The Thought that Counts: A Firsthand Account of One Teenager's Experience with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Adolescent Mental Health Initiative) (Paperback)

by Jared Kant (Author), Martin Franklin (Author), Linda Wasmer Andrews (Author)
Key Phrases: compulsive rituals, The Thought That Counts, Was Is Not Where, What's the Least (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects an estimated 2.2 million Americans, and in this introduction to the illness, written for older teenagers and young adults, Kant provides a personal account of his OCD experience. He relates how even the most mundane activities may be permeated by depression and terror, recalling for instance how changing for gym class in school was fraught with anxiety. Kant shows how patience, perseverance, empathetic parents and friends, and, especially, good treatment-medication and a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy known as Exposure and Response Prevention-helped him flourish as a college student. He is aided, particularly in providing more in-depth clinical information, by Franklin (clinical director, Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety) and freelance health and psychology writer Andrews (co-author, If Your Adolescent Has an Anxiety Disorder). The authors address a host of practical questions, including educating others about OCD, how those experiencing OCD can divert themselves from the disorder (through regular exercise, among other strategies), and adjusting to life in college. In the sometimes jargon-ridden mental health world, it's refreshing to see a book that is so succinct, straightforward, reasonably priced and helpful.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up—Part memoir, part educational self-help tool, this book lives up to the double entendre embodied in the title. Kant tells of his life as an uptight junior high student who found that his obsessions were beyond the realm of the ordinary and placed him in the approximately one percent of the population with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Blessed with loving, affluent parents, he was sent to the best doctors, therapists, and even a boarding school where he received the support and therapy he needed. Each chapter chronicles a new stage in his life from acknowledging to accepting his disorder. He recounts his struggles as well as his triumphs, making it clear that there is no easy fix for OCD, but also emphasizing that it does not have to control one's life. Written in conjunction with a medical professional, the second half of each chapter gives practical information on definitions, treatments, and tips for living comfortably with this disorder. Although still in his early 20s, Kant has learned to identify his own strengths and weaknesses and adjust his approach to life to make the most of his individual gifts. This book would be helpful for those who are diagnosed with OCD at a young age. The personal voice is strong; Kant tells his story with humor and in a self-deprecating style.—Wendy Smith-D'Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195316894
• ISBN-13: 978-0195316896
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #209,759 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This item is part of The Adolescent Mental Health Initiative Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Book about OCD and Adolescence, February 29, 2008

By	Paula Tironi (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

Jared Kant's powerful, candid account of growing up with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is riveting, sometimes heartbreaking, and at times laugh-out-loud funny. Adolescents struggling with OCD will find compassion and encouragement here, as well as practical, accurate information about how to get better with the right kind of treatment. An excellent book for teachers, parents, professionals - for anyone who wants to understand this potentially devastating but treatable neurobiological disorder.