Overcoming Harm OCD: Mindfulness and CBT Tools for Coping with Unwanted Violent Thoughts

by Jon Hershfield, Jonathan Grayson (Foreword)

Don’t let your thoughts and fears define you. In Overcoming Harm OCD , psychotherapist Jon Hershfield offers powerful cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness tools to help you break free from the pain and self-doubt caused by harm OCD. Do you suffer from violent, unwanted thoughts and a crippling fear of harming others? Are you afraid to seek treatment for fear of being judged? If so, you may have harm OCD—an anxiety disorder associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). First and foremost, you need to know that these thoughts do not define you as a human being. But they can cause a lot of real emotional pain. So, how can you overcome harm OCD and start living a better life? Written by an expert in treating harm OCD, this much-needed book offers a direct and comprehensive explanation of what harm OCD is and how to manage it. You’ll learn why you have unwanted thoughts, how to identify mental compulsions, and find an overview of cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based treatment approaches that can help you reclaim your life. You’ll also find tips for disclosing violent obsessions, finding adequate professional help, and working with loved ones to address harm OCD systemically. And finally, you’ll learn that your thoughts are just thoughts, and that they don’t make you a bad person. If you have harm OCD, it’s time to move past the stigma and start focusing on solutions. This evidence-based guide will help light the way.

This book has been selected as an Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Book Recommendation —an honor bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.

Genres: Psychology, Mental Health, Nonfiction

184 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2018

About the author

Jon Hershfield, MFT, is the director of The Center for OCD and Anxiety at Sheppard Pratt in Towson, MD. He specializes in the mindfulness-based and cognitive behavioral treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Hershfield is coauthor of the books Everyday Mindfulness For OCD and The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD and is the author of When a Family Member Has OCD, Overcoming Harm OCD, and The OCD Workbook for Teens.

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to preface my review by saying that I do not consider myself to have OCD, but I am a compulsive eater, and I work in the mental health field, and I would recommend this book to clients without hesitation. Hershfield manages to take a topic like Harm OCD and turn it into an incredibly positive, humorous at times, empowering, relatable, comprehensive text. This book is a unique gift to clients with OCD because it is written by a therapist who has OCD, so all shame and stigma is removed. It’s one thing to get the facts from a medical professional who has read the latest studies, but it is rare to be offered a cohesive treatment plan/set of strategies from a fellow sufferer. I am giving this 4/5 only because a few sections were repetitive, but I am truly grateful that there are therapists and authors like Hershfield working in the field.

[Emily Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so, so good. Like speaking to a very wise close friend who finally knows what's wrong with you and gently helps you through it, but also thinks it's kind of funny. I was diagnosed with OCD a couple of months ago, and this was such a comfort.

[Morgan Rondinelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Jon Hershfield is a really cool guy. Like he's a Jedi master in the OCD therapy world.
I remember hearing about him and then seeing him at my first OCDcon. I was starstruck. His book, When a Family Member has OCD, was recommended to my family when I was first diagnosed. I've since gotten to talk with Jon at following OCDcon's and get to know him more.
All this to say, Jon is really cool, but rather than in a teenager wearing sunglasses and skateboarding kind of way, in a helpful therapist with dark sense of humor sort of way.
This is a really well done self-help book for OCD, specifically for harm obsessions, though I think the content could be useful for just about anyone with OCD. I read the book in a few hours (granted it still took several weeks because I have 18 library books...sorry, Jon).
Jon is validating, but not reassuring, and he explains ERP in a crystal clear way so it is clear for newbies, but masters can still learn more. His style of writing is engaging; it's full of examples from his years of experience working with clients and also personal anecdotes and wit.
If you or your loved one has OCD, this book could prove to be very helpful.
But who really knows? After all, certainty is impossible.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a therapist who treats clients with OCD, I could not be happier with Hershfield & Grayson's book, Overcoming Harm OCD. I did not actually know until I saw this book, and was granted the ability to read it thanks to Netgalley, that there was a name for this variety of OCD. I certainly knew how it tore my clients apart, and how difficult it was to help them with this issue.

What do you do when your own mind is telling you that you are capable of doing harm to yourself or others, when you never felt this way before? This book will answer this question in a very clear, easy to understand way, and will provide you with tools to use, so you can better handle the struggle you are having, The tools are explained well and are relatively easy to practice. Will this completely take these thoughts away? Not necessarily. However, it will teach you how to live with the thoughts you cannot get rid of, and how to live your life, without having to do compulsory actions, to deal with the thoughts.

