Book Review: Can I Tell You About OCD?
The following review was written by a member of OCD Action's youth panel, India. The book itself was written by Amita Jassi and follows the story of a teenage girl with OCD. 'Can I Tell You About OCD?' is available to buy on Amazon and in bookstores across Europe
‘Can I tell you about OCD?’ is exactly what is says on the tin – it’s a smart, simple guide which explores all there is to know about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It examines firstly what OCD is, what obsessions and compulsions are and how these manifest themselves in many different ways at home, school and in friendships groups. And finally the treatments available and how they work.
As an ex-OCD sufferer myself, I’ve come across many books and websites that try and explain what OCD is and they often come across as really technical and complicated in their explanations. What I loved about this book was that it was simple and gave a very good, easy to understand explanation of what OCD actually is and how it influences people’s lives. Following the story of ‘Katie’ added a personal touch to it and helped illustrate to parents the impact on young teenagers’ lives and that it happens to normal people. I like that the book goes full circle and we follow her journey through developing the disorder, seeking treatment and her battle against OCD. This conveys that it can be successfully diagnosed, treated and eventually overcome, which is very reassuring to other OCD sufferers. I also thought the quotation on the left page offered a good introduction to each chapter and helped you to work through the book in chronological order, which develops as you gradually build on your understanding of OCD. I thought the clarity of explanation by ‘Katie’ made it really accessible to all ages.
The problem with writing a book that caters for a range of age groups is choosing the correct words or phrases. On the whole I believed this was dealt with well, it was clear and easily understood but on occasion, the style of language appears to be not quite appropriate for all ages. This doesn’t affect the clarity of explanation it just maybe makes some explanations too simple and this can detract from the severity of suffering with the disorder.
This book marvels in guiding you through OCD without all the complexity. But it is written in a way that is clear and from the perspective of a real person. It feels honest and acts a reassuring book to other OCD sufferers who can feel they are not alone. I’ve learnt new things and it gives you a different insight into the disorder. I would give the book a well-deserved 5/5; it succeeds in improving understanding OCD and challenging the common misconceptions of this complex disorder.
By India (OCD Action Youth Panel)
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