Great personal account, poor critique

Adam gives a fantastic account of how OCD has affected him, and relays the experiences of others. Unfortunately, when he steps beyond that things get ropey in places.

It is clear that Adam has benefitted greatly from psychiatric care - a standard multidisciplinary team approach with medication, talk therapy and support. But then he goes on to give out about psychiatry basically not being the magical saviour of everyone with mental illness, ignoring the massive benefit seen by people who otherwise have no chance of improving. He also ignores the failure of treatments in other areas of medicine.

One specific set of criticisms around diagnosis in psychiatry stands out. Adam complains that ‘tick 5 boxes and you’re depressed, 4 and you’re not’, and psychiatry should work more like physical medicine instead of having these arbitrary cutoffs decided by committee. This ignores that hypertension, sepsis, diabetes, cancer and so forth are diagnsosed in exactly the same way. Adam in fact specifically refers to hypertension in exactly that way, but fails to draw the parallel with the psychiatric equivalents.

Overall the book is still an excellent read, especially if unfamiliar with OCD and the related impact this can have.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Real life,history of the disorder & brain science!

a very interesting combination of historical facts anecdotes and real life experiences of the author regarding add disorder that is based on the brain and affect the mind.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A must listen

A wonderful mix of personal experience and medical information both modern and historical. And yet cleverly blended to produce a narrative which flows and holds your attention. An eye opener for all.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Lively, informative, and personable

Any additional comments?

This book brilliantly uses a rich and personal account to educate the listener about OCD - both what it is, and what it is not. It's a really balanced perspective, helpful both to myself as a Trainee Clinical Psychologist and I'd imagine to listeners who themselves are experiencing challenges associated with obsessive and compulsive symptoms.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

brilliant.

I loved this book. it is honest, funny, intelligent, shocking, and explains how otherwise completely normal and seemingly healthy people can be hit hard by the genuine pain of OCD, but they're friends and family don't know it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

A valuable book

I don't have OCD, but I'm interested as a 'third party', and I found this account very valuable to help me understand, as far as one can (OCD does seem so odd to someone who is not affected directly). I do believe that David Adam is a genuine expert on the subject through being a sufferer himself, with insights more worthwhile than those of 'expert psychologists' who try to treat sufferers. He weaves his own story in with his reading of scientific research and his own experience of treatment, to provide a convincing overview of the whole topic. I cannot recommend this book to sufferers, but I would recommend it enthusiastically to anyone in my position, trying to be sympathetic and helpful to a sufferer.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

“Not really what it says on the label”

This book about ocd promises a look into the author’s personal journey and development, which is probably what most people would pick the book up for. Whilst there is some of that, it often wanders into details of medical history that are irrelevant and even tedious. Honestly, how many ocd patients today would even co template a lobotomy ? Why give us the history of the procedure, then?
Came across as unnecessary fluff. Without those parts, this would have been a 4 stars for me. I enjoyed the excellent narration and even the humour with which this otherwise very heavy topic is presented by the author.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

problem with the first chapter and its verbal pres

I bought this book as an insight into this topic. The beginning of it was over acted and very dramatic. rather than being informative. Its description of a triggering event causing OCD and mental trauma actually caused me some actual distress, which was very weird. If you dont have anxiety or OCD its interesting if you do this is not likely to help. I never got past the first 30 minutes, now every time I think about the book I recall his anxiety. Not a good listen if you have anxiety. I think I will buy a book written in a more clinical and less emotive way to understand this condition.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

Stopped listening after 2 or 3 minutes

Stopped listening after a few mins due to the swearing and taking God's name in vain. A pity, as I wanted to hear this. Books should have warnings about swearing.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!