David Adam (1) (1972–)

Subtitled “OCD and the true story of a life lost in thought”, this is an absorbing account of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and related mental illnesses, told from the point of view of someone who suffers from OCD himself. Dr. David Adam is currently a writer and editor at the scientific journal Nature, so he brings a clear-headed understanding to his own condition and that of others who suffer similarly.

He quickly dispels the notion that it’s all about obsessive hand-washing or similar (he had to fight his publishers who wanted to put a bar of soap on the cover). Though such behaviour may be one symptom of OCD, it is only typical in a small number of cases.

Adam starts the book with the words “An Ethiopian schoolgirl called Bira once ate a wall of her house. She didn’t want to, but she found that to eat the wall was the only way to stop her thinking about it.”

Adam’s own obsession, from which he is, and will probably never be fully free, is a fear of being accidentally infected with HIV-AIDS. He became obsessed that the slightest scratch could somehow infect him: he scrapes his heel at a swimming pool and draws blood. Could someone else, someone with AIDS, have also scraped their heel there, perhaps only moments before? He uses a paper towel to blot up the dot of blood on his heel, only to begin worrying that someone with AIDS might have handled the towel before him, perhaps with a scratch on their finger… and on and on. Adam always knew that these thoughts were paranoid and absurd, but he

couldn’t stop thinking such thoughts, nor stop himself carrying out obsessive rituals to try to protect himself.

Adam details how almost everyone has intrusive, unwanted thoughts popping into their heads throughout their everyday lives. Most of us can easily and quickly dismiss these thoughts. Those with OCD cannot. He describes many often-bizarre case studies, and shows how the condition has been recognised for many centuries, even if not given its modern name.

He covers the various treatments for OCD which have been tried over the years, and about the various treatments he himself has endured, the most effective finally being a form of cognitive behavioural therapy. He offers sympathy and a lot of good advice to others who suffer from unwanted thoughts of which they cannot rid themselves or control.

A really fascinating book about the oddities of the human brain.… (more)

The Man Who Couldn't Stop is a book about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It is not about people that like things to be neat and orderly, it is about people who have intrusive thoughts that can only be temporarily suppressed by the sufferer to perform rituals and actions. The author of this book was obsessed with catching AIDS and he was constantly checking surfaces for possible blood left by others and calling HIV helplines for reassurance about the odds of catching the virus from different sources. Along with discussing his own struggle with OCD, the author presents the history of OCD and psychology, different ways OCD has been treated throughout history and today, and other case studies of people that have suffered OCD. I thought I knew about OCD, but after finishing this book I feel like I learned a lot and I have a new appreciation for how those with true OCD suffer. I would recommend this book to readers who want to learn more about the disorder and those who have friends or family suffering from OCD.… (more)

O C D. Not only are the letters in the wrong order, but this condition is one of the biggest mental health issues affecting people after depression. Adam has suffered from this illness for a very long time now and in this book he uses all his journalistic skills to write an honest account of how it has affected him with his obsessions and compulsions.

To understand what makes people do the strangest thing he meets with other sufferers of the illness. There are all sorts of sufferers in the book, the hoarders, those that think that have passed on a terminal disease to others by just the merest touch and spend frantic hours decontaminating by washing. Others have to ensure that certain rituals or routines have been carried out before they can leave the house, and others again imagine that they have inadvertently run someone over whilst driving home. The thoughts that permeate the minds of these suffers can cause them to be caught in this vicious circle.

Adam meets with the latest experts and explains the most recent findings and treatments for those that suffer. He goes into some detail on the thoughts that made his OCD such a nightmare to live with. He describes the earlier treatments like lobotomy and electric shock therapy and brings us up to date with how they help suffers now.

The writing is simply honest and uncomplicated. Even if it doesn’t help those suffering he is hoping that it will bring some glimmers of light into the darker corners of the minds of those that suffer to those that have to care for them. There is humour occasionally but it is an enlightening book on this horrible mental illness.… (more)