Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous: Recovering From Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

361 Pages·1999·0.89 MB·English

by  Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous

Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous
Recovering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Second Edition
Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous World Services, Inc.
New Hyde Park, New York

Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous :
title: Recovering From Obessive Compulsive
Disorder
author:
publisher: Hazelden Publishing
isbn10 | asin: 0962806625
print isbn13: 9780962806629
ebook isbn13: 9780585171890
language: English
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Twelve-
subject
step programs.
publication date: 1999
lcc: RC533.O26 1999eb
ddc: 616.85/2270651
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Twelve-
subject:
step programs.
Copyright © 1990, 1999 by
Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous World Services, Inc.
PO. Box 215, New Hyde Park, New York 11040
All Rights Reserved
ISBN 0-9628066-2-5
Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 99-93043
03 02 01 00 99
5 4 3 2 1
Manufactured in the United States of America
Table of Contents
Acknowledgment i
Foreword iii
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? v
To Those of Us Who Are "New" to OCD vii
Letters From the Professional Community
Douglas R. Hogan, Ph. D. ix
Janet Greeson, Ph. D. 3
Wilmer C. Betts, M. D. 5
Thomas E. Lauer, M. D. 7
Father Leo Booth 9
Fred Penzel, Ph. D 13
What We Have Discovered at OCA 15
The Recovery Program 17
Our Personal Stories 43
To Our Families and Friends 191
Some Helpful Suggestions 195
Some Helpless Suggestions 197
Slogans We Use in OCA 199
Tools We Use in OCA 205
What is an OCA Meeting Like? 207
Meetings: Some Problems and Solutions 211
The Twelve Traditions of OCA 213
How To Get in Touch with OCA 217
Resources for OCD 223
Page i
Acknowledgment
We would like to thank Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) for allowing us
to adapt their Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions for Obsessive
Compulsive Disorders. Their help and cooperation from the start has
made our road smoother.
This time-tested program, detailed in "Alcoholics Anonymous"1 and
"Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions"2 has brought recovery for
thousands of alcoholics. Patterning Obsessive Compulsive
Anonymous after A.A has also brought recovery among us. What
follows is Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous' experiences with the
Twelve Step program and not those of A.A.
Our personal stories are included in the hope that those reading them
might benefit as much as we who have written them.
Alcoholics Anonymous (New York: A.A. World Services Inc., 1976).
1
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (New York: A.A. World Services Inc.,
2
1981).
Page iii
Foreword
Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous (OCA) is a fellowship of people
who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that
they may solve their common problem and help others to recover
from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The only requirement
for membership is a desire to recover from OCD. There are no dues or
fees; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. OCA is
not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or
institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither
endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to recover
from OCD and to help others.*
We choose to remain anonymous at the public level for several good
reasons. Anonymity allows us to share our personal stories, knowing
that they will remain in the confidence of those who attend our
meetings. Anonymity also reinforces that it is the program, not the
individual, that is responsible for the recovery.
We hope that by publishing a book of this kind others with OCD will
read it and conclude that OCA can also work for them. The recovery
program, clearly explained in the following pages, when incorporated
into our lives, produces the desired changes which substantially
relieves our obsessive-compulsiveness.
If you are alone you may feel afraid that you really can't do thisthat it
is too much to ask. Remember that it takes only this book and two
people with OCD to have a meeting. We have found each other
through many avenues and in time you will find others who want this
program. We are no longer alone.
*The Preamble adapted with permission of the A.A. Grapevine Inc.

Page v
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Here we provide the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, description of OCD. We hope the
reader will get a general idea of what our symptoms appear to be. If
the following description does not seem to fit you-don't be concerned.
Perhaps the remainder of the text will strike some familiar chords. All
are welcome at our meetings if they think they may belong.
· Diagnostic criteria for 300.3 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
A. Either obsessions or compulsions:
Obsessions as defined by (1), (2), (3), and (4):
(1) recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are
experienced at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and
inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress
(2) the thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive
worries about real-life problems
(3) the person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts,
impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other
thought or action
(4) the person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses,
or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed
from without as in thought insertion)
Compulsions as defined by (1), and (2):
(1) repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking)
or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently)
that the person feels driven to perform in response to an
obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly