When in Doubt, Make Belief: An OCD-Inspired Approach to Living with Uncertainty

by Jeff Bell, Michael Jenike (Foreword)

When in doubt, make belief. For author and news anchor Jeff Bell, these are words to live by. Literally. As someone who has spent much of his life battling severe obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), Bell has had to overcome crippling uncertainty few people can imagine. In this powerful follow-up to his critically acclaimed memoir, Rewind, Replay, Repeat, Bell expounds on the principles of applied belief that allowed him to make such a remarkable recovery from this “doubting disease” and the lessons he’s learned while traveling the country talking about doubt. With the help of more than a dozen leading experts, Bell offers readers practical techniques for pushing through the discomfort of uncertainty — whether it stems from OCD or just everyday worries — and demonstrates how a shift from decisions based on fear and doubt to ones based on purpose and service can transform any life.

Featuring interviews with Sylvia Boorstein, Patty Duke, Dan Millman, Leon Panetta, Tom Sullivan, and others

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Health

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Jeff Bell is an author, news anchor, and motivational speaker.

Since the publication of his OCD memoir, “Rewind, Replay, Repeat,” in early 2007, he has traveled extensively, lending his support to numerous mental health organizations, including the OC Foundation, for which he now serves as a National Spokesperson.

He is a 2007 recipient of Mental Health America’s prestigious forWARDS Award, for “moving the cause of mental health forward,” and is co-founder of the YourGreaterGood.com project, aiming to help motivate others with OCD to tackle the rigors of treatment.

Bell is a 20-year veteran of radio and television news and currently anchors afternoons at KCBS Radio, the CBS Network’s San Francisco flagship.

Reviews

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’ve all left the house then wondered if we locked the front door. Sometimes that concern is even enough to make us go back and check. For someone with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), that concern becomes anxiety that may not even be sated after checking. They may feel the need to check several times.

When in Doubt, Make Belief is both an important reference and useful self help book. The author explains the OCD acts like a bully, creating six common behaviors or “trapdoors”: checking, reassurance-seeking, ruminating, protecting, fixing, and avoiding. Then, the author honestly states that there is no magical cure for OCD. However, through hard work and time, it is possible to adjust thought patterns so that the bully loses power.

[Gaijinmama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually I'd give this 4.5 but Goodreads doesn't give half points.

This is an excellent resource for those of us with anxiety/ obsessive-compulsive issues. I especially liked the author's main premise, which is that the best way to face our doubts and fears is to choose the course of action that serves the Greater Good (and that includes one's own good).
I also appreciated his point that we cannot **CONTROL** our thoughts, only how much attention we give them. IN other words, as one of my Buddhist teachers used to say, watch them, acknowledge them, and wave bye-bye. Don't try to suppress them or you'll spend the night obsessing.
Highly recommended for those of us who struggle, or love someone who struggles with OCD.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great read for those interested in/ coping with OCD. Very inspiring yet grounded in the reality of the daily struggles that arise from OCD.

Re-read: still just as amazing as my first read.

[Joana Margarida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um excelente recurso para quem tem POC (perturbação obsessivo-compulsiva), assim como para todos os interessados na matéria. Foi escrito por alguém que toda a vida batalhou para lidar com pensamentos obsessivos e consequentes compulsões e que foi desenvolvendo as suas próprias estratégias, com um vocabulário personalizado e intuitivo. Pode, por isso, ser uma leitura mais simples do que alguns livros técnicos sobre o tema. Não substitui o acompanhamento psicoterapêutico e médico - como o autor frisa inúmeras vezes -, mas acrescenta, para além das estratégias, a confirmação de que não se está sozinho num diagnóstico pejado de dúvidas e que carrega tanto sofrimento. Loucos somos todos.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was simply a very refreshing book. As someone who grew up with OCD, I can absolutely (and often painfully) relate to the trials and tribulations suffered by the author and contributors. As an adult, I don't suffer nearly as much from my compulsions, but I'm confident that had I been able to read this book as I became a teenager and entered the most frustrating episodes of OCD-inspired misery, this book would've been remarkably helpful to me in terms of real, tangible techniques for overcoming compulsions. If nothing else, it would have been extremely comforting just to know that there were plenty of others going through similar ordeals.

