squirm, but at least I understand the theory behind it a little better.
I don’t know why all these OCD books need to give their .02 about nutrition and exercise when they’re not nutritionists and eating disorders and OCD overlap so much, but at least this one didn’t mention weight. Also includes some debunked stuff about opioids. It’s easy enough to skip or skim sections that don’t apply as everything is well-labeled (if your OCD lets you.)
I don’t know why all these OCD books need to give their .02 about nutrition and exercise when they’re not nutritionists and eating disorders and OCD overlap so much, but at least this one didn’t mention weight. Also includes some debunked stuff about opioids. It’s easy enough to skip or skim sections that don’t apply as everything is well-labeled (if your OCD lets you.)
July 30, 2016
I picked this up at the library because I've always been intrigued by OCD and it seemed like a quick read that might give me an overview. It did just that -- basic info. about symptoms and signs, diagnosis, and treatment that I was able to read in one day. I skimmed a lot of the information about treatment, especially medications, but it's there for those who need it. The book cleared up some misconceptions I had and gave me a clearer view of what people with anxiety disorders and OCD might be experiencing.
July 2, 2015
I really did not enjoy this book. I was recently diagnosed and I found this book to not be very helpful. I feel like mental illnesses are not black and white with symptoms, signs, and relief like the author made OCD sound. I just felt like he was trying to say I was less of a mental illness because I don't do certain things
March 14, 2012
Dr. Tompkins is writing to those looking for an answer to their strange behaviours and thoughts and also to those who have just been to their doctor and have come away with an unfamiliar diagnosis: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD. This is also a book for family members and friends of those with OCD who are looking for answers to their relative’s or friend’s odd behaviours and how to help them.
Tompkins begins with a clinical definition of OCD and how it differs from other mental illnesses and from the more common usage of the word obsession, meaning to enjoy very much. He then very briefly lists 3 common types of obsessions: unacceptable or disgusting sexual thoughts, thoughts of harming self or others and finally blasphemously religious or morally wrong obsessions.
The compulsion or ritual part of OCD is when the sufferer feels driven to carry out a ‘deliberate and purposeful behaviour’ which is supposed to either prevent harm from occurring or to lessen their own discomfort. Checking- anything from locked doors to calculations or emails to be sent- is done to make sure things are done correctly. The difference between a person with and without OCD is the frequency of checking each item before they feel ‘ok’ that the job is properly done. People with cleaning and washing compulsions are worried they will be ‘contaminated’ by the item they have just touched that they feel is ‘dirty’, ‘dangerous’ or ‘disgusting’. A problem here is that while washing to remove visible dirty is done quickly, the removal of the 'feeling of dirt’ takes much longer. Another problem people with washing and contamination have is the amount of time or trouble they take to avoid coming into contact with ‘contaminated’ objects like door knobs or public washrooms. It doesn’t even have to be a real item that triggers the ‘wash’ compulsion, it can also be a ‘dirty’ thought. Those with ordering and arranging compulsions will arrange their possessions in a particular way and become very upset should anyone interrupt them. This is done to prevent a disaster (not related to a lack of organization) from occurring or for a need for everything to ‘feel right’. Some people with OCD will repeat tasks like turning on a light switch until it ‘feels right’ or until they have done it a certain number of times. Still others hoard items.
Not all compulsions are behavioural. Mental acts like repeating a prayer or a mantra can also be done to prevent a feared act from occurring or to bring relief from anxiety, guilt or shame. Seeking reassurance that something won’t happen or that it is ok to not do a compulsion is another compulsion because it is not done to acquire information but rather to lessen anxiety. When the anxiety returns, the same question is asked again and again and again.
Once OCD begins there are certain thoughts or events that keep it reccurring. These are known as triggers, faulty thought appraisals and selective attention. A trigger is a neutral event or thought that leads to an obsessive thought. For example, an approaching bus leads a man with OCD to obsess: Did I push someone under that bus? A woman with OCD might obsess that somehow SHE caused the car accident that killed her mother even though she was nowhere near the scene at the time.
