Try Not to Think of a Pink Elephant

by Martin Ingle (Contributor), Dani Leever (Contributor), Patrick Marlborough (Contributor)

Try Not to Think of a Pink Elephant is a collection of real-life stories about living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Contributors are Martin Ingle on OCD and sexual intimacy; Dani Leever on contamination-based OCD; Patrick Marlborough on living with OCD in NYC; Katharine Pollock on over-achievement and control of food and body; and Sienna Rose Scully on the untimely death of her mother, an event that actualised her most persistent OCD obsession.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

Published October 5, 2022

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW!
What I thought about OCD has been blown out of the water!
Never again will I claim I have 'a bit of OCD' when it comes to being tidy and organised.
I learnt so much about OCD from five different brave and candid sufferers of this disorder. The spectrum of symptoms, compulsions and treatments is so varied - I never realised it was such an expansive continuum.
I'd like to thank each and every author who contributed to this anthology, for teaching me a thing or two (or 500) about OCD. I salute you in your quest for peace and your best life, as you live with this unwanted intruder.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to learn about the experiences of OCD from 5 different perspectives with 5 personal stories. This book destigmatises OCD and the assumptions of those with it as “clean freaks”. The first 2 stories were my favourite and the reason for my high rating, the last was OK and the 3rd and 4th were terribly written and trying to hard to be funny.

[lila ds · Rating 5 out of 5]

these stories gave me so much insight into OCD and a *whole* lot to think about myself.

[Lil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes reads a bit like a teenagers diary (which is not my vibe) but still a super insightful, interesting read.

[Jess Checkland · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informative and often satirical series of true stories on living with OCD.

[Julie Chamaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an insightful book but problematic, due to the format. There are five contributors to the text, each suffering from OCD which has manifested in different forms: OCD and its links to anxiety; OCD and its links to shame and taboo; OCD and obsessive love; OCD as digressive obsessions of an autistic sufferer; and probably the most recognisable, contamination based ODC. Each contributor has their own writing style, and some are simply more engaging than others. One contributor spends an inordinate amount of time sticking it to Australian society as the kingdom of “the dud root” and criticising our literature. Personally, l found this irritating. Some of the language is not for the faint hearted either: “fuck me with your fat convict cock”- but there is a content warning at the beginning of the book, so do be warned. Nevertheless, every contributor has experienced life shattering, even paralysing symptoms, often suffering many years before a firm diagnosis.

The most interesting take away from this book is that the Hollywood version of OCD - think Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets - is indelible in many people’s minds. When they think of OCD it’s a quaint mental illness that resides in fastidiousness, cleanliness and/or symmetry, and therefore not such a serious illness. Unlike other mental illnesses OCD does not appear to be stigmatised because it is simply often dismissed as less debilitating than, say, bi-polar or schizophrenia. Many of these sufferers spent years frozen in fear, wracked with anxiety and unable to function OR able to function in a fog.

This collection of stories would have been greatly improved by an addendum, written by a psychiatrist or psychologist, whereby a commentary about each contributor’s experience could have been discussed and clarified objectively. Furthermore, the stories are slanted towards male sufferers’ perspectives whereas women, statistically, are at greater risk of experiencing OCD throughout their lifetime. Currently there are maternal health OCD psychiatric teams who deal with this condition in tandem with peri-natal and/or postpartum depression. This was not mentioned because of the selection of contributors.

Time for an update to this 2022 text.

3.5 stars rounded down.

[Lysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review to come

[Emily Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 ⭐️

A non-fiction read I picked out as I was interested in understanding symptoms of OCD. I thought I might have it, but turns out I don't?? (though this is my self diagnosis obviously and will require further consultations with a doctor). I definitely have the 'obsessive' part down, just not the 'compulsive' part it seems?? My therapist has agreed in the past.

It may have turned out to be not so relevant to my current life, but it was a great educational read nonetheless and allowed me to better understand those living with OCD.

[Scarlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s so important to listen to other people’s stories. Also made me feel less alone.