Product Description

James Bailey's form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was as bizarre as it was unbearable. He was obsessed by a fear of drugs and their effects, believing himself to be in constant danger of becoming insanely high through people spiking his food, or even by just touching a photograph of a marijuana leaf. The treatment programme he went through at a specialist American clinic was challenging, to say the least. He was asked to shake hands and mingle with the local junkies, fighting his anxieties and the urge to go and wash for as long as possible in order to 'expose' himself to his fears. It is a testimony to Bailey's indomitable spirit that he is now able to see the absurdity of many of the bizarre situations in which he found himself. He invites us to share the joke with him as he harasses fast-food waitresses over whether they've put any drugs in his food and chases joggers down the street to ask them if they think there's something strange about the way he is running. It is this quirky sense of humour combined with his strength of character that helped him to recover and go out to face the world again. "Man, Interrupted" gives us a glimpse into the tortured world of a man suffering from what is an increasingly common disorder. But far from being a doom-laden account of mental illness, the result is uniquely revealing, hilariously entertaining and wonderfully rewarding.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #61721 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
"A very funny, profound, soul-searching account of James's emotional journey . . . the story sits somewhere between "The Catcher in the Rye" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,"" --"Bizarre"

Dailey Telegraph
A vivid memoir Daily Telegraph

About the Author
James Bailey was born in Arkansas City, Kansas. After pursuing an acting career in the early '80s, he discovered that writing was another way to express his pent-up anger and creativity. He was content to leave Hollywood but soon after was struck with a crippling form of OCD. Now recovered, he lives in Louisiana, where he continues to write and act.

Customer Reviews

Interesting but by no means amazing.
The memoir of a man with severe OCD, this book centres on his time at a treatment centre in California. James' OCD is mainly concerned with drugs and the a fear of getting insanely high somehow. He can't even touch pictures relating to drugs & freaks out whenever anyone uses words like "high" or "trip" in a conversation. As a study of OCD it's a worthwhile read, especially as James' case proves that OCD isn't always a fear of germs. The stories of other patients are enlightening too, although often he is less than nice about them, which put me off him. Another side of his character that's less than pleasant is the way he uses women and spends his time obsessing over Asian women especially, earning himself a reputation in the area for being a bit of a perve. He claims this obsession is linked to his OCD but never explains why or even addresses it with his therapists and doctors. On one hand it's nice to read a memoir that isn't entirely self serving, but at times it's hard to have sympathy for the protagonist.

a "must read" book for OCD sufferers and non-sufferers.
This book has you gripped from the start, it is descriptive, facinating and humerous and tells how the author recovered at an American clinic. His fears and obsessions were centered around drugs and their effects, and his treatment was to face his fears without asking for reassurance.

I also have OCD which centres around fears of contamination from germs and a fear of drugs so I really identify with the book, but anyone would enjoy reading this as it is so well written and gives the reader an insight into OCD in a humerous and interesting way.

I found it very theraputic to read because if I was in an OCD spiral of fear I would go and read a bit more of the book and it was so absorbing to read it took my mind off my fears for a while (which is quite an acomplishment as any one who suffers from panic attacks will realise)

I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

everyone must read this book.........
this book is funny, emotional, action filled, and full of energy.It's based on my uncle's life and how he has been suffering from OCD for 20 odd some years, and how he had been treated. Since his arrival back to his home town Lake Charles, LA. He has been living a normal life. The book explains his dissorder's and how he was cured...but most of all it tells his journey through life. Please read this book....I reccomend this book to anybody.