Breaking the Rules of Ocd - by Kim Rockwell-Evans (Paperback)

About the Book

Anyone living with OCD can tell you about the rigid rules and rituals they feel they must follow. Written by an OCD expert, and grounded in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), this unique book addresses the seven most common "rules" created by people with OCD, and shows readers how to break each one so they can overcome the repetitive thoughts, compulsions, and shame those rules generate.

Book Synopsis

It's time to break the rules of OCD--and take charge of your life!

If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you may feel like you have to follow a rigid set of rules to successfully get through your day. And if you're like many others, your OCD rule list may look something like this:

• You must always control your internal experiences!
• You must be absolutely certain!
• The presence of any anxiety means you are in danger!
• You alone are responsible if you fail to prevent harm!
• Pay attention to every single thought you have!
• Everything must be just right!
• Always keep your OCD hidden from others!

These rules can keep you feeling stuck, anxious, and unable to move forward in your life. The good news is there are tools you can use to free yourself from these self-imposed rules--so you can start living a more expansive and flexible life. This book will help you break ALL your OCD rules, and will help you understand why that's a good thing.

Written by an OCD expert, and grounded in evidence-based exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), this book addresses the seven most common rules that people with OCD create for themselves, and shows you how to break each one--so you can find freedom from the repetitive thoughts, compulsions, and shame they generate. You'll learn to embrace uncertainty and ambiguity, stop avoiding the things that make you uneasy, and start recognizing your anxiety for what it is--a false alarm system. With practice, you'll be able to move beyond your OCD symptoms and behaviors, and start thinking more flexibly.

If you're ready to toss the OCD rulebook aside and start living with more freedom than ever before, this book can help you, step by step.

Review Quotes

"Breaking the Rules of OCD by Kim Rockwell-Evans is a helpful workbook for OCD sufferers. It lays out clearly the costs of sticking to OCD's rules, and provides many clear and workable exercises for readers to put into practice to break out of the cage those rules have created. The principles and strategies laid out in this book constitute a powerful resource, informed by scientific evidence, for those seeking to tackle their OCD."
--Lisa W. Coyne, PhD, CEO of the New England Center for Anxiety and OCD, and assistant professor and senior clinical consultant at McLean/Harvard Medical School--Lisa W. Coyne, PhD

"If OCD loves anything, it's a rule, and if OCD hates anything, it's breaking those rules--so break some rules! Rockwell-Evans will walk you through busting rules, coloring outside of the lines, and ignoring the meanest bully you have ever had to face. This book will be an excellent resource for those in need of the motivation to do mental martial arts and take down their OCD."
--Patrick B. McGrath, PhD, chief clinical officer for NOCD; fellow of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT); and member of the International OCD Foundation's Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board (IOCDF)--Patrick B. McGrath, PhD

"Kim has written a very practical book covering many ideas and techniques to break the OCD cycle. I really appreciate the amount of exercises within the book, and the case examples help bring her ideas to life. I appreciate her unique ways of looking at OCD treatment, including developing the 'don't know' mind, and integrating principles of the Japanese martial art Aikido."
--Stuart Ralph, counselor and psychotherapist for children and young people, and host of The OCD Stories podcast--Stuart Ralph

"Kim Rockwell-Evans has been an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) specialist for decades. Her new book is a superbly written guide for those suffering from OCD and related disorders. She is comprehensive without being overly technical. Her writing is entertaining and filled with expert guidance and real-world examples. She integrates multiple evidence-based strategies, and the result is something far more powerful and compassionate."
--Eric Goodman, PhD, clinical psychologist and anxiety disorder and OCD specialist, lecturer at California Polytechnic State University, and author of The Mindful Freak-Out--Eric Goodman, PhD

"Kim Rockwell-Evans has written an excellent book that is packed with information, resources, and illustrative case examples all based on the latest scientific research. She guides you through the process of learning about OCD and engaging in proven strategies for overcoming this challenging problem."
--Jonathan S. Abramowitz, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--Jonathan S. Abramowitz, PhD

"Let's face it, exposure work is hard work! When working with OCD, one-size treatment doesn't fit all. Rockwell-Evans has given us a fresh, useful, and actionable blend of evidence-based skills --combining exposure, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and other approaches--to tackle those core psychological processes that make it hard for a person suffering with OCD to face obsessions. This is a much-needed book in the literature of evidence-based approaches for OCD. A must-read!"
--Patricia E. Zurita Ona, PsyD, director of the East Bay Behavior Therapy Center, and author of Living Beyond OCD Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Skills for Perfectionism and High-Achieving Behaviors--Patricia E. Zurita Ona, PsyD

"Long-term OCD recovery becomes quite laborious when you don't understand what reinforces and feeds repetitive, intrusive obsessions and compulsions. Kim Rockwell-Evans's book, Breaking the Rules of OCD, is a powerful book of strategy and insight. Kim has masterfully created a playbook that identifies the burdensome rules that keep OCD going, and provides strategic, evidence-based tools to help OCD sufferers achieve and maintain long-term OCD recovery."
--Kimberley Quinlan, OCD specialist, and host of Your Anxiety Toolkit podcast--Kimberley Quinlan

"Rockwell-Evans shows why many consider her an expert therapist for those with OCD. In this book, she integrates the most up-to-date and empirically supported strategies for working on your OCD. Reading this book will be like doing a course of therapy with a seasoned psychotherapist. This book is useful at any point in your treatment process."
--Michael Twohig, professor at Utah State University, and coauthor of The Anxious Perfectionist--Michael Twohig

"This is now my go-to book to refer to clients. With a multitude of OCD books on the market, Rockwell-Evans has simplified your choice. This book is current and practical, integrating advances in OCD treatment (e.g., mindfulness, creativity, greater values, self-compassion, among others) when using exposure and response prevention (ERP) strategies. She brilliantly weaves it all together and guides you to do the same. Her wealth of knowledge and experience shines!"
--Joan Davidson, PhD, codirector/cofounder of the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy; assistant clinical professor in the clinical science program at the University of California, Berkeley; and author of Daring to Challenge OCD--Joan Davidson, PhD

About the Author

Kim Rockwell-Evans, PhD, is a licensed professional counselor and licensed marriage and family therapist with more than thirty-five years of experience treating children, adolescents, and adults. She is in private practice at OCD and Anxiety Specialists of Dallas in Richardson, TX; where she specializes in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders.