Uses the author's own experiences with obsessive-compulsive disorder to discuss the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of OCD, and includes advice on finding help and living a fuller, happier life with the disorder.;Introduction: Climbing up from rock bottom -- Chapter 1: OCD and me: What is OCD? -- It's official: I have OCD -- What do OCD symptoms look like? -- Types of OCD (Karissa's story: what if? -- Josh's story: I had a germ phobia -- Why do I have OCD? -- Sophie's story, part 1: my OCD started with a dog attack -- What now? ; Sophie's story, part 2: I got the help I needed -- Chapter 2: Reaching out: Advocating for yourself -- Finding a psychiatrist or therapist -- My first visit with a psychiatrist -- Sometimes labels are a good thing -- Nicole's story: being diagnosed was a relief -- Chapter 3: How therapy can help: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) -- Robert's story: exposure and response prevention therapy helped me -- Facing your fears on your own -- "I don't want to go to therapy" -- Chapter 4: How medicine can help: Finding the right medication -- Kiersten's story: it took time to find the right medicine for me -- Side effects -- Worrisome side effects -- Paying for medication -- I missed a dose (and a dose and a dose and another dose) -- I took too many pills! -- How long will I need to be on medicine? -- Chapter 5: What else helps?: Self-help -- Beyond basic outpatient therapy -- Rachel's story: I got the help I needed in a residential program -- Surgery -- Believe in yourself -- Chapter 6: I am not OCD: popular perceptions and stigmas: Molly's story: stigma made OCD feel worse -- Everyone and their brother think they have OCD -- What OCD is not -- Using humor as a coping method -- Times have changed -- OCD and related disorders -- Chapter 7: Being you with OCD: Putting yourself in control -- Building a community of support -- OCD and dating -- OCD and school (and work) -- Keeping realistic expectations -- Looking back -- Looking ahead.