The Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Gain scientific and theological insight into OCD!The Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Pastoral Care for the Road to Change delivers a provocative and stimulating discussion that is meant to inspire new areas of inquiry on this subject. As an OCD sufferer, pastoral counselor, mental health student, or professional, you will reach a new understanding of a complex condition that can destroy the day-to-day lives of its victims.The Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder explores the connection between religion and OCD from many different perspectives. You will explore case studies of OCD with religious connections through interviews, diagnosed symptoms, and discussion of the history of religious figures who suffered with OCD. The book also provides a reference list of organizations that focus on OCD, as well as Web sites and Internet addresses devoted to assisting caretakers and helping sufferers.The Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder will increase your knowledge of: - the evolution of humans and animals in relation to personality development and the obsessive-compulsive disorder - church leaders with the obsessive-compulsive disorder - brain development and biology and their links to the obsessive-compulsive disorder - quality of life issues for sufferers, pastors, and caregivers - group therapy for OCD sufferers, including personal stories of OCD in connection with faith and religion - neurobiological perspectives on theological issuesThe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder brings you insightful new research into this complex mental illness, and will assist you in understanding and helping people who suffer from OCD.

Robert Collie

Contents - Acknowledgments - Chapter 1: Take the "On Ramp" - The Making of the Map - Clearing the Mind: Not a Bad Joke - But . . . But . . . But . . . - Chapter 2: The Disorder of Paradox - Tourist from Jupiter - The OCD Group: A Study in Poles Apart? - Starting to Sort It Out - We Mammals - Chapter 3: OCD: Hunting for the Disorder of the Thinking Animal - The Solution - Seeing the Problem - The Scent of the Hunt - The Hunt - In the Beginning: Cause and Effect - As It Might Have Been - Summary - Chapter 4: OCD and Homo Religiosus--Religious Man - The Emergence of Religious Feelings - Now We Are in Recorded History - For Christians, The Dividing Line of History Occurs - The Jewish Track of History - The Christian Track of History - Three History-Bending Saints - implications for Today - Summary - Chapter 5: Now It Is Our Turn - Humility - Nancy: A Chain of Three - Marie: The Girl Gang-Tackled by OCD - Nanette Joyce: A Love of Beauty and a Compulsion to Hoard - Anne: Wrestling with Shame and Guilt--and Perfection - Mary: The Little Girl Who Wanted to Marry Jesus - Lou: Thirty-Five Years in the Dark - Paul: Poet Laureate of OCD - What We Can Learn from OCD - Summary - Chapter 6: Homo Sapiens Sapiens: We Have Found the Enemy and It Is Us - The Old Brain - The Midbrain - The New Brain - Adding It All Up - Chapter 7: Theory Made Practical - Differential Diagnosis - Rethinking Diagnosis - Symptom Selection - Progression and Regression - Bagging the Game: Implications of Evolutionary Thinking - Personality, OCD, and Symptom Creep - Personal Development - Pathways to Change - Chapter 8: Learning From Effecting Change - We Have Much Experience with What Does Not Work - We Now Have Some Experience with What Works and Why - Clean, Clean, Clean Your Carpet, Gently Down Life's Stream - Step Ahead - Theory into Scenario - Planning for Practice - We Climbers Now Have a Good Foothold - Gaining Wisdom from OCD - Chapter 9: OCD and the Quality of Life - Loving with Your Heart - Loving with All Your Mind - Loving with All Your Strength - Loving with All the Soul - Quality of Life: The Need for a Role Model - Chapter 10: Theologizing in a Neurobiological Age - Our Past Continues into Our Present - Implications for Living in the Present - What Then Can We Affirm? - The Direction of Human Potential - Appendix: Available Resources - Notes - Index