Faulty thought appraisals occur when an OCD sufferer decides that a random intrusive thought is in some way significant or revealing. Having a random repugnant sexual thought is interpreted to mean that they are sick or weird. Having a thought cross their mind about harming someone must mean that they are evil and disgusting. Other irrational beliefs held by people with OCD include:
-They are 100% responsible for what happens to themselves and others around them
-They can and must maintain complete and total control over all their thoughts
-It is both important and possible to be 100% certain a bad event won’t happen
-Imperfection in themselves is intolerable so tasks must be redone until they ‘feel right’.
-Things go wrong much more often than they go right, so check to make sure you did it properly.
Dr. Tompkins states that once a thought is earmarked as threatening a person pays greater attention to it. A person on the watch for these thoughts goes actively ‘looking’ in his mind for them. Since the mind has the ability to create these feared thoughts and images, voila, you find them.
Another problem is that although the compulsion may reduce anxiety, guilt or shame, this is only temporary. Over time this works less and less well so the person often needs to do their compulsion longer or add more features to it.
Tompkins admits that getting a correct diagnosis of OCD can be an ordeal due to lack of knowledge on the part of the professionals. However, it is the ticket to qualifying for and receiving correct treatment and/ or medications and having the insurance companies pay for some or all of this. A formal diagnosis can also help family and friends understand the problem better. He then walks the reader through the diagnostic process.
Then is the time to seek treatment. Tompkins provides a list of questions to ask prospective therapists. He does not minimize the hard work the client needs to do. It involves facing “fears and distress as well as tolerat[ing] the feelings of having to admit to yourself and others that you have OCD.” He explains the basics of the 2 main behavioural therapies: CBT and ERP, and how long treatment lasts. Finally he shares some do’s and don’ts that will make therapy more successful:
- share even your most shameful obsession
- don’t try to get away with mini-compulsions
- do your homework each week as prescribed
- have the therapist model the exposure if it will help you decrease your fears
- tell any new symptoms that occur
He then briefly discusses other forms of psychological treatments and why he does not recommend them. He also evaluates the pros and cons of attempting other medical treatments (i.e. brain surgery) in the event that regular treatments are ineffective.
Medication is another step a person just diagnosed with OCD has to address. Tompkins discusses the types of medications, their common side effects and finally the frustrations that can occur while trying various medications until the right one is found.
One of the most important areas of this book is the section on having a recovery attitude after your therapy is over to keep OCD as minimal an intrusion in life as possible. He reminds readers to practice healthy personal care habits: proper nutrition, exercise, enough sleep and to resist the urge to do more than their fair share at work so they have a healthy work/ life balance. He also gets specific with advice for helping to keep OCD at bay: accept both life’s uncertainty and that personal imperfection is okay, keep practising exposures to keep the fear away and to not give OCD an opportunity by doing little compulsions. He says to resist the urge to analyze, reassure the self or repeat phrases like ‘this is my OCD’.
It is hard to have OCD at home where everything is familiar. It is harder still to have OCD and go to work or attend school. Tompkins gives Americans their workplace rights and helps the newly diagnosed person decide whether accommodations are needed. He gives examples of what can be done to assist the employee or student wwith OCD in fulfilling his job or school responsibilities.
The book also provides a list of US treatment centers and organizations and websites to visit.
This book gives any adult the information and understanding necessary to be able to talk to a health practitioner, explain clearly their symptoms and get a formal diagnosis of their illness. His step by step detailed instruction manual is easy to both understand and put into practise. He alleviates potential fears of treatment and taking medications by explaining the therapeutic and medical offerings available and even evaluates them so readers know which ones to look for and which to avoid. He doesn’t mince words pretending that OCD therapy will be fun or easy but reassures the reader that most do find a reduction in symptoms with some combination of therapy done well and medication. Not too many books give advice on how to maintain your gains after therapy is over but Tompkins devotes a whole chapter to this.
