Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts Paperback – Illustrated, 27 April 2017

I have suffered episodes of this affliction for a few decades, the last episode was absolute torture. I'm glad I was brave enough to search the internet, as I found this book which changed everything. The only other option would have been therapy; costly and with no guarantees. You have to really trust the information and put it into practice, which I did. An amazing byproduct of reading this book was being conscious of how much mental noise I had in general, and discovering a window to inner peace.

During a very tough time, this book was a lifeline for a family member diagnosed with harm related OCD - some very useful tips and reassuring paragraphs. Really relied on this prior to the medication kicking in (which often takes 3 months or so)

Possibly one of the most important books you will ever read in a single lifetime. I cannot express in words how much this book has helped me. Not just for those with mental health issues, but for everyone who shares the dubious privilege of being human. Thank you!

The focus of this book is a particular kind of 'intrusive thought'; one where the person is shocked or ashamed by violent/sexual or other content. However, it contains valuable insights, methods and reassurance for dealing with all kinds of annoying internal monologue or stuck emotions. Recommended.

Very well written and easy to read and understand. Would recommend.

A friend of mine recommended this book and honestly it is so helpful. I've struggled with anxiety and unwanted intrusive thoughts for many many years and reading this book it all just made sense. It gives a great explanation of how the brain works when we become anxious and helps you to understand exactly what happens in the brain when these thoughts happen. I started to read this whilst waiting to start counselling and it really did help me through a couple of difficult weeks.I would highly recommend this book.

I would whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone getting stuck and weighed down by upsetting unwanted thoughts and the downward spirals that often follow - or a loved one trying to understand more about the condition and how to help someone who is experiencing it.For context. I have, since my teenage years - and on and off over the decade since - struggled with unwanted intrusive thoughts, from the bizarre to the truly harrowing. I really do know how devastating this condition feels when you’re in it, but I want to share that I have gotten better and continue to get better - so of course I want as many people as possible to know that they can too. Discovering this book, and discovering from it the work of Dr Steven Phillipson about different subsets of OCD (lots of videos from him on YouTube via the Made of Millions channel), have together been a real turning point in my mental health.This book firstly makes clear that you are absolutely NOT alone, insane or a bad person, and that these thoughts are no reflection of your character whatsoever. It explains how this condition presents itself in different people and why we get “stuck” on certain topics (examples including violence, sex, peadophilia, insanity, ill-health, existential questions and religion etc). It shows scientifically what’s happening in the brain when we’re experiencing the condition, and goes on to provide techniques for how to disempower it.Huge thanks to the authors. This book has given me a lot of compassion for my younger self, and helped provide me with the tools to break the cycle.

Too wordy.