Reddit reviews Brain Lock: Free Yourself from Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior

>It turned out he just needed to refresh his knowledge on OCD, learn more about Pure-O types, etc.

This! -- I have Pure-O OCD and have had a lot of professionals who don't understand OCD tell me that I don't have it and I "just have anxiety" (which is really not helpful and it just makes my anxiety/OCD worse).

The truth is that OCD is part of a spectrum of anxiety disorders, so technically, you could tell any OCD patient that they "just have anxiety," and it would be partially correct. OCD is an anxiety disorder. It is, however, a distinct manifestation of an anxiety disorder that has certain unique symptoms.

As much as we as patients cling to the idea of a diagnosis as a way to identify, categorize, sort out and understand our problems, every mental health diagnosis is simply just a set of symptoms that experts have collected and given a name to.

If the identity of OCD helps you define, understand, and work on improving your symptoms, then don't let other people take that away from you by recategorizing you in whatever way they want.

The best thing you can do is educate yourself on what OCD is and read, read, read about it. I recommend Brain Lock by Jeffrey Schwartz

Yeah, he worked with this dude -

Link

and eventually developed the condition. I read it took about a year for Leo to return to "normal". It was interesting, because I have OCD too, and was looking for books and help.

Say that "I'm about to experience a trigger event that will bring about an obsession." You have to tolerate this event (anniversary) and don't compluse by doing rituals (do your best). Identifying that your obsessive thoughts are obsessive thoughts and then letting them stay around (sitting with the tension) rather than complusing is the key.

RITUALS ARE BAD. THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR OCD.

here's how ocd works

Obsessions brings about compulsions (ex. I have to clean this dish). Compulsion brings about minor relief, BUT it strengthens the obsessions. By not compulsing, and letting yourself sit with the obsession, rather than responding to it, you drain it of power, and you grown to not mind the obsession anymore.

So seriously, don't do anything to respond to your OCD.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (which is what I just described to you) has changed my life. Meds can help with the CBT, but they aren't that powerful for OCD, and pretty much only serve to help you through the CBT, which can be a painful process (sitting with the tensions/obsessions without compulsing is very very hard).

Buy this book as soon as you can. Get one day shipping or something, and read it asap. It is amazing. It's cognitive behavioral therapy in a book.

http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Yourself-Obsessive-Compulsive-Behavior/dp/0060987111/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372448676&sr=8-1&keywords=brain+lock

Get treatment (CBT), don't compulse, sit with the tension, identify the obsessions for what they are, and buy that book! I got mine in a hard cover for like $4 and it's amazing..

Good luck.

The book Brain Lock is actually highly recommended by a lot of people learning about their own OCD and trying to figure out strategies to cope with it. Even if you can't work with a therapist at this time, it might help you.

(Here's an article by the book's author if you want to check out what it's all about before buying anything or looking for it at the library.)

If you have access, I recommend therapy: it's the one single thing I can credit, more than anything else, with helping me learn to live with my OCD. It helped me to recognize the precursors to my OCD thinking before it takes hold---because once I slip into it, I find it nearly impossible to break out of. For me, it really takes stopping it before it gets going. My therapist helped me come up with coping mechanisms that are personal to me and therefore much more meaningful when I implement them. For example, I have a visualization technique that helps me to interrupt my disordered OCD thinking when I feel myself slipping into it. It's not perfect, but being aware of what is happening and really being vigilant with myself helps so much. I also have some physical exercises I do to try and reroute my body away from my compulsive behavior in those cases I haven't managed to stop the episode before it begins.

If you don't have access to therapy, or even if you do actually, I would also recommend the book Brain Lock. It helps give you the language to explain your symptoms to others who might not understand, and it presents cognitive behavioral techniques in an accessible way. I worked through this book with my therapist, and it was helpful to have at home with me for the time in-between therapy sessions. I even had my boyfriend read some passages to help get an idea of what it feels like to be in my head sometimes. I still find it hard to talk about my OCD with other people, but it does help to be able to reference something outside of myself.

Not sure if I was actually depressed or not but I was going through an extremely stressful time with work and was having anxiety/panic attacks constantly. I would come home completely burnt out and just collapse on the couch and not want to do anything.