Would recommend to anyone suffering from OCD symptoms, but anyone who suffers from doubt-based thinking on any level can surely derive some benefit from the book.

[Nahed · Rating 4 out of 5]

A practical book from the point of view of someone who is battling OCD over years with clear demonstration of OCD cycles and trapdoors.
I found referring to it as Octopuses chewing Doubt-nuts very illustrative yet fun.
Also The concept of the greater good to fight our fear-based doubts is very illuminating.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff is so honest in this book (as he was in his first book which I also highly recommend,Rewind Replay Repeat)! I loved this book - and learned quite a bit from it. I so admire Jeff - and I also appreciated his sense of humor throughout this book.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book for anyone who struggles with either garden variety doubt and anxiety or full-on OCD. This book provides a profoundly useful framework for making faith-based decisions (NOT in a religious sense) based on core values and Greater Good objectives, as opposed to doubt and fear.

[Hoyadaisy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seemed like it could be helpful, but writing was too "ghee whiz" and constantly interrupted by boxes with useless things in them.

[Aarif Qureshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

bully doubt

[Adamantios · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writer is a sufferer not a therapist, therefore one must take its ideas and recommendations with caution. However, it seems reasonable to me that therapists are listening also to clients' ways of coping and if succesful and helpful they make the necessary abstractions in order to offer it to other clients/the wider public.
The author reiterates that ERP is the therapy of choice for OCD. ERP is not only what is performed during therapy or in relation to it. It has to become an aspect of everyday life. What he proposes is a shift in mentality; to accept that universe is a friendly place not a battlefield, that there is no certainty in life. These may seem either as "newage-ish" or "too much of philosophy".
In a more practical way, he proposes to "shift gears" towards "service" and "greater good" in order to face OCD. "Greater good" is not (necessarily) something sublime. At its core is going against the "good choice" that OCD proposes. So let's say that a sufferer is visiting some friends. OCD dictates him to wash his hands for a zillionth time in order not to spread germs (the good choice), the "greater good" concept will say that a good washing once is sufficient and that what is more important is to be a supporting friend, a contributing discussant rather than a disappeared person in front of a sink.
The author himself says that his way is not easy and that even he is not always succesful.
Needless to say that discipline is very important, but this is an issue with all these books shelved in book therapy or (serious and tested and evaluated) self-help.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bell uses his personal experience with OCD to outline how anyone can confront and work through emotional doubt. The most useful part of this book is the first half, in which Bell explains how he tells the difference between intellectual doubt and emotional doubt. I found it hard to take the second half of the book seriously, as Bell seems to be suggesting that there is no innate purpose in life, so you simply have to make up a purpose; quite an unsteady foundation for readers who are already struggling with doubt. Still, he makes the important point that you have to have a reason, something to motivate you, to conquer successfully emotional doubt.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the record, I myself do not have OCD but work with folks who do.
That said, this book seemed like it had valid points and sound direction as to alleviating OCD thoughts...also framed behaviors as a choice, the first time I have ever read anything to that effect. I didn't care much for the writing style...a little too 'motivational speaker' for my taste, but that aside, take from it what you will. I plan on sharing some of the guidelines with others.

[Dido · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a higher meaning and purpose provides the motivation to stick with what can be a very tough therapy...a missing step in many programs, and a good read from one with personal experience. Recommended.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting information about OCD, with some attention given to this particular author's struggle with, and eventual "handle on" it; many specifics are given re: "strategies". Because he's a good writer, I may read his actual autobiographical take on the subject.

[Todd Mayville · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/1...

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it, but was too anecdotal and specific to Bells specific OCD symptoms.