A word from Ashley…

By Ashley Fulwood.

Ashley

Morning Bloggies,

One of the purposes of this blog is to allow the OCD-UK team to talk a little about the work that we do, often behind the scenes. It is fair to say that a fair chunk of my work is long, time consuming repetitive admin related paperwork, but now and then something drops in my inbox that takes me away from that and allows me to get involved in projects that I know will make a real difference.

There are many books about OCD, some of which we list on our website, some are better than others but very few give a real insight into what OCD is and give a non-sufferer an understanding and explanation of the illness. I actually receive at least one or two books on OCD or Anxiety each month, and most gather dust until I get chance to read them. I had long been an admirer of the book Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (The Facts) by Stanley Rachman and Padmal de Silva. So when Oxford University Press got in touch with me to review and potentially write a foreword for the new edition of the book I jumped at the chance, and put that straight at the top of my reading list.

The book was even better than it’s predecessors, so of course I did not hesitate to offer the publishers a foreword. I hope that the charities endorsement will encourage others to read the book, and in doing so will hopefully help them gain a better understanding of OCD, which in turn will help them challenge their OCD.

The new edition of the book was published in March this year, so rather than write a review of the book I thought I would blog my foreword from the book. I am not one for waffling on (well not always, lol), the foreword is pretty short but I think it sufficiently says everything any OCD sufferer will need to know about this book.

– Book Foreword –

Exactly 7 years ago, in January 2002, I was diagnosed with an illness that left me bewildered, confused and feeling as if I was the only person in the world that was suffering from it: This illness was Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Over the following months I read many books about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and I searched for an understanding that I was unable to find elsewhere. It was only when I was recommended an earlier version of this publication did I discover a book that truly allowed me to understand Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

So when I was offered the opportunity and privilege of writing a foreword for this new edition of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The Facts I jumped at the chance. I believe that this book will lead others affected by OCD to a better understanding of what they’re dealing with and to a much greater chance of recovery.

Over the years there have been many books written on the subject of this still frequently misunderstood, debilitating illness, yet none have remained so balanced and unbiased or managed to pack so much evidence based content in such a structured way as this book does. This latest edition is no exception and continues to build on its predecessors by offering even clearer laid out content.

One of OCD-UK’s key objectives is to empower sufferers to make positive steps towards recovery and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The Facts continues to be a vital tool in helping our charity towards that goal.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The Facts offers the reader a clear and concise guide to understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by simply presenting the facts.

Perhaps the essential compliment I can pay this book is that it is truly the definitive guide to understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It will always be the first book on my suggested list of reading material for health professionals, sufferers, and carers alike.

Ashley Fulwood
January 2009

– End of foreword –

I also passed a copy of the book to my colleague Catherine for her input. Catherine is a lady I respect very much, she is a very wise lady and when she talks, I listen. She usually calls things spot on, so I was interested to see her feedback. She wrote her review of the book for our magazine, Compulsive Reading. The full review can be read in the next edition of the magazine, but here is a little taster…

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (The Facts)

– Catherine’s Review –

This small, but information-packed book is a pleasure to read and the OCD sufferer will find many points in it with which they can identify. It blends theory with facts and case studies in a balanced way. Specifically there are a number of aspects of the book which I would like to highlight:

I had not previously considered the Latin meaning of the term obsession, which is ‘obsidere’, to be besieged, and to me this sums up the intense manner in which ones mind can feel totally under siege from the obsessive or intrusive thoughts. The authors project the intensity of obsessive thoughts with great consideration and appear to empathise with the sense of repulsion and distress that they bring to the sufferer.

– Review End – Read more in the next copy of our magazine –

Anyway, that’s it from me. I hope you found this a little helpful, the book is well worth a read. You can get a copy of this book direct from OCD-UK here.

Keep fighting guys!
Ashley.

OCD Marathon

By Peter Jupp.

Peter running so fast he blurred our support teams pics!

A huge thank you must be passed to all at OCD UK for kindly offering me the opportunity to run for them in the 2009 Flora London Marathon. My story begins at the beginning of 2008 when I was diagnosed with OCD. The OCD I was experiencing was negative thinking patterns and really horrid intrusive thoughts. This in the end led me to a very dark depressing time where I found professional help and then found OCD UK. As I got better through CBT and a continual re-education of my thinking patterns, I wanted to give something back to focus my mind and a new start. I ran the London Marathon in 2005 and I wanted to do it again for OCD UK. I contacted Ashley Fulwood and from there I had to respond to a letter in why I should be running for OCD. My reason was not just personal but wanting to get some attention from the general public on this debilitating illness and increase awareness. Finally I got the letter from Ashley to confirm I got my place – Great news! The run up to the Marathon was hectic and the training at times gruesome, especially the long Sunday runs which could get pretty lonely. Those long runs certainly gave me a lot of thinking time, but I constantly had the focus of the London Marathon in my mind. The pain and suffering I had endured during my long runs was nothing compared to what I was going through with OCD and depression. I kept going moving forward.

