Beyond trivialization and misunderstanding, the realities of people experiencing OCD Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects millions of people worldwide and looms large in popular culture, for instance when people quip about being "so OCD." However, this sometimes has little relation to the actual experiences of people diagnosed with the disorder. In The World of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Dana Fennell explores the lives of people who have OCD, giving us fresh insight into a highly misunderstood, trivialized, and sometimes stigmatized mental disorder that has no surefire cure. Drawing primarily on interviews with people who have OCD, Fennell shows us the diversity of ways the disorder manifests, when and why people come to perceive themselves as having a problem, what treatment options they pursue, and how they make sense of and manage their lives. From those who have obsessions about their sexuality and relationships, to those who check repeatedly to make sure they have not caused harm, she sheds light on the hopes, expectations, and difficulties that people with OCD encounter. Fennell reveals how people cope in the face of this misunderstood disorder, including how they manage the barriers they face in the workplace and society. An eye-opening read, The World of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder encourages us to consider, empathize with, and take steps to improve the lives of people with mental health issues.
Dana Fennell is Professor of Sociology at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Using in-depth interviews, as well as historical analyses, Dana Fennell brings depth to what has historically been treated at the surface level, where others have relied heavily on stereotypes as a means for understanding. She addresses the history, the diagnoses, treatment and what everyday life is like for individuals with OCD. This is a must read for anyone who seeks to understand the 'otherness' experienced by those with OCD and would like a path to making it right. -- David G. LoConto, author of Social Movements and the Collective Identity of the Star Trek Fandom Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a diagnostic determination, not a disclaimer, nor dismissive attribute. Dana Fennell informs, equips, empowers, and inspires readers to be the change and nurturance we can be to empathetically uplift, sustain, and advance people with OCD. -- Michael J. Lenaghan, Mardee Jenrette Endowed Chair of Teaching Excellence Professor, Miami Dade College
