Getting Over OCD: A 10-Step Workbook for Taking Back Your Life

The Guilford Self-Help Workbook Series

by Jonathan S. Abramowitz

Thoroughly updated based on the latest science, this empowering workbook gives you the skills to overcome obsessional thoughts and compulsive behaviors--and live a freer, happier life. Leading OCD specialist Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz presents a step-by-step program grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), the most effective treatment for the disorder. Vivid stories and numerous practical tools (which you can download and print for repeated use) help

*Understand how OCD affects your mind and body.
*Develop a customized plan for change. 
*Find relief from distressing intrusive thoughts.
*Confront the situations you avoid--and discover a new sense of safety.
*Break free of compulsive rituals.
*Reduce anxiety and improve your relationships.

The second edition is revised throughout with cutting-edge strategies for coping with unwanted thoughts that can't be eliminated completely, plus new learning techniques drawn from brain research. Ready to get over OCD? Your journey starts here.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Mental Health, Nonfiction, Health, Science

294 pages, Hardcover

First published April 29, 2009

Reviews

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply superb book from Abramowitz. I can’t imagine attempting a CBT treatment to OCD without this right beside the practitioner, despite it being a self-help book.

[Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a psychologist who specializes in the treatment of OCD. From my perspective, this is the single best self-help book on on OCD and recommended to my patients.

There are other excellent self-help books period for example, if your major OCD thing is abhorrent thoughts, lee bear's book ,imp of the mind is very helpful. However, as a single book that covers all OCD themes, get
ting over OCD I think is best.

[Ayşenur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hayatımı kurtardı diyebilirim. Bir terapistle çalışmama rağmen, bu kitabı okumak OKB hakkında bakış açımı tamamen değiştirdi. Obsesif kompulsif bozukluk yaşayan veya OKB'li bir insanın yakını olan herkese tavsiye ediyorum.

[jenny! · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow! this book absolutely changed my life honestly and has brought me back so much freedom! I never could've imagined being at this place with my OCD in January and I'm just so thankful for everything I've learned :)

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used this in conjunction with a twelve week group therapy program, so it wasn't my only source of OCD advice during this time, but I felt it was a pretty helpful and comprehensive resource. I would appreciate more specific examples related to moral scrupulosity obsessions that aren't of a religious nature, but generally I was able to apply concepts and methods in this book to my own OCD. And I appreciated the author's frankness in discussing some of the more embarrassing or taboo obsessions OCD sufferers experience, and how clear the book makes it that it's okay to have weird thoughts and it doesn't mean you're a terrible person. I'm happy to be coming out of my program with this resource to refer back to as I continue to work on my OCD.

[Musa Çiçek]

Hello. My name is Musa. I live in Turkey. I am an OCD patient. And unfortunately I have been suffering from this disease for 7 years. I do not have the budget to buy the book, unfortunately I wanted to read it for free. Thanks

[Terrasue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best ocd workbook in my opinion.

[K Hue · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the BEST self help OCD manuals out there. Includes the new research that details how "habituation" isnt even necessary for exposure tx to work--it's more important to 1) learn that obsessions, anxiety, uncertainty, etc. are manageable; and 2) the situations you've been avoiding are not as dangerous as you think. So we actually need anxiety to be present in order to learn. Probably some context-dependent memory-learning happening here. Learn to create space for anxiety for as long as it's there--becoming more OPEN and WILLING to have it. Of course, easier said than done, but this manual goes into great detail, even repeatedly so in various formats, in order to get you to understand the work and preparation needed. Again, the goal of treatment is the change your perspective on these OCD thoughts, NOT to try get rid of them or avoid them or change them even. I like the chapter on how EVERYONE (OCDers and nonOCDers) has unwanted, intrusive thoughts at one time or another. It's just that the nonOCDer can let go, ignore, or say to themselves, hmmm, that's a weird thought, and then move on. I also love all the ACT metaphors, including the Quicksand one. I didnt know that the way to get out of quicksand is not to struggle and allow your body to make even more contact with the quicksand by spreading your body horizontally in resdistributing your weight and taking advantage of surface area... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

[Brijeet · Rating 5 out of 5]

After getting an excellent technical overview in Abramowitz's "Exposure therapy for anxiety", I bought this workbook to get ideas for how to explain OCD's treatment rationale in a client-friendly way.

Once again I am extremely impressed with Abramowitz's writing and the quality of content. He strikes an ideal balance between helping people identify their symptoms, providing an overview of current research, and clearly explaining the components of successful OCD treatment. In addition, the wide array of examples reflecting the many manifestations of OCD helps normalize symptoms and encourage a non-judgmental approach (while also helping clinicians better understand the OCD experience). Clients often feel ashamed to acknowledge their OCD thoughts and behaviors, so breaking down this barrier is an important component of engaging someone in treatment.

Recommended!

[Lisa Fierro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! There are many books out there that I like using parts of when working with clients with OCD, this book puts everything in one place, including how to challenge some of the more repugnant presentations of OCD. I highly recommend it for therapists to improve their skills, to use with clients and for clients to learn how to so ERP.

[Daniel Lopes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abramowitz é um dos maiores pesquisadores e clínicos no campo da ansiedade. A segunda edição desse manual para o tratamento do TOC reflete os achados mais recentes das pesquisas sobre aprendizagem (por exemplo, o aprendizado inibidor). O passo-a-passo une elementos de Terapia Cognitiva, Aceitação e Compromisso, Terapia de Exposição e Prevenção de Resposta. Sensacional.

[Charmedbean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Common sense book that puts CBT into 10 easy steps. Goal oriented with a lot of useful charts to use and review. I especially appreciate the models/demos of each step. It made each step very clear and attainable.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful for use with clients.