Imagine having your brain control your every move, and a voice in your head telling you that if you don’t draw on all the lines, the worst possible consequences may happen. You can’t help yourself, as that voice inside you wont stop controlling your every thought and action. This is an example of what people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) have to go through on a daily basis. I don’t know anyone diagnosed with OCD, however, I want to learn more about complex mental illnesses like OCD. OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a common disorder in which a person suffers from uncontrollable reoccurring thoughts(obsessions) and behaviors(compulsion). People battling with OCD want to do things in the certain order as their brain tells them to. Otherwise, horrific and terrifying thoughts burst in their head forcing them to act in an odd, bizarre or abnormal way. Exact cause for OCD is unknown but good news is that it can be treated with the help from trained psychologists and psychiatrists.
Today, I will be reviewing a book called Obsessed by author Allison Britz. This book is the memoir of the author’s life with OCD.Britz has written this story based on her own struggles with OCD as a sophomore in high school and the dark side of suffering alone.
After a terrifying dream of getting stage four brain cancer, Allison is scared to face reality. First, her brain tells her to avoid cracks on floors, and begins to restrict herself from things she loves and things that seem completely normal, like the color green, or restricting her from eating and wearing an outfit. This completely drains Allison mentally and physically and causes her perfect GPA to drop, losing the things she loves and falling out with her friendships and family. After continuously fighting a quiet battle, Allison is determined to fix herself and seek help going to therapy. This story has shown readers the point of view of how Obsessive Compulsive Disorder feels like and it felt like I was stepping into Aliison’s shoes while reading this book.
I highly recommend this book to middle grade readers. I enjoyed reading this well written book with easy language and flow.
Happy Reading Everyone!