Overcoming OCD

After witnessing strange behavior in her son, Dan, while visiting him at college, Singer first realized that he had OCD. Singer, now an advocate for OCD awareness, has crafted a touching account of her family's search for treatment . Each chapter covers a separate stage of their journey, from recognition of the disorder ('Everything Is Not Fine'), to seeking different avenues of help and treatments ('Looking For Help,' 'ERP to the Rescue'), to complications with Dan's residential treatment program ('A Pothole in the Road') and departure from the program ('The Crash,' 'Picking up the Pieces'), leading to his ultimate 'Triumph over OCD.' Deftly embedded throughout the Singers' journey are informative passages from co-author Gillihan, an assistant professor of psychology, that deftly mirror Singer's memoir narrative with clinical facts. For example, Gillihan explains 'What is OCD' after Singer recounts her realization that her son had the disorder, later discussing 'Odd Behavior in OCD' and 'Medication for OCD' when Singer describes Dan's problem behaviors and struggle with various medications. Eventually, supported by his loving family, Dan was able to overcome OCD through exposure and response prevention (ERP) treatment. Singer and Gillihan's differing backgrounds and perspectives complement each other for a book that will leave readers moved, as well as educated about the nature of a disorder and how to defeat it. (Publishers Weekly)

In Overcoming OCD: A Journey to Recovery by Janet Singer and Dr. Seth J. Gillihan, the reader is introduced to Dan, a young man who truly meets the criteria for having OCD. . . .Being a witness to Janet Singer’s story and journey will have the reader laughing, crying, and sharing in her anger in dealing with professionals who lacked compassion and judgment. . . .This book would benefit any mental health professional, medical professional, or family dealing with a loved one with ODC, any OCD sufferer, and anyone who would like information on what it means to struggle and live with OCD. . . . The book offers hope and encouragement as well as valuable information in dealing with professionals in order not to feel dismissed. The authors stress the importance of finding a doctor who understands OCD and its effective treatment options and medication management. Overall [the book is] a deeply poignant account of a young man’s struggle and triumph with OCD and the support of his mother and family. (Psych Central)

Overcoming OCD: A Journey to Recovery is her account of the courage and perserverance of a young man who at times was hindered by the very people who were supposed to be helping him. What makes the book unique is the expert commentary that is interwoven throughout. (Community Advocate)

Janet Singer has accomplished more in her book, Overcoming OCD: A Journey to Recovery, than a hundred scientific publications filled with facts, figures, and charts. To live with OCD yourself or in your family, the ordinary human needs lay speak. Janet does that in her book with authenticity, emotion, and compassion. . . .Janet has done a tremendous favor for those living with OCD or with a loved one who has OCD. The picture offered is a realistic image of their family’s struggles with Dan’s illness and treatments. Janet does not spare anything in laying out the facts of their life, their struggles with the medical and psychological communities, their attempts to help Dan. Standing alongside and contributing to Janet’s book is Seth J. Gillihan, Ph.D., a clinical assistant professor of psychology in the psychiatry department at the University of Pennsylvania. The beauty of Dr. Gillihan’s contributions is found in their placement in the book. As Dan and his family face another crisis, Dr. Gillihan writes information on drugs, treatment plans, and other scientific information in lay terms. This balance between the realistic story and the medical information available provides a perfect resource based in truth for coping with and treating OCD. Janet Singer has written a poignant and powerful memoir plus a resource to guide others to an understanding of OCD and how to manage it. This book shares encouragement and enlightenment in equal measure, a powerful combination indeed. (Sherrey Meyer, Writer)

There are a growing number of OCD memoirs on the market...some of them paint astonishingly lucid pictures of what it’s like to live with OCD. But until now, no one has written about what it’s like to live with someone with OCD. In Overcoming OCD, Janet Singer has changed that. She’s offered the gift of her own experience to the millions of people who love somebody with OCD – people who are scared and confused and would really like someone to talk to about all of this. Because as Singer knows, we obsessive-compulsives can’t always explain ourselves. . . .How do you love a person like that? And how do you take care of yourself while you do? I’m not sure there are any final answers to questions like these – and I don’t think Janet Singer does either. But she loves her son and protects her family anyway – and in Overcoming OCD, she helps others see something about how they might too. (Matt Beiber, Writer)

