Touch and Go Joe, Updated Edition: A Teen's Experience of OCD

by Joe Wells, Richy K. Chandler (Illustrator), Isobel Heyman (Foreword by), Amita Jassi (Foreword by)

Overview

In this down-to-earth, fun and empowering book, Joe Wells talks about his teenage experience of OCD and all the coping mechanisms and treatment options that have worked for him. It's packed full of brilliant, honest advice for others struggling with this disorder, written by someone who understands what it's like to be a teen with OCD. This updated edition with all-new illustrations includes a brand-new chapter written 16 years later, detailing how Joe overcame his disorder and is now a successful comedian.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781787757783
Publisher:	Kingsley, Jessica Publishers
Publication date:	07/21/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

At age 16, Joe Wells wrote Touch and Go Joe, sharing his experiences living with OCD from the age of 9. Since then, Joe has been working in comedy, in stand-up and writing for the BBC and magazines. Recently, he has been writing about mental health and neurodiversity.
Dr Amita Jassi is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the National and Specialist OCD, BDD and Related Disorder Service for Children and Young People (South London and Maudsley NHS Trust). She lives in London, UK.

Table of Contents

Foreword Dr Isobel Heyman 9

Foreword Dr Amita Jassi 13

Acknowledgements 17

What's This Book About? 19

1 Worrying 21

2 Poisoning of the Mind 27

3 Only Human 31

4 Guilty Mind 41

5 Am I Going Mad? 47

6 Learning to Count 53

7 Keeping My Secret 57

8 Learning to Walk the Walk 61

9 OCD Abroad 65

10 Getting Help 73

11 Convincing Myself of OCD's Irrationality 81

12 Challenging 85

13 Depression and OCD 91

14 Citalopram 95

15 The Awful Truth 107

16 Getting On with It 113

17 16 Years Later 119

Epilogue: The 30 > 20 Diary 127

Appendix 1 Definition of OCD and CBT 133

Appendix 2 OCD Tips and Advice 139

Further Information 147

Index 153

Editorial Reviews

A fantastic achievement - as equally valuable as an inspiration for those with the condition and an insight for those who wish to understand it better. A brave and fascinating book.

Jarvis Cocker

Joe comes across wise beyond his years when it comes to perception of OCD and how it should be treated, not to mention his very good sense of humour which is evident within the book.

OCD UK

Written by 16-year old Joe, a sufferer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) since he was 9, this book is an excellent read. The short chapters are well defined, with helpful summaries at the end of each one. It gives a fascinating insight to the world of someone with OCD, taking us through Joe's treatment and recovery, and charting the ups and downs of his life with OCD and the battle to overcome it. The book conveys a lot of information about the disorder, in a down-to earth and humorous way. It would be a helpful resource for family members of those with OCD, as well as teachers, youth workers and even for sufferers themselves. Thoroughly recommended.

Education Otherwise

All these years later, Joe's experiences and the messages weaved into his story have stood the test of time and are still relevant and important for young people today. The key messages being - you are not alone, and you can get better!

From the foreword by Amita Jassi

This true story provides valuable insight into the life of a teenager and his experience of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Joe is a sixteen-year-old boy who writes openly about what it is like to live under the control of OCD and of his battle to regain control of his thoughts, feelings and actions. Joe offers a range of practical advice and coping strategies in the form of a summary at the end of each chapter and in the appendix, which makes this book a very valuable resource to inform and inspire people experiencing OCD and those close to them. This story will also allow other children and teenagers experiencing this disorder to realise they are not alone and that recovery is possible, a point professionals often struggle to portray. I would also recommend this book to those wanting to understand more about this interesting condition. The goes a long way to increase awareness and recognition of OCD and is a well written, easy to read story.

Young People Children

The book gives an insight that a text book or journal article could never do. It raises prominent issues of media negativity and societal stigma to diagnosis, and the effect on individuals. This book will be a useful tool for professionals, families, and most importantly anyone with OCD. This book is so useful that I'm now using it as a therapeutic intervention with a patient to help normalise and lift the stigma that they feel.

The Psychologist

This honest account will raise awareness of this common yet often misdiagnosed disorder and will be of interest to anyone who has suffered from or knows someone who suffers from OCD, including children, adolescents, teachers, mental health professionals, parents and carers.

Autism Us

A candid and logical illustration of the irrational nonsense a mind can throw at us, Joe's unique story and powerful conclusions are much more informative and uplifting than anything I've managed to privately muster ('it really didn't matter how many times you tapped that door handle she was going to dump you anyway'.)

Tom Rosenthal

I feel as if I have been waiting for this book. Children and teenagers with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) have been asking for this book for years.

From the foreword by Isobel Heyman