Somehow my girlfriend kept me going and cheered me up every night which I will never forget.. After talking with my doctor I was put on some anti anxiety medication and have been feeling much better as a result. I may even start doing some cognitive behavior therapy and am about to read a book that was suggested by my neurologist link

Anywho, I hope that your boyfriend is getting some help and talking with his doctor. There are definitely things he could do to at least try and overcome the worst symptoms he is experiencing. Please don't blame yourself though! I know my girlfriend had similar feelings and that is what I feel most guilty about from my own issues. No one is at fault here but there are definitely things he can try to make it better.

Good Luck!

I cannot recommend the book Brain Lock enough. It may very well save you. It did for me.

http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Yourself-Obsessive-Compulsive-Behavior/dp/0060987111

The combination of that book, and healthy habits and a change of scenery if possible (a move to another city, a new hobby to involve yourself in, moving out of your comfort zone socially or environmentally, etc.), could help you.

I went from having obsessions take up entire days of my life to being more or less completely free of them. Sometimes I can still feel old parts of my brain that were worn smooth by OCD try to reinitiate old pathways, like when I'm placed in stressful or uncomfortable situations, but Brain Lock provided me with the knowledge and strategies to avoid going down those old pathways. I have no proof, but I feel like I literally rewired the circuitry in my brain, and I feel like a much stronger and healthier person for it.

Not a drug, but this book was highly recommended to me by a very trustworthy source for curing obsessive/compulsive thoughts and behaviors.

This book is incredibly helpful. Even reading the free Amazon preview is helpful.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060987111/

If it does help you, I'd be curious to know, if you don't mind reporting back.

http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Yourself-Obsessive-Compulsive-Behavior/dp/0060987111/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

So this book is probably getting at what I'm talking about in terms of Nueroplasticity! You can change your brain.

I read this after someone on here recommended it and I think you should too: https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Yourself-Obsessive-Compulsive-Behavior/dp/0060987111

Strictly OCD related, I like this one.
I also found that, once I calmed down enough and was able to regain control of my life (which happened gradually over a few sessions with my psychologist), books on mindfulness helped me make even more progress. Try this one. Any type of yoga and meditation is also very helpful.

Remember, though, that self-help is not for everyone, and I would probably still see a psychologist a few times, even if it's to talk to him or her about what you're reading in these books. It does wonders to talk with a trained expert.

Yep, I'm reading Brain Lock right now, they go into how similar Tourettes and OCD are.

I am going to comment again. But I use to have this same problem. Not being able to fall asleep becasue I was too busy OCDing in my head about shit. It got to the point where I could not fall asleep in my bed. Here is what my psychologist told me. I had associated anxiety with my bed. In a pavlovian kind of way everytime I went to sleep on my bed I started to get anxious and started to obsess. When I would move to the couch or the floor slept like a baby. How I got over it was everytime I would fall asleep if I didnt fall asleep with in the fifteen minutes I got up and walked around, watched TV, or Read. BUT NOT IN MY BED. When I felt tired I went back to my bed and tried again. I will admit the first couple of nights this was a little annoying as there was multiple attempts. But lo and behold i started falling asleep int he first fifteen minutes and I broke that habit.
If you havent already seen a physician I recommend you do so. Average age of diagnosis for someone with OCD is 27. If you get a chance check out this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Yourself-Obsessive-Compulsive-Behavior/dp/0060987111

He is one of the leading researchers in the world on OCD.

There are several documentaries and books on OCD and I will link you a couple that could get you started. It is just that OCD is extremely complicated. There are many who have outward compulsions that makes leaving the house on time impossible or doing anything without time consuming compulsions impossible like the guy you described and then there are people like me who do not outwardly compulse but mentally do it. Where as, it would be easy to see that the guy you described has OCD, you would not know that I had it just by watching me. We both suffer from intrusive thoughts that are unwanted and awful. We both compulse. Just mine is hidden and his is not. Some really good links on OCD:
website:https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml

book:https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Yourself-Obsessive-Compulsive-Behavior/dp/0060987111

documentary:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKiu1IZcEF0

Some OCD Blogs: https://ellensocdblog.com/
https://neurtoicnellyocd.blogspot.com
https://iocdf.org/blog/

Hope this helps!

