As you get to around half way this book switches gears and shows proven methods of how to "cure" yourself of these obsessive thoughts. It puts the solution into simple to understand means, things that when you read you think to yourself, "wow this makes sense, is that all there there is to it". Of course as this book points out, actually doing these steps to manage these thoughts can be more difficult that simply knowing or reading how to do it. Thankfully and encouragingly it does also show show examples of patients who have been "cured" of these obsessive thoughts by the methods prescribed in this book.

Although I'm not as "special" as the patients listed in the case studies, this book made me accept that bad thoughts happen to everyone from time to time. The Imp of Perverse will try to torment you with thoughts of whatever it is you consider to be the most inappropriate or awful thing you could do.” Now another thing I like about this book is it doesn't tout itself as a cure all, but also explains in a caring way that you may still need to end up seeing a specialist, and it explores this as well. It goes into exposure therapy, cognitive behavior treatments and when all else fails psycho-pharmacology and how drugs can help with the process.Before reading this book I simply thought that the problem of obsessive thoughts was merely a symptom of anxiety issues (I've dealt with anxiety problems and didn't realize it could be the core of the problem) and not the issue itself. But now that this has been brought to light, it makes perfect sense. Thoughts can be scary. It honestly strikes me as tragic that intrusive thoughts about harm inevitably target either ourselves or the people closest to us; those we love and most fear harming: Parents, siblings, romantic partners, spouses, children and grandchildren (especially in the case of the many mothers [41% of those with postpartum depression] who experience these thoughts for the first time about their child). I want to ask you if YOU REALLY WANT TO COMMIT SUICIDE, but I'm not sure you can give me a clear answer, because you are obsessing.

The first part of the book is devoted to The Problem of Bad Thoughts. Recognizing the subjective isolation that almost everyone with disturbing thoughts feels, the author makes liberal use of case examples to convey the essential message that the reader who may be having disturbing thoughts and impulses is not unique. He parallels this with the admonition that individuals should not fear to seek help or even to attempt self-help because a great deal is understood about their condition and it is eminently treatable. This simple exposition in itself should go a long way toward motivating the concerned reader to stop trying (futilely) to suppress such thoughts, thereby exacerbating his or her subjective distress. That's what scares me. I just don't want there to be a link. I pray to God that my harm thoughts are from OCD. Lee Baer considered E.A. Poe's description of the nature of obsessive compulsive thought, although not directly attributed by him, as the most elegant and complete, beyond any doctor's thesis or description. He shares it in the book and it here follows:Baer's book focuses on the patient tormented by "bad thoughts" and living in fear of carrying these out. What is not clear is where the boundary lies between "bad thoughts" and "obsessive" thoughts . When does an "obsessive" thought become a "bad thought" and who decides this and when can an "obsessive" thought be simply and safely labelled a "special interest " and therefore not something to be concerned about... In this sense Baer is in fact helping his patients to relabel their thoughts... These then become less scary, cease to be wrong or bad and regain their proper place in the pantheon of thought. In 2019, the UK Channel 4’s comedy series Pure gave first-person insight into someone with extreme obsessional fears – not about germs or neatness, but sex. The importance of this landmark show to someone with invisible OCD can’t be overstated. Pure was the first time I’d seen OCD represented correctly on screen, maybe ever. It will have changed people’s lives. Overall, the text does a very well job normalizing intrusive thoughts. I appreciated the historical references made of past historical notes made referencing OCD thoughts and stories of modern day cultural icons that may have also experienced difficulties with obsessive symptoms.

not only are these bad thoughts universal among all humans today, but they have almost certainly always been a part of the human condition, at least since man first developed language and then rules to govern appropriate behavior in groups." urn:lcp:impofmind00leeb:epub:2976469a-5040-44a8-9bbf-989bf3668b47 Foldoutcount 0 Identifier impofmind00leeb Identifier-ark ark:/13960/t4dn58j4g Isbn 0525945628Very few depict the true face of OCD: unwanted intrusive thoughts that can get fixated on virtually any topic at all. These thoughts are often of a “taboo” nature (sex, violence, morality), and the compulsions are anything that is done (or avoided) to try to make the thoughts go away. Otter wrote:I have not read the book, but almost any reason that brings someone to admit to having suicidal thoughts is going to yield the response, "get help immediately". Even if suicidal intrusive OCD thoughts are like most other OCD thoughts (irrational), most responses are still going to be "get help immediately".