Description
Book SynopsisThe premise of OCD AND MARRIAGE is simple: an OCD caregiver and sufferer can successfully manage symptoms and improve their quality of life and their marital relationship. OCD does not have to take over a marriage. The three aims of this book are to (a) encourage individuals diagnosed with OCD to face the disorder head-on together with their spouses in creative ways, (b) permit married couples to reach out for support, and (c) seek relation-based healing that complements established, evidence-based OCD therapies. Rather than approach coping with OCD from a clinical perspective, the authors choose to offer sufferers and their spouses a resource they wished they had when they struggled with the myths, barriers, and impact of OCD. Central to this is a focus on strengthening marital relationships through active, creative communication. This focus on communication highlights our belief that living with OCD is a family affair by which everyone affected -- whether care giver or sufferer -- can survive and thrive.
Table of ContentsForeword i
What Others Say iii
Preface v
Authors’ Note viii
How to Use This Book ix
Section I: Understand OCD in Your Marriage 1
Chapter 1: Our Stories 3
Chapter 2: What Makes a Good Marriage? 11
Chapter 3: Defining OCD and Its Subtypes 17
Chapter 4: Do's and Don'ts of Accommodating OCD in the Marriage 35
Chapter 5: Our Levels of Awareness: How did We Know? 39
Chapter 6: Mindfulness and Treatment 45
Chapter 7: Examples From Our Experiences 51
Section II Six Ways to Rebuild Your Marriage 71
Chapter 8: Pathway One—Six Ways to Rebuild Your Marriage 71
Chapter 9: Pathway Two—Address Emotions in the Relationship 77
Chapter 10: Pathway Three—Improve Communication 83
Chapter 11: Pathway Four—Get Treatment for Both of You
Chapter 12: Pathway Five— Find Your Voices 92
Chapter 13: Pathway Six— Rebalance and Reignite Romance 101
Chapter 14: All Pathways: Evaluate the Implementation of Your Action Plans 105
Chapter 15: Interactive Exercises 109
Section III: Tools and Resources
Concluding Thoughts125
References 159
Index 165
