Our New Book About OCPD Is Out This Week! OCPD Revealed

Our New Book About OCPD

I’m excited to announce that our new book about OCPD, “OCPD Revealed: Eight Traits  ¦ Two Perspectives” is now available in digital format at the International OCPD Foundation website,  OCPD.org.

Darryl Rossignol, founder of the International OCPD Foundation, invited me to collaborate with him on a book about OCPD (obsessive-compulsive personality disorder) describing it from two perspectives, that of a clinician and that of one who has struggled with the condition. We each discuss the eight symptoms listed as criteria by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.

My perspective in the book is that of a psychotherapist who treats the condition. I examine the clinical picture, including what OCPD looks like, what motivates it, and its effects.

Darryl’s perspective is a very personal revelation of what it has been like for him to live with it. He shares the internal experience – the rules, the standards, and the moments of insight that come from the inside. You will probably find yourself saying quite often, “Oh yes, I recognize that!”

While there is a final chapter on treatment options, this book about OCPD is primarily descriptive rather than prescriptive.

Clear, practical, and deeply human, it offers understanding for people with OCPD, their loved ones, and the professionals who support them. While acknowledging the serious problems the condition can cause, we weren’t above indulging some humor as we wrote it.

Unlike OCD, which is marked by unwanted intrusive thoughts and rituals, OCPD is a personality style that can quietly shape your entire life – your work, relationships, sense of worth, and ability to rest. It often hides in plain sight as “just being responsible,” “high-achieving,” or “detail-oriented.”

Inside the book you’ll find:

• A clear explanation of what OCPD actually is (and how it differs from OCD)
• An honest look at the eight defining traits from both clinical and personal viewpoints
• Insight into why the same traits that create excellence can also create exhaustion, rigidity, and conflict
• A grounded understanding of how these patterns form
• Practical language you can use with yourself, partners, family, or a therapist

Whether you recognize these patterns in yourself, love someone who has them, or work with clients who live this way, OCPD Revealed offers something most books don’t: the clinical map and the view from inside the experience, side by side.

This book about OCPD is not about erasing your drive. It’s about understanding it well enough that it no longer has to run your life.

The mission of the OCPD Foundation is “To raise awareness on the topic of OCPD (Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder), provide support for those whose lives are impacted by this personality disorder & to help lower the stigmas surrounding mental health issues.” We feel confident that OCPD Revealed does just that.

Here is a brief excerpt:

“Most of us would want to know if we had a medical condition that there was treatment for. But many people, from 2.5 to 8% of the population, have a condition which they may not be aware of. Worse, their medical professionals, physicians, and mental health professionals, may not be aware of it either. Their condition remains unrecognized, overlooked, and often misdiagnosed.

The condition is known clinically as obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). And too often it’s covered over.

Our goal in this slim volume is to uncover the problem, raise awareness, and lower stigma, without raising alarm. And, most importantly, to provide hope for recovery.”

We extend our appreciation to the many people who have supported The Healthy Compulsive Project and The International OCPD Foundation. Working together, we can look forward to more awareness, better treatment, and more fulfilling lives for all who are affected by OCPD.

We hope that by revealing what OCPD is really about we can counteract it’s suffering and cultivate its potential so that you can “Enjoy the Drive.”