However, as a Canadian I’d like to see some Canadian organizations in his resource section.
I’m also not so sure that getting a proper OCD diagnosis is as difficult as Tompkins says. The source for this is a study from 1986, over 20 years ago. I’m hoping that except for maybe rural America that this has changed, especially after seeing all the different anxiety and OCD centers in the many American states that he lists in his book. He also downplays ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) but I found that for me, some of the ACT ideals were very useful while I had intense anxiety. Did I want to do something positive or of value (go out for a walk) or stay at home and give in to the anxiety? ACT can give you the motivation of why you are going through the work of practicing CBT or ERP.
While Dr. Tompkins very briefly takes the reader thru common theories of how OCD occurs,he he fails to mention Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz’s view that when the basal ganglia is over stimulated it starts sending false messages of dread or discomfort to the brain. The brain becomes ‘stuck’ and can’t automatically delete these messages anymore. The person with OCD must learn how to do this manually. Schwartz also has a treatment plan a little different from, and not as anxiety-provoking as ERP which Tompkins also did not include. This is odd since he lists the Westwood Institute in his resource section and they follow Schwartz’ program. Schwartz’ book Brain Lock is not an obscure work and should be included in Dr. Tompkins' overview of OCD for the newly diagnosed.
This is a positive, upbeat book that would help any newbie on the start of their journey to beating ocd.
Tompkins begins with a clinical definition of OCD and how it differs from other mental illnesses and from the more common usage of the word obsession, meaning to enjoy very much. He then very briefly lists 3 common types of obsessions: unacceptable or disgusting sexual thoughts, thoughts of harming self or others and finally blasphemously religious or morally wrong obsessions.
The compulsion or ritual part of OCD is when the sufferer feels driven to carry out a ‘deliberate and purposeful behaviour’ which is supposed to either prevent harm from occurring or to lessen their own discomfort. Checking- anything from locked doors to calculations or emails to be sent- is done to make sure things are done correctly. The difference between a person with and without OCD is the frequency of checking each item before they feel ‘ok’ that the job is properly done. People with cleaning and washing compulsions are worried they will be ‘contaminated’ by the item they have just touched that they feel is ‘dirty’, ‘dangerous’ or ‘disgusting’. A problem here is that while washing to remove visible dirty is done quickly, the removal of the 'feeling of dirt’ takes much longer. Another problem people with washing and contamination have is the amount of time or trouble they take to avoid coming into contact with ‘contaminated’ objects like door knobs or public washrooms. It doesn’t even have to be a real item that triggers the ‘wash’ compulsion, it can also be a ‘dirty’ thought. Those with ordering and arranging compulsions will arrange their possessions in a particular way and become very upset should anyone interrupt them. This is done to prevent a disaster (not related to a lack of organization) from occurring or for a need for everything to ‘feel right’. Some people with OCD will repeat tasks like turning on a light switch until it ‘feels right’ or until they have done it a certain number of times. Still others hoard items.
Not all compulsions are behavioural. Mental acts like repeating a prayer or a mantra can also be done to prevent a feared act from occurring or to bring relief from anxiety, guilt or shame. Seeking reassurance that something won’t happen or that it is ok to not do a compulsion is another compulsion because it is not done to acquire information but rather to lessen anxiety. When the anxiety returns, the same question is asked again and again and again.
Once OCD begins there are certain thoughts or events that keep it reccurring. These are known as triggers, faulty thought appraisals and selective attention. A trigger is a neutral event or thought that leads to an obsessive thought. For example, an approaching bus leads a man with OCD to obsess: Did I push someone under that bus? A woman with OCD might obsess that somehow SHE caused the car accident that killed her mother even though she was nowhere near the scene at the time.
Faulty thought appraisals occur when an OCD sufferer decides that a random intrusive thought is in some way significant or revealing. Having a random repugnant sexual thought is interpreted to mean that they are sick or weird. Having a thought cross their mind about harming someone must mean that they are evil and disgusting. Other irrational beliefs held by people with OCD include:
-They are 100% responsible for what happens to themselves and others around them
-They can and must maintain complete and total control over all their thoughts
-It is both important and possible to be 100% certain a bad event won’t happen
-Imperfection in themselves is intolerable so tasks must be redone until they ‘feel right’.