Edit: I can write properly today

Hang in there. Maybe there are other possible treatments, like cognitive behavior therapy. http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Yourself-Obsessive-Compulsive-Behavior/dp/0060987111

You're you--OCD isn't you. I'd be honest with your DR and parents. I wish I had had treatment for OCD back when I was younger.

sounds lile you need to see someone who can give you a definitive diagnosis. Brain lock is a very good book on ocd. If you are scoring 22 on that test, it would seem like you have chronic ocd, which is very difficult to deal with. ocd is an anxiety disorder so that would explain that and the obsessions, the correct medication can really help, it's improved things very much for me.

m4meredith, This does sound like OCD to me. The constantly checking things and tapping. It sounds like it is affecting your life to a certain degree and starting to get worse?
Depression and stress will fuel your ocd along with lack of sleep and caffeine. I would imagine the lack of sleep may help at the moment but might be fueling this later on. It's similar to someone who may drink for relief of their ocd but the next day that drink may flair things up.
The more you indulge your compulsions the more they will continue to grow down the line. So it's best to cut it off right away before it starts to turn into other things. At least you have the power to stop them, many don't or are working towards that.
To get better from it you need to be active about it.
You might want to look into seeing a family doctor, or a therapist who specializes in ocd.
I would suggest you get some books and read up on ocd so you have a better understanding on how it works.

Here are a few of the most refereed books from r/ocd:
OCD Workbook Breaking Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
http://www.amazon.com/OCD-Workbook-Breaking-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder/dp/1572249218

Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Personalized Recovery Program for Living with Uncertainty
http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder-Personalized/dp/042519955X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

*Brain Lock
http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Yourself-Obsessive-Compulsive-Behavior/dp/0060987111/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332741170&sr=1-1

Sounds to me like you have OCD. Check out this book.


Unrelated side note: are you British? I really liked your writing and made me think you were british.

I also have OCD, and fairly severe at that so I will see if I can give you perspective.
OCD is a brain disorder, of course. If I remember correctly, it involves certain areas of the brain that deal with error detection, habit forming, etc.. In a person with OCD, these areas get stuck, and constantly give off the signal that something is wrong. What happens is that an OCD sufferer will for some reason become obsessed with a thought/fear (for example, loved ones getting sick, bacteria on surfaces, family members getting hurt). For most people, they can think of these things and worry, but also move on to other thoughts. Those who have OCD cannot, even if they attempt to move on. They feel a persistent, nauseating anxiety, that doesn't go away when thinking these thoughts, and are compelled to do something about it. Thus, comes the compulsions part. Those with OCD, when they are obsessing over some thought, and are feeling the anxiety, are compelled to do these rituals, believing either that these compulsions will stop that thing which they fear and are obsessing over from happening, or will push the thoughts out of their minds. This is where associations with numbers, washing hands, etc, come into play, where a person believes that only by doing a certain ritual a certain amount of times will the anxiety go away, only then can they be sure that that which they fear does happen. One example is the well-known hand washing. My experience with this (it is what i started with in regards to my OCD) was a fear of bacteria. I was afraid of catching some disease (often STDs such as HIV) from public spaces (ex bus poles) or other people. When something happened that triggered me, like touching something that a lot of people use, such as the poles on a bus, then I would start feeling extremely anxious. I would become convinced that if I didn't wash my hands immediately, or as soon as possible, I would catch an incurable, deadly disease (oftentimes bird flu), and pass it on to the rest of my family. Thus when i got home, I immediately washed my hands, with lots of soap, and under very hot water. With most OCD sufferers, when doing these rituals, they are usually done until it feels "right". Thus you can have a person going back into a house to check their stoves, locks, etc, several dozen times, through several hours, every time they go out, until they "feel" that they have done so correctly (meaning the anxiety has gone). When I washed my hands, it was until it felt "right", which took anywhere from a minute, or ten minutes, all under scalding water (Jack Nicholson's movie, whose name i cannot recall, does a fair reenactment of this). If we don't do these rituals, then we become extremely anxious, to the point where we cannot concentrate on anything else. Furthermore, we rationalize what we do (to an extent). During the time that the anxiety is present, a person with OCD doing these rituals is convinced of their validity. They rationalize it, in some manner, even if the rationalization is completely irrational.This powerful, nauseating anxiety one feels is the most powerful aspect of OCD. it is this anxiety that dominates our thoughts, and its persistence that makes us do these rituals. It is the thing that pushes the rational part of the brain to a small corner, and causes the OCD sufferer to do these rituals, enabling the rationalization of it (for example, 'I must wash my hands until it feels right. My hands hurt, but i don't feel right yet. if i take my hands out of the water now, the bacteria will still be on my skin, tucked in some little crevice, and burrow into my skin, or i might touch my eyes or mouth with that part of my hand, and it will get into my system, and i will get infected, and transmit it to others'. Completely irrational, and yet completely rational to the person with OCD.

