Are you plagued by a recurring thought or idea that just won't go away feel the need to wash your hands repeatedly to hoard things or to repeatedly check that all appliances in the house have been turned off before you leave? These are just some of the common symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (or OCD) a condition that that causes distress to hundreds of thousands of people. Cognitive behavorial therapy has been clinically proven to significantly reduce these & other symptoms in the majority of cases. With this step by step approach you can learn how to break free from the destructive cycle of obsessive behavior & regain control of your life. This book shows you how to reduce the distress caused by disturbing thoughts images & urges; helps you face fears & troubling situations; reduces & gradually helps you overcome compulsions; & offers advice on how partners relatives & friends can help. ...

Although once thought to be a rare & unusual condition obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has become increasingly a part of everyday discourse as it has gathered more & more media attention. News magazines & programs have done features on the disorder & its range of symptoms & popular culture has depicted characters suffering from OCD such as the eponymous detective in the UPN television program Monk." One facet of OCD that is just beginning to be widely known is that people with the disorder can present a wide range of symptoms. Some people with OCD wash compulsively others hoard objects while still others-the audience of this book-struggle with obsessive thoughts. The most effective treatment techniques vary from symptom to symptom. This is why New Harbinger launched with the publication of Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding a series of books designed to bring the latest coping strategies for specific OCD symptoms to the people who need them most. Since that first book we have brought readers two more titles: Overcoming Compulsive Washing & Overcoming Compulsive Checking. The professional community & OCD sufferers alike have warmly received all three books. This fourth book in the series addresses the needs of those who struggle with obsessive thoughts they perceive as violent disgusting or blasphemous. Psychologists estimate that more than 50 percent of OCD sufferers experience aggressive religious or sexual thoughts. The goal of this book is to help people understand the impact of their control efforts on their obsessional thoughts. It works to help them recognize that thoughts in themselves are not threatening dangerous or harmful. Rather it is the compulsive strategies they develop for coping that make the thoughts seem so harmful. The book offers safe & effective exposure exercises readers can use to limit the effect obsessive thoughts have on their lives. In addition to self-care strategies the book

Includes:: information about choosing & making the most of professional care."

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Overcoming Panic & Agoraphobia" provides a step-by-step management program that provides the necessary skills for overcoming & preventing panic attacks & associated agoraphobia. This is an indispensable guide for those affected by panic disorders but is also an important resource for friends & families psychologists & those working in the medical profession. It explains the many forms & causes of panic. It contains a complete self-help program & monitoring sheets. It is based on clinically proven techniques of cognitive therapy." ...

Practical & easy to use self-help course. Adapted from Derrick Silove & Vijaya Manicavasagars classic title Overcoming Panic" which is now recommended on the NHS " Books on Prescription" self-help scheme this new large format edition is available in three parts. Designed to run alongside the books it places an emphasis on the more practical & interactive elements with multiple worksheets & exercises to be completed on the page. Ideal for anyone to work through alone or with guided assistance the new " Overcoming Panic Self-Help Course" is a complete step-by-step treatment providing the necessary skills to overcome & prevent panic attacks & associated agoraphobia." ...

How to break the vicious circle of never good enough? Perfectionism can be healthy but when it becomes unhealthy & turns into clinical perfectionism (sometimes referred to as dysfunctional perfectionism) it can cause serious problems. It is associated with different mental health problems including depression anxiety eating disorders & chronic fatigue syndrome. Those suffering from clinical perfectionism tend to judge themselves predominantly in terms of the pursuit & attainment of personally demanding standards & often feel unable to be flexible & change their goals despite the significant negative impact that the pursuit of perfectionism may have on their quality of life. It
Includes:: description of clinical perfectionism; clinical perfectionism & depression anxiety eating disorders chronic fatigue; identifying the problem & monitoring; overcoming perfectionism; step-by-step self-help course based on CBT principles; avoiding relapse; case studies; other treatments; & an overview.
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Overcoming Social Anxiety & Shyness" is a self-help manual for this common problem which explains why it happens & sets out practical methods of resolving it. Everyone sometimes feels foolish embarrassed judged or criticised but this becomes a problem when it undermines their confidence & prevents them doing what they want to do. This easy-to-use guide full of real-life examples is for those who suffer from all degrees of social anxiety & shyness for their families & friends & for the professionals who help them: psychologists doctors & others. It explains the many forms & causes of social anxiety. It contains a complete self-help program & work sheets. It is based on clinically proven techniques of cognitive therapy." ...

We all need some stress to get us going but too much can disrupt our lives almost without our realising it. The impact on health relationships & work can be extreme but it isn't inevitable. We can learn to understand & cope with stress & greatly improve our quality of life. Using well-developed methods of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) a clinical psychologist demonstrates how to recognise what happens when we are stressed. Considering common sources of stress she describes how to change how we think feel & act so our lives become more enjoyable & effective. ...

Terrible events are very hard to deal with. Those who go through a catastrophic life experience often feel permanently changed by the impact of what has happened. They become numb & shut off from those around them or grief or guilt may constantly weigh them down. Memories of horrifying scenes may intrude unexpectedly during waking hours while sleep may be disturbed by vivid unpleasant dreams. Traumatic stress responses including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are psychological conditions that result from a persons coping mechanisms having been completely overwhelmed by a terrible experience. These flashbacks may be so severe that sufferers may feel that they are losing their sanity & subsequently become ever more isolated in their distress. To overcome the effects of trauma it is necessary to change those reactions & begin to see events in a different light. This book demonstrates with practical advice & tested exercises how to find new effective ways of coping with & finally overcoming traumatic stress. ...

From their ground-breaking work with CBT techniques in London's only NHS clinic for obesity Drs Jeremy Gauntlett-Gilbert & Clare Grace have developed this accessible self-help guide based on clinically tested methods that will help change thinking & overcome weight problems once & for all. This title discusses how to: develop real motivation to change; deal with negative patterns of thinking & blocks & understand why you have gained weight & can't shift it; develop a healthy & sustainable eating plan & understand why quick-fix diets are not the answer; bring more activity into life over the long term; & handle difficult emotions & physical feelings. ...

Up to 44 in every 1000 adults suffer from a condition known as Generalised Anxiety Disorder. This is much more than the normal worrying we all do
- it can be a debilitating disorder leading to significant personal & social problems & sometimes financial loss. Using established & proven CBT techniques expert clinicians Kevin Meares & Mark Freeston help readers to understand that it is their propensity to worry not the multitude of problems they worry about that is the root of the problem. The user-friendly step-by-step approach explains why they worry how to recognise what feeds it & develop effective methods of dealing with it.
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