It takes courage for a parent to tell the story of her adult child’s struggle with mental illness and his confusing, heart-rending path to recovery. In Overcoming OCD: A Journey to Recovery, Janet Singer shares her son’s battle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), from its onset during his freshman year of college, through senior year when he graduated. This is a story of the strong, young man, but for me, it is also the journey of a mother who refused to give up hope. . . .In Overcoming OCD, the author gives insight into the complexities of co-occurring disorders and the trial-and-error approach to medication. We see the tightrope Ms. Singer walks between advocating for her son and overstepping, and between following doctors’ orders and questioning their methods. . . .I recommend this book to anybody supporting a loved one in managing a mental illness. The reader will discover he is not alone, there are resources and help available, and most important, there is hope. (Toss the Typewriter)

I like to think of Overcoming OCD: A Journey to Recovery as a love story, featuring the selfless love a parent has for a suffering and hurting child. In this case, it is the story of Janet and Gary Singer, and their college student son, Dan, who was struggling with severe OCD. . . .I love this book. I mean, I really love this book. It is very well written and flows easily through what was probably one of the most painful years of the Singer family's lives. I had a hard time putting the book down and read it in its entirety in a handful of sittings. . . .Throughout the book, Dr. Gillihan adds thoughtful and informative commentary abut OCD, and more importantly, treatment, including ERP and medication. His input is spot-on and adds a critically important component to the book. These are not throwaway or filler remarks. They are filled with solid information that sufferers and their families can use to guide them forward through the maze of battling OCD. . . .Overcoming OCD is a big win for me, and I will gladly recommend it. (71º & Sunny: One Christian's Odyssey Through Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

[The book is a] compelling and moving read, which also has dots of dry and dark humour, both from Janet and Dan - even OCD sufferers can, on occasion, see the funny side of their plight! The book is co-authored by Seth Gillihan, who provides expert commentary and background information about the condition and its treatment, which is interspersed throughout the book in bite-sized chunks easily digested by the layman. . . .At the end, I had a lump in my throat, in spite of already knowing the outcome of Dan's journey, both from the book's title and as a follower of Janet's blog. His success in reclaiming his life is inspirational and proves that, no matter how badly affected you are by OCD, you can do the same. (The Reluctant Perfectionist)

I highly recommend Overcoming OCD, whether you have OCD, you treat OCD, or you have a loved one with OCD. Heck, I recommend it even if you’ve never even heard of OCD. (Alison Dotson: Author, OCD Advocate, book lover)

I really didn’t want to put this book down after I started it. It’s inspirational, absorbing, and just a plain good story. Parents with children who have OCD would particularly benefit and would be reminded that they are not alone in their journey. The beneficial role that family support can play is well illustrated. I would also highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about OCD and to those with OCD. (Bringing Along OCD)

Janet Singer is an advocate for OCD awareness, with the goal of spreading the word that OCD, no matter how severe, is treatable. Six years ago, her son Dan suffered from OCD so debilitating he could not even eat. Today, thanks to exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, he is a young man living his life to the fullest. Janet writes regularly for Psychcentral.com as well as Mentalhelp.net, and has been published on many other web sites including Beyond OCD, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and Mad in America. She has also been an invited speaker at OCD conferences. She started her own blog, ocdtalk (www.ocdtalk.wordpress.com) in 2010 and it currently reaches readers in 162 countries. She uses a pseudonym to protect her son’s privacy.

Seth J. Gillihan, PhD, is a clinical assistant professor of psychology in the Psychiatry Department at the University of Pennsylvania, and a visiting assistant professor of psychology at Haverford College. Dr. Gillihan was on the faculty at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania from 2008-2012. His research publications include articles and book chapters on the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for OCD, anxiety, and depression, how CBT helps people to get better, and the use of brain imaging to study psychiatric disorders. Dr. Gillihan's clinical practice is located in Haverford, PA.