For a lot of us, things like playing video games, reading novels, etc, are an escape. At least for me, when i watch tv, play games, read fiction, I can escape my Obsessions, for even a short while. Also, I am similar in that I often struggle to concentrate when i read textbooks, nonfiction, etc (don't know why). A lot of people with OCD also have a poor social life, whether it be due to the nature of their obsessions, or the severity of the condition (oftentimes, those with severe OCD literally cannot stop obsessing, to the point that it affects everything that they do. This happened for me (and is still happening to an extent) and I used hate going out to public places where I didn't feel secure, where things were uncertain. I would go home whenever I was done with whatever it was i was doing (ex. school) and play games, and read fiction, to cope after tough days of constant obsessions.

In regards to treating OCD, pychiatrists are a must. If possible, get someone who is experienced with or specializes in treating OCD, as they will be much more effective. they may prescribe medication such as Anafril (chlomipramine) or Zoloft, which are Selective Seritonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI). however, oftentimes these medications need to be accompanied with psychological treatments as well. There are many methods, such as those put forth in Brain Lock which is read by many OCD suffers, and which i highly recommend you or your brother read. There is also Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which exposes the sufferer to the things that trigger the obsessions and compulsions. Many OCD sufferers and therapists recommend doing both at the same time (meds and ERP) to achieve greatest effect. There are others, though I am not familiar with them.

How he deals with his OCD is, however, is dependent on the nature of his obsessions, compulsions, etc. Professional help, good, understanding friends, and very supportive family members, are often crucial in dealing with OCD. However, being proactive is very important. For most people that I have read about, actively seeking out treatment, reading books, meditating, attempting different things to gain greater control over one's obsessions and compulsions, is much more effective then just taking medication and waiting for the symptoms to disappear (though this does work sometimes). You should also read up on 'reassurance' and 'enabling' in the forum whose link i provided below. I must stress, though, that getting professional help is probably most important, as they can answer your questions much better then I can.

that is a brief summary. there are lots of books that can explain it much better then i can, and forums such as www.stuckinadoorway.org, or even r/OCD. These places can give you a much better answer in regards to how your brother may better deal with his OCD, especially with stuckinadoorway, as it has thousands of members, almost all of whom are OCD sufferers. Many of them are very experienced in providing help to others with the disorder, particularly if you don't have much knowledge about it.

Lastly, OCD can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. It can deal with anything from uncertainty of one's sexuality (despite always having a preference to a certain gender. It asks the question of "what if") to bacteria and disease, to questioning if one's spouse/partner is right for you. For some, false memories can also be an obsession.

Oh, also, try not to belittle your brother's OCD. My family used to do so, and joke about it, and for some reason that would send me into a rage.

hope I helped.
If you have anything else you want to ask, I would be glad to help if i can.

http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Yourself-Obsessive-Compulsive-Behavior/dp/0060987111

Won't cure you, but will at least help you understand what the thought are all about, why you can't help them, and why you're free to ignore them. Screw shame: It's a completely useless emotion.

OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) is mostly an error in brain function, not in thoughts. (See Brain Lock for a rundown of the evidence.) The brain's "braking" function that says "Okay, that's enough!" is underactive. Its etiology has similarities to the way that ADD/ADHD is caused by the underactivity of certain areas of the brain, namely the ones that allow a person to filter out distracting stimuli and focus on one thing at a time.

Just in case this is a terminology confusion: OCD is the "can't stop handwashing, can't stop locking the door fifty times before I leave" problem. It's not the same as having a detail-obsessed personality, which is called -- confusingly -- OCPD, for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. That's the one where folks are so perfectionistic and critical of both themselves and others that everyone hates to be around them, and they usually hate themselves as well. OCPD does have a significant cognitive component.

