The Imp of the Mind: Exploring the Silent Epidemic of Obsessive Bad Thoughts

I have struggled with bad thoughts in the past, but only recently did they become obsessive. My husband mentioned my distress to his own psychiatrist, and because she knows that I love to read, she recommended this book. Now, I’m not normally one who consumes non-fiction, but this book has the potential to be life changing for anyone who is struggling with obsessive bad thoughts that are violent, sexual, or blasphemous in nature. As the subtitle (“Exploring the Silent Epidemic of Obsessive Bad Thoughts”) suggests, the battle with obsessive bad thoughts is often silent and can feel hopeless. This book gave me hope that will help me continue my battle.

Good, informative book. One of the best books that I’ve read for OCD. Makes you feel normal and not alone for having “bad” thoughts from time to time. Highly recommend.

Someone rated this book 1 out of 5. They said that if you have OCD this book might "scare" you a bit. I have to agree. When you suffer from OCD the last thing you need are more things to worry about, which this book does present. However, it has been incredibly helpful and insightful. I personally preferred "Tormenting Thoughts and Secret Rituals" by Ian Osborn, but "The Imp of the Mind" has a lot to offer. I think the steps the author outlines for treating your OCD symptoms are presented very well. They present a great guide for working through this yourself and it is worth owning and reading without a doubt.

For years I'd been told to read The Imp of the Mind. I'm a psychologist who specializes in treating OCD so I'm always looking to deepen my own knowledge and provide good resources for the people I work with. My only regret is that I didn't read it sooner. Dr. Baer does an excellent job of clearly explaining unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions), normalizes their existence, provides tremendous empathy for those who struggle with them, and describing how appropriate treatment can provide a path to recovery. Definitely a must read book for anyone who wants to understand obsessive bad thoughts.

Lee Baer hits the nail on the head with this book. It's so hard explaining to people about this disease. They automatically assume that OCD is a perfectionist disease, characterized by order and incessant hand-washing. It is, in fact, so much deeper than that. The thoughts that prompt the compulsions are the real culprits. For someone with OCD, all it takes is one fleeting disturbing thought. Like fuel to the flame, the cause and effect scenarios ensue. The merciless rumination of one solitary thought augmented by irrationality. Temporary relief is only found by a fruitless compulsion, hand-washing, checking, avoidance, etc. It is a vicious cycle and a daily struggle for those afflicted. Everyone should read this book to gain better perspective.

A beginners guide for ERP tailored for OCD of the purely obsessional type. The author's writing style may strike you as too familiar, as if trying to make sure you do get the point that (1) you are not a freak or a "bad person" for having these horrible thoughts all day long, that everyone has them, the only difference apparently being that normal people don't think too much about them. (2) you must never try to suppress them, just become habituated to them until they stop disturbing you, so as to reach peace of mind. As to why do these thoughts appear, there is simply no answer (yet?).

When my daughter was 11, she suddenly started having bad thoughts. There was no warning, nothing. Overnight, she went from bubbly and full of life, to withdrawn and timid. After a little research, I realized that she was suffering from OCD intrusive thoughts. She didn't want to go to therapy of any sort. I didn't want her medicated. I bought this book to try and help me understand what she was going through. It did much more than that! I've read some of the bad reviews and it seems like the reviewers were looking for a "feel good" book. This book is not going to make you feel good. The techniques are no fun and can take hours a day to implement successfully. But after three months of using the techniques in this book my daughter was cured, back to her normal bubbly self. She's now 16 and thriving. This book will help you understand what's going on with the intrusive thoughts; and if you are serious about getting well this book will help, but you may need someone else to assist with implementing the techniques.

Well written and easily read. A very important work that will benefit those who read it! Thank you Dr. Baer!

As a sufferer of this condition desperately seeking a way out, this book has given me great hope and relief. Baer s friendly and humorous style of writing helps suffers such as myself not only to understand their condition but also remove the stigma and guilt associated with it, helping the sufferer to realise that the way they feel is an understandable and commonly experienced aspect of the human condition rather than an illness or disease. Methods for overcoming the problem are given and carefully explained. Thoroughly recommend.

Brilliant book

Good book for OCD patients but for my case too much about thoughts I can't relate to like killing your infant or religious things. If this is your problem, I guess it's a good book. Not for me

Good read

Completely satisfied by the contents of the book. Though there was a slight delay in delivering the item, I was informed by the concerned that since the book was being imported, the same had to under go customs clearance in India, and hence the delay, which was reasonable.