-Things go wrong much more often than they go right, so check to make sure you did it properly.
Dr. Tompkins states that once a thought is earmarked as threatening a person pays greater attention to it. A person on the watch for these thoughts goes actively ‘looking’ in his mind for them. Since the mind has the ability to create these feared thoughts and images, voila, you find them.
Another problem is that although the compulsion may reduce anxiety, guilt or shame, this is only temporary. Over time this works less and less well so the person often needs to do their compulsion longer or add more features to it.
Tompkins admits that getting a correct diagnosis of OCD can be an ordeal due to lack of knowledge on the part of the professionals. However, it is the ticket to qualifying for and receiving correct treatment and/ or medications and having the insurance companies pay for some or all of this. A formal diagnosis can also help family and friends understand the problem better. He then walks the reader through the diagnostic process.
Then is the time to seek treatment. Tompkins provides a list of questions to ask prospective therapists. He does not minimize the hard work the client needs to do. It involves facing “fears and distress as well as tolerat[ing] the feelings of having to admit to yourself and others that you have OCD.” He explains the basics of the 2 main behavioural therapies: CBT and ERP, and how long treatment lasts. Finally he shares some do’s and don’ts that will make therapy more successful:
- share even your most shameful obsession
- don’t try to get away with mini-compulsions
- do your homework each week as prescribed
- have the therapist model the exposure if it will help you decrease your fears
- tell any new symptoms that occur
He then briefly discusses other forms of psychological treatments and why he does not recommend them. He also evaluates the pros and cons of attempting other medical treatments (i.e. brain surgery) in the event that regular treatments are ineffective.
Medication is another step a person just diagnosed with OCD has to address. Tompkins discusses the types of medications, their common side effects and finally the frustrations that can occur while trying various medications until the right one is found.
One of the most important areas of this book is the section on having a recovery attitude after your therapy is over to keep OCD as minimal an intrusion in life as possible. He reminds readers to practice healthy personal care habits: proper nutrition, exercise, enough sleep and to resist the urge to do more than their fair share at work so they have a healthy work/ life balance. He also gets specific with advice for helping to keep OCD at bay: accept both life’s uncertainty and that personal imperfection is okay, keep practising exposures to keep the fear away and to not give OCD an opportunity by doing little compulsions. He says to resist the urge to analyze, reassure the self or repeat phrases like ‘this is my OCD’.
It is hard to have OCD at home where everything is familiar. It is harder still to have OCD and go to work or attend school. Tompkins gives Americans their workplace rights and helps the newly diagnosed person decide whether accommodations are needed. He gives examples of what can be done to assist the employee or student wwith OCD in fulfilling his job or school responsibilities.
The book also provides a list of US treatment centers and organizations and websites to visit.
This book gives any adult the information and understanding necessary to be able to talk to a health practitioner, explain clearly their symptoms and get a formal diagnosis of their illness. His step by step detailed instruction manual is easy to both understand and put into practise. He alleviates potential fears of treatment and taking medications by explaining the therapeutic and medical offerings available and even evaluates them so readers know which ones to look for and which to avoid. He doesn’t mince words pretending that OCD therapy will be fun or easy but reassures the reader that most do find a reduction in symptoms with some combination of therapy done well and medication. Not too many books give advice on how to maintain your gains after therapy is over but Tompkins devotes a whole chapter to this.
However, as a Canadian I’d like to see some Canadian organizations in his resource section.
I’m also not so sure that getting a proper OCD diagnosis is as difficult as Tompkins says. The source for this is a study from 1986, over 20 years ago. I’m hoping that except for maybe rural America that this has changed, especially after seeing all the different anxiety and OCD centers in the many American states that he lists in his book. He also downplays ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) but I found that for me, some of the ACT ideals were very useful while I had intense anxiety. Did I want to do something positive or of value (go out for a walk) or stay at home and give in to the anxiety? ACT can give you the motivation of why you are going through the work of practicing CBT or ERP.