I gotta say, that sounds like OCD to me. same experience I have with it in fact, you feel like you're just trying your darndest to not turn to "the dark side" and start doing all the horrible thoughts that you just can't seem to shake off.

My own OCD started off when I was young, and revolved nearly purely about "doomsday" scenarios. they used to tweak me the hell out, getting all worked up about meteors crashing and hurricanes smashing everything I held dear. I stopped worrying about it when I came to the realisation that "if I have to worry about ONE thing ending the world, then I have to worry about ALL the other ones too... nah, too much effort" and I no longer feared it.

Then it was enviromental things, then it was philosophical things on the theories of reality, then it was others coming to harm, and now its myself somehow harming others. Aside from that, I've always been very picky on the concepts of "purity" and "cleanliness", in that some things once "soiled" with certain "contaminants" will never be clean, and how that could negatively impact someone else. I found that with OCD, sometimes if I managed to get over one of my fears, it'll bring up another one soon enough.

OCD is often seen as, and can be very helpful to visualise as, a little beastie that lives on your shoulders and makes you focus and worry about the things you fear most. Be they disease and death, be they to others or yourself, if its something you genuinely /fear/, OCD will "helpfully" make you pay attention to it. It can lead to rituals and repetitive actions in the individual who has it in an attempt to comfort themselves, or "checking" when it comes to inter-comparing your thoughts and reality.

First things first, I'd say that if its seriously making you miserable and mentally exhausting you, A Doctor/therapist who really knows about OCD is the first step. get it written down on paper by a professional, wrangle with words the monster within your neurons.

Words have power.

If it has a name, it can be beaten.

More often than not, the medical professional who will be helping you beat this brain-beastie, will use a mixture of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and medication. the Medication itself will usually be there to address your anxiety, as you work through the issues at hand. the CBT will be there to effectively help you "re-wire" your thought patterns and analysis in regards to these troublesome thoughts.

Thats my understanding of CBT and the healing process though, I'm not a doctor, just a fellow sufferer who's read up a fair bit on my mental illness, and what's done to help sort it out.

Some people respond purely to the meds, some to the CBT, some to a little of both and everything in between. Everyones different, Neurochemistry is complicated, and Brains are both.

Meditation is also a well known one, it helps calm the mind and organise your thoughts better.

Self-help books like "Brain Lock" ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brain-Lock-Jeffrey-M-Schwartz/dp/0060987111 ) can also help you and those around you understand OCD better. some days its just nice to know you're not alone, and that there's way to be helped.

Speaking of which, I hope this post helps somewhat. OCD can be a personal hell, so as a fellow sufferer, you have my condolences.

http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Yourself-Obsessive-Compulsive-Behavior/dp/0060987111

this book help explain OCD to me. We all have intrusive thoughts- in a normal brain all thoughts are filtered such that only rational thoughts stay in your mind. In an OCD brain, your thoughts, no matter how irrational, get stuck (the obsession). The OCD person will try a ritual of some sort in order to make the intrusive thought go away (the compulsion). The more you feed into the compulsion, the more obsessed you become. Its a vicisous cycle.

While you wait for an appointment with a therapist, you might like to pick up the book Brain Lock. It helped me a lot -- perhaps it will also help you, give you something productive to do vs. the OCD while you wait, and might get you a headstart on treatment with your therapist (I read this book because my therapist recommended it).

If and when you do get an appointment with a therapist, I think it's important that it's someone you get on with and you feel works well with you. If not, consider finding another therapist.

Lastly, OP, know you're not alone, and that you're not "crazy". Your brain is wired a bit differently, and it's causing you problems, that's all. Brains are so complex and with so much wiring, it's no wonder they can go a bit haywire! Look after yourself -- get an appointment -- and try not to beat yourself up about this.

This book should change your life. I had pretty much done this when I stumbled across this book. You really can modify the hardwiring in your brain, and it isn't all that difficult. Good luck!

"Brainlock" by Jeffrey Schwartz.

http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Lock-Yourself-Obsessive-Compulsive-Behavior/dp/0060987111/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383045101&sr=1-2&keywords=brainlock