Your OCD Will Hate This Book - Nathan Peterson

Aug 7, 2026

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A practical, starting-point program for people affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder, designed to help them interrupt compulsive cycles and regain daily life. Written by Nathan Peterson, LCSW, the book clarifies what OCD is and corrects common misconceptions, then moves into evidence-based strategies. Core guidance emphasizes exposure and response, building an exposure hierarchy, creating and following a plan, and maintaining aftercare through a support network. It also addresses what to do beyond exposures and invites readers to take back their life.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages246

Reading Time10 h 20 min

AccessFree to download

Dedication

Introduction

What Is OCD, Really?

Chapter 1

Your Brain’s False Alarm System

Chapter 2

What Makes OCD Tick?

Chapter 3

Don’t Get Caught Up in Your Theme

Chapter 4

We Can’t Just Talk About It

Chapter 5

The Magic of ERP

Chapter 6

Finding Your Why

Chapter 7

Exposure

Chapter 8

Response

Chapter 9

Stopping Those Compulsions

Chapter 10

Creating an Exposure Hierarchy

Chapter 11

I Did an Exposure…Now What?

Chapter 12

Sticking with the Plan

Chapter 13

Living a Lifestyle of Exposure and Aftercare

Chapter 14

Your Support Network

Chapter 15

What Can I Do Other Than Exposures?

Chapter 16

Your Turn to Take Back Your Life

Acknowledgments

Appendix

Further Resources for Managing Your OCD

About the Author

[OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019 [penguinrandomhouse.com](penguinrandomhouse.com) Copyright © 2026 by Nathan Peterson Penguin Random House values and supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin Random House to continue to publish books for every reader. Please note that no part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems. PLUME and P colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC. All images are courtesy of the author Cover design by Dominique Jones Book design by Shannon Nicole Plunkett, adapted for ebook by Cora Wigen LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Names: Peterson, Nathan author Title: Your OCD will hate this book: a proven system to overcome obsessive-compulsive disorder and take back your life / Nathan Peterson, LCSW. Other titles: Your obsessive-compulsive disorder will hate this book Description: New York, NY: Plume, 2026. Identifiers: LCCN 2025043108 (print) | LCCN 2025043109 (ebook) | ISBN 9798217178681 hardcover | ISBN 9798217178698 ebook Subjects: LCSH: Obsessive-compulsive disorder—Treatment | Exposure therapy Classification: LCC RC533.P47 2026 (print) | LCC RC533 (ebook) LC record available at [https://lccn.loc.gov/2025043108](https://lccn.loc.gov/2025043108)[ ](https://lccn.loc.gov/2025043108)LC ebook record available at [https://lccn.loc.gov/2025043109](https://lccn.loc.gov/2025043109)[ ](https://lccn.loc.gov/2025043109)Ebook ISBN 9798217178698 The authorized representative in the EU for product safety and compliance is Penguin Random House Ireland, Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin D02 YH68, Ireland, [https://eu](https://eu) [contact.penguin.ie](contact.penguin.ie). This book aims to provide useful information that serves as a starting point but is not intended to replace the diagnostic expertise and medical advice of your doctor. Publisher and author specifically disclaim responsibility for any loss that may result from the use of information contained in this book. Some names and identifying details of certain people mentioned in this book have been changed. prhid_prh_ 7.4a_ 156610159_c0_r0 [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) contents Dedication Introduction: What Is OCD, Really? Chapter 1 Your Brain’s False Alarm System Chapter 2 What Makes OCD Tick? Chapter 3 Don’t Get Caught Up in Your Theme Chapter 4 We Can’t Just Talk About It Chapter 5 The Magic of ERP Chapter 6 Finding Your Why Chapter 7 Exposure Chapter 8 Response Chapter 9 Stopping Those Compulsions Chapter 10 Creating an Exposure Hierarchy Chapter 11 I Did an Exposure…Now What? Chapter 12 Sticking with the Plan Chapter 13 Living a Lifestyle of Exposure and Aftercare Chapter 14 Your Support Network Chapter 15 What Can I Do Other Than Exposures? Chapter 16 Your Turn to Take Back Your Life Acknowledgments Appendix: Further Resources for Managing Your OCD About the Author [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) For Gina, who never doubted For my mom, who showed me how to be kind And for my brother, my guide into the OCD community [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) Introduction What Is OCD, Really? Let’s get straight to it. You picked up this book because OCD is messing with your life, and you want to know what to do about it. Not just understand it, but actually do something about it. As a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in this condition, I’ve worked one-on-one with hundreds of people with OCD, an

FAQs

How does the book define OCD, beyond stereotypes like being overly clean?

OCD is explained as getting stuck in unwanted thoughts that drive urgent attempts to neutralize them. The book highlights how people respond through checking, reassurance-seeking, avoidance, analyzing, and rumination rather than through simple neatness habits.

What treatment approach does the book emphasize most strongly?

The book centers on ERP—exposure and response—using structured practice to challenge the urge to perform compulsions. It also guides readers to build and follow an exposure hierarchy and adjust after each exposure.

How can readers plan exposures and keep going long term?

Readers are taught to find their “why,” create an exposure hierarchy, stick with the plan, and continue with a lifestyle of exposure and aftercare. The book also covers using a support network and deciding what to do other than exposures.

Aug 7, 2026

104

Upload by Eden