While Dr. Tompkins very briefly takes the reader thru common theories of how OCD occurs,he he fails to mention Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz’s view that when the basal ganglia is over stimulated it starts sending false messages of dread or discomfort to the brain. The brain becomes ‘stuck’ and can’t automatically delete these messages anymore. The person with OCD must learn how to do this manually. Schwartz also has a treatment plan a little different from, and not as anxiety-provoking as ERP which Tompkins also did not include. This is odd since he lists the Westwood Institute in his resource section and they follow Schwartz’ program. Schwartz’ book Brain Lock is not an obscure work and should be included in Dr. Tompkins' overview of OCD for the newly diagnosed.
This is a positive, upbeat book that would help any newbie on the start of their journey to beating ocd.
June 19, 2025
I took a star off just because it wasn't exactly riveting reading, but for what it is, it's pretty good. I think it's best for those who either suspect they have OCD but haven't received any treatment, or have literally just been given a diagnosis. Those who have been working with a therapist and were given a diagnosis within the last 6 months or so probably know most of this information anyway. It's also pretty broad, so if you're concerned with an OCD subtype or anything specific, I'm not sure how much use you'll get out of this.
October 20, 2025
Questionable.
While much of the information is accurate, many of the sources the author cites are far older than is acceptable for a book like this. On top of that issue the tone of the book itself is deeply condescending towards the very people it purports to be aimed at. Several times statements feel like they border on dangerous given their complete lack of nuance.
Also the author compared randomly thinking of a donut to OCD intrusive thoughts and that immediately made me much less charitable in my evaluation of the book.
While much of the information is accurate, many of the sources the author cites are far older than is acceptable for a book like this. On top of that issue the tone of the book itself is deeply condescending towards the very people it purports to be aimed at. Several times statements feel like they border on dangerous given their complete lack of nuance.
Also the author compared randomly thinking of a donut to OCD intrusive thoughts and that immediately made me much less charitable in my evaluation of the book.
March 2, 2023
I picked this one up as I was interested in knowing more about OCD. I liked this book because it was easy to understand and got straight to the point.
I recommend this book to anyone who's interested in knowing more about OCD, whether that be because: you have OCD, because you know someone with OCD, or you're simply just curious and down to learn more about it.
I recommend this book to anyone who's interested in knowing more about OCD, whether that be because: you have OCD, because you know someone with OCD, or you're simply just curious and down to learn more about it.
February 7, 2019
This was a really good basic guide for the newly diagnosed I thought. Especially for friends and family who don’t really understand the kookiness of the OCD people in their life.
January 20, 2022
Read to better understand a loved one. The first half of the book was more germane to me
May 23, 2023
This book was a solid, straightforward guide on OCD.
February 23, 2024
great starter info to help you navigate which direction to go next
November 18, 2025
A solid beginners guide to someone recently diagnosed with OCD
January 24, 2015
I'm tracking down a mental health condition, and figured, "Ok, anxiety is definitely happening, so maybe OCD?"
Tompkins does a very good job of explaining obsessive-compulsive disorder to the person suffering (or possibly suffering) from it, as well as to family, friends, and employers. There are solid recommendations, good notes on what happens with OCD, and a few ways for people to check on whether they actually have it. It's frank about what to expect during treatment, but doesn't go too far into the treatment process other than to recommend solid ways of treating it.
Tompkins does a very good job of explaining obsessive-compulsive disorder to the person suffering (or possibly suffering) from it, as well as to family, friends, and employers. There are solid recommendations, good notes on what happens with OCD, and a few ways for people to check on whether they actually have it. It's frank about what to expect during treatment, but doesn't go too far into the treatment process other than to recommend solid ways of treating it.
October 29, 2012
Great information for anyone whose life is touched by this -family, friends, etc.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews