Imagine being unable to leave the house without first checking the stove, the faucets, the lock on the door ten, fifty, one hundred fifty times. Even performing the simplest daily routines can be a source of considerable fear and anxiety for someone suffering from