“Hearing and telling stories is at the heart of being human. Sometimes we tell a story that eases a friend’s pain, or at least lets them know they are not alone. Sometimes we hear a story, and in it, we hear a way forward. Ben and Lisa bring together many stories of actual teens who have struggled with OCD. These are real people who have made the journey and are continuing to make the journey. They share their stories in the hope that you will join them on the road. There is a deep kindness in this book and a way forward. If you are weary of the struggle, read this book. Maybe in its pages you will find some rest, fellowship, and a road map to meaning and purpose.”—Kelly G. Wilson, PhD, professor emeritus in the department of psychology at the University of Mississippi, and author of Mindfulness for Two and Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong
“Helping a teenager manage OCD isn’t easy. There just aren’t many resources to help them understand OCD in a relatable way. Stuff That’s Loud successfully demystifies OCD, clues kids into what’s going on with their brains, and, most importantly, helps them find a way to fight back. The book is everything OCD hates: Insightful. Supportive. Challenging. Encouraging. I highly recommend it.”—Chris Baier, parent of a teen with OCD, and producer of the award-winning UNSTUCK
“Coyne and Sedley have come up with some ‘stuff that’s great’ for teens grappling with OCD. Stuff That’s Loud offers its readers easy-to-understand therapeutic concepts in a tone that is both credible and compassionate. The book acknowledges how painful unwanted thoughts and rituals can be, but rather than dwell on this, the authors consistently bring the reader back to a focus on the wonderful potential teens have when they learn to relate to their OCD differently.”—Jon Hershfield, MFT, author of Overcoming Harm OCD and When a Family Member Has OCD
“Stuff That’s Loud is a book I wish teen me had. It’s written in a comforting and encouraging way by clinicians that get OCD, and its treatment. But more than this, it’s a book about exploration and invention of the life you want to live. If you are a teen with this book in your hands, I hope it helps you work through OCD and create the life you want, filled with all the fun, meaning, and adventure possible.” —Stuart Ralph, author of The OCD Stories
“Stuff That’s Loud is hands-down the best self-help I have seen on OCD. If you’re a teen, inside these pages you’ll find a way to make your life bigger than OCD. If you’re a professional, you’ll find the tools and language that will help you guide young people out of the spiral of OCD. And if you’re a parent, you’ll find the language to help you support your teen’s journey into a life well lived.”—Louise Hayes, PhD, clinical psychologist, and coauthor of The Thriving Adolescent
“Combining Ben Sedley’s approach to helping teens with Lisa Coyne’s skill in working with adolescents with OCD results in a great book. The skills taught in this book will help at any stage of the struggle with OCD. Every teen struggling with OCD will benefit from their work.”—Michael Twohig, PhD, professor in the department of psychology at Utah State University
“Sedley and Coyne are two experts who have written a terrific guide for teens with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). They walk the reader through how to understand obsessions and compulsions, and how to use exposure and response prevention (ERP) and acceptance-based strategies to better manage these unpleasant experiences. What’s unique about this book is how well the authors speak to their young readers; engaging them with personal accounts of OCD and abundant illustrations. If your teen with OCD is having difficulty engaging with treatment, this is the book for them!”—Jonathan Abramowitz, PhD, professor in the department of psychology at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and author of Getting Over OCD
“In some ways, the fundamentals of recovering from OCD have not changed. You face the things you fear and resist engaging in compulsions. What has changed, however, is the way in which many therapists conceptualize, motivate, and guide individuals through this process. Sedley and Coyne represent a new generation of therapists who have infused the recovery process with concepts like resiliency, willingness, and psychological flexibility. Most importantly, they challenge us to live according to our values, rather than the dictates of our negative emotions and thoughts. And they do so in an informative and engaging way.” —C. Alec Pollard, PhD, director of the Center for OCD and Anxiety-Related Disorders at Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute; and professor emeritus of family and community medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine
“Much has been written about how to develop resilience in young adults. The problem in the past is there has been an inadequate framework and insufficient science to back up the claims. It is hard to teach children and teenagers about emotional difficulties without triggering their interest, unleashing a variety of effective strategies (because nothing works for everyone), and offering empathy and guidance on how to apply these strategies to optimize their day-to-day lives. This short, compelling book is a pleasure to read, and I suspect even skeptical readers will feel the same way. The exquisite illustrations; the direct communication to the reader; the clear and concrete suggestions and experiments. I suspect many people will be helped by reading and rereading these pages.”—Todd B. Kashdan, PhD, professor in the department of psychology at George Mason University, and coauthor of The Upside of Your Dark Side
“Lisa Coyne and Ben Sedley have written an irreverent, compassionate, and informative book for any teen struggling with OCD. It’s a pleasure to read, and it’s grounded in ERP, the most effective treatment we have for treating OCD. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to get to know how they spiral, and how to get out.”—Matthew S. Boone, LCSW, editor of Mindfulness and Acceptance in Social Work
06/01/2020
Gr 8 Up—According to clinical psychologists Sedley and Coyne, approximately three percent of teens have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this straightforward guide, the authors address "stuff that's loud"—a catchy phrase for those thoughts, feelings, and sensations that take hold in individuals with OCD (often in a terrifying and intrusive manner). The tone of the text is conversational, and the message is encouraging with several anecdotes from teens. This book is divided into two parts, "Spiraling" and "Unspiraling." Part 1 explores how stuff that's loud can create confusion and surprises. Without adequate interventions and professional help, things can easily spiral out of control. Part 2 provides strategies teens can implement to form healthy relationships, such as using curiosity to step into the unknown, seizing the moment, and caring about people and things that matter. The chapter on how to deal with parents is insightful. Numerous black-and-white illustrations, of mixed quality, supplement the text. Additional resources consist only of a website for the International OCD Foundation and the website and Facebook links for the book. VERDICT This engaging self-help book is approachable and relatable and does not inundate readers with an abundance of medical and scientific terminology. A serviceable purchase for teen collections.—Jeanette Lambert, formerly at Nashville-Davidson County Sch., TN
2020-03-29
A guidebook that seeks to empower those living with OCD.
Clinical psychologists Sedley and Coyne give an authentic look at how different minds dealing with OCD function, including personal stories from teens and their family members. Incorporating techniques from Exposure Response Prevention and principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, this book provides tools and activities aimed at helping affected teens figure out how to live the lives they want. The direct, matter-of-fact approach runs the risk of triggering readers, something the authors acknowledge and even note as intentional; they explain that they trust readers to be able to handle the material and that not feeling ready to plunge in is an inherent part of the cycle of remaining trapped and anxious. The book does not proclaim to be a cure for OCD or even that any easy, external fix exists. That clarity in itself offers relief as it preempts the pressure readers may feel if they don’t feel fully transformed after using the book. The book, which the authors encourage readers to use along with therapy, puts faith and the power to change in the hands of teens. A supportive, empathetic tone is present throughout, making it a useful guide for young people who may need help identifying and overcoming intrusive thoughts.
An honest look at OCD, offering help in managing and overcoming it. (resources) (Nonfiction. 12-18)