Friends at work kindly sponsored me and it was great telling them about a charity they had never heard of. Having shared with them my challenges with OCD they were shocked but also interested to find out more. The awareness campaign was working!!

I trained 4 times a week for the run and wanted a time around 4 hours, that was the goal. As the training runs got longer the time seemed to just fly and before I knew it the big day was only a few weeks away. I indulged in lots of pasta in the run up and also Lucozade hoping I would not hit that wall which I experienced in 2005 – ouch! Running was a great release from the day to day pressures of life and increasing my fitness levels increased the positive feeling of overcoming my OCD problems.

The reality of the run only kicked in when I collected my number on the Friday before and seeing all the crowds and sponsors at the Exhibition Centre at Excel. I was nervous but also excited as the time was nearly here to hit those London streets. More carbo loading and finally Sunday was here. I had great support from my wife and close family members and that added to my will power to do this run. The weather was not ideal for running, it was warm and by mid way through the run it was cooking!! Great for the spectators but not for the runners who were pounding these streets. Suddenly we were off! And I loved being around all these different people and costumes, the first 7 miles flew and I was on track and feeling good, I was so confident I stepped my pace up and them boom! My legs just gave in around 15 miles, it was like all the energy had been drained from me……what was I going to do!??!! I kept going and shuffled my way through to 18 miles where the pain was hitting me hard…..it was the wall! Why oh why did I agree to his……I then thought of the pain of the OCD problems I was overcoming and it gave me some more drive, I did not want to let down the charity or my sponsors. I was going to do it no matter what.

Leading up to the last mile I could see light at the end of the tunnel and I was nearly there my efforts were worth it, Buckingham Palace was in sight and so was the finish line……..600 yards…….400 yards…..200 yards…..a sprint finish for the cameras and I was home!! The relief was immediate and the odd tear confirmed the emotion was drained from me in what was a tough 4hours 37 minutes – I had done it.

That’s my story and in a bizarre way that Marathon day can be compared to being treated for my OCD, a long haul that has many hurdles that can be overcome and will lead you to that finish line. Those little battles can be won and the effort and commitment demonstrated through the treatment makes you feel like a real achiever as you beat those demons of intrusive thoughts. Remember they are only thoughts and accepting them and the pain and living in their space will get you to that recovery point.

Peter Jupp

Age 32

Families Matter Too!

By Vanessa Rogers.

Vanessa Rogers

My name is Vanessa Rogers and I am the Vice Chair of OCD-UK. My role in the organisation is to grow the Family Friends and Carers part of the charity because, well, WE MATTER TOO – and how! Nobody has really addressed that issue yet and I think we feel sorely neglected and rightly so…. I am a mum to a beloved daughter who has suffered very very severe OCD for many years so I know what damage this condition can do to those close to sufferers who have to live ‘in their world’ – and try to take them out of it! How hard that is! How painful and frustrating it is to watch our loved one in such mental anguish and how helpless do we feel? Sometimes it is like battering our heads against a brick wall.

But help is at hand. But the hard part is trying to reach others like me who are dealing with their loved ones with OCD on a day-to-day basis and just don’t know where to turn for some support and guidance – even just to know that they are not alone. Well, take note of this – OCD-UK has organised a FAMILY FRIENDS AND CARERS CONFERENCE to be held on July 25th this year in Reading (details of venue, etc. on OCD-UK website) where we have laid on a day of information and guidance from experts who can help us help our loved ones and to help us help ourselves. There are workshops where we can discuss the various different issues we have to face and find out how we can deal with them in the best possible way. And the best thing of all is that we can meet and help each other. Because OCD is such a secret illness, we become ourselves to feel so isolated and alone locked in a bitter struggle with this bully that is taking over our precious child, husband, wife, parent, friend. But let’s start to confront these issues and deal with OUR side of things because we CAN make a difference and maybe we will how learn to make our lives easier by dealing with this bully and most of all, perhaps make a difference to the lives of those suffering in our midst.

So – if you are reading this and feel that the person/s in your life most close to you who have to confront your suffering on a day-to-day basis may gain some comfort from a conference such as this, please please pass on this information. And why not come along too? Maybe together we can all learn more in our struggle to overcome this terrible torment that is OCD.

Vanessa