I can’t tell you how excited I am to be hosting Jeff Bell this Sunday night. I met Jeff at the OCD Conference in LA over the summer, and I was struck by his compassion and patience. He really is a tireless advocate, and his story of overcoming the worst of his OCD symptoms is…
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I am the author of Being Me with OCD: How I Learned to Obsess Less and Live My Life, a nonfiction book for teens and young adults with OCD. Part memoir, part self-help guide, Being Me with OCD lets readers know they're not alone in their struggle to get better--and that there is hope.
OCD Twin Cities event with Jeff Bell!
Originally posted on JACKIE LEA SOMMERS:
Residents of the Twin Cities, mark your calendars for Sunday, October 12: Jeff Bell will be speaking at our event to kick off OCD Awareness Week 2014! If you have never heard Jeff Bell speak, let me tell you now: you do NOT want to miss this! He is…
Inappropriate Thoughts Don’t Have to Become Intrusive
So here’s an embarrassing story: When I was in fifth grade I decided it was time to shave my legs for the first time. I’m pretty sure I told my mom my idea and she discouraged it, but my memory is a little fuzzy on those details. I was determined to have smooth, hair-free legs–despite the…
Read MoreRejecting Black-and-White Thinking: Recovery Isn’t All or Nothing
Several years ago, my husband and I were in dire financial straits. We all know hindsight is 20/20, but at the time my decision to quit my full-time job to freelance exclusively felt right. (Okay, maybe it didn’t feel like the best choice, but I was optimistic.) The trouble was that even when I was bombarded…
Read MoreOCD and Faith (or Lack Thereof): A Double Interview
Last month my friend and OCD Twin Cities partner Jackie Lea Sommers posted an interview we both participated in. If you know anything about me, you know I share a lot of personal details from my life. It’s my way of giving back after overcoming my very worst obsessions; I want to help others feel…
Read MoreHave You Really Tried Everything to Treat Your OCD?
My husband and I drove the three hours to my parents’ house for the long holiday weekend, so naturally we listened to music. He chose many of his usual favorites when he drove up on Thursday–Phil Collins, Billy Ocean, Peter Gabriel–but when it was my turn to drive back on Sunday afternoon, I picked St.…
Read MoreRisk of Suicide Among Teens on Antidepressants Was Exaggerated
Although I’ve been on the same antidepressant for the past eight years, and it’s worked wonders for me, I’ve been hesitant to oversell the idea to teenagers. In my book I note a few times that antidepressant use among teens is riskier than it is for adults because the medication may increase suicidal ideations. When…
Read MoreIt’s Not You, It’s Your OCD
Have you ever tried to spare someone’s feelings during a breakup by saying, “It’s not you, it’s me”? Well, when you dump OCD for good, go ahead and tell the truth: It’s you, OCD, not me. Dr. Lee Baer, OCD specialist, Harvard professor, and author, titled his book about intrusive thoughts The Imp of the Mind. That’s what…
Read MoreReducing Stigma and Standing up for the Truth–Even When It’s Hard
I recently wrote a piece for B Stigma-Free, a great new initiative that aims to–you guessed it–reduce stigma. Oftentimes I feel like I’m preaching to the choir when I write about how important mental health awareness is, and it’s in my day-to-day interactions with acquaintances and co-workers when I feel less confident in spreading the…
Read MoreHow Can School Counselors Help Students with OCD?
May is Mental Health Month! Today on the Free Spirit Publishing blog I break down some common misconceptions about OCD and talk about why it’s so important for school counselors to understand what’s behind intrusive thoughts, which can often be very disturbing. If a student is struggling with sexual or violent obsessions, he may be too…
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Alison Dotson 