If you want to take your life back, and not be held hostage by your harm OCD thoughts, I would highly recommend you read this book.

[Jordan Daubenspeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly insightful and helpful to read through. I know I was struggling with invasive thoughts and this helped me understand how to modify my approach to those. It feels impossible to overcome but I promise you can!

[Michelle Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic resource!!! I will read it again and again!

[Moss Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I wish I had read this book years ago!”

This is the phrase the author acknowledges he has heard countless times and I would agree with all who came to the same conclusion.

Obsessive-compulsive tendencies and unwanted intrusive thoughts have plagued my life since the 9th grade and most notably played a central role in the destruction of a marriage and other relationships. I am thankful for the expertise in OCD and specifically the irrational fear of harming others that Jon addresses in this book. I wish certain people in my life could have understand the difference between an unwanted, irrational thought and a true psychopathic mentality. Sadly, many are not educated on what OCD actually is and made decisions based off of faulty assumptions. I, as a Christian, can only conclude that “God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to his purpose.” My battle with OCD and unwanted intrusive thoughts WILL NOT define my life and instead my life will be defined (Lord willing) by the will of God my creator.

I appreciate all the hard work Jon Hershfield has put in educating both those who struggle with OCD and the loved ones of OCD sufferers. Highly recommend this book for anyone with OCD and would encourage anyone suffering from unwanted intrusive thoughts to seek help and not let it destroy everything you hold dear.

[Sarah Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book actually exists; therefore, I’m going to be okay.

I have been wanting to read this book for so long, and I’m happy I finally did. I know the purpose of this book isn’t to replace therapy, but knowing more about the condition puts my mind at ease. I don’t remember when this condition started with me, but back then I had no idea about it nor even knew what it’s called.

The first sentence of this book tapped into my emotions immediately; it’s comforting to understand that having Harm OCD doesn’t mean I have to bear the guilt of every scenario my brain decides to make up.

I also learned the many levels of this condition. Moreover, The scenarios presented here had me saying “OMG! This is me! How does he know I think of that!” many times.

I’m glad to realise that I’m normal despite my harmful mental compulsions and intrusive thoughts, and this book is a self proof to me that there are other people out there experiencing the same thing and I’m not alone.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Book

I loved this book. I just listened to a podcast from the author and he said he reads the reviews so I wanted to tell him what a good book it was. I can tell he has worked with actual people suffering from this OCD subset. It is like he has read my mind and all the loops it goes through. Thank you so much for this book.

[Stevie McBrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. Devoured it in a day. It’s now filled with underlined and starred passages, and I’m passing it on to my partner to read. Thank you for making me feel less alone. Highly recommend to the OCD community.

[jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

could not have found a better book for the situation i was in. made me feel so welcomed and made me realize i wasn’t the only one feeling like this.
it’s written so well, the perfect amount of humor and reassurance and knowledge.
this book has taught me so much and i plan on rereading it.

[Mariah Pampeno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great read that helped me explore a part of me that I didn’t know existed (or what I thought was just anxiety). He talked about harm ocd in an informative and funny way. But take your time with this as it could be triggering.

[Raven Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another “book for work” that I forgot to add. I appreciate how incredibly clear this was written and how it paints a vivid picture of how the brain operates within the OCD cycle. This book has been helpful for my clients with all forms of OCD, not just harm centered.

[Brittany Trickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I work as a crisis counselor, so I read this as a way to help clients that might be struggling with Harm OCD. Very informative and helps you see things from a different perspective. Would definitely recommend as a read for anyone in the BH field.

[Georgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but repetitive in nature. It is almost as if the authors were stuck in a compulsive loop.....

[Victoria Colaluca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book for both those living with OCD and/or therapists treating OCD. Very educational and insightful!

Will definitely be referencing this!

[Yz · Rating 5 out of 5]

🫶🏻🫶🏻

[L.A. Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book talks about something that I don't want to admit to myself. Something that I thought only I alone suffered from. It's comforting and good to know that I'm not the only one, and that there is help. I'm working on the "Flooding Scripts" and finding out that, yes, really, I'm not crazy.

[getting over it · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t let the OCD trick you into isolating yourself from humanity.

I was foolish enough to be tricked. Solid instruction text for dealing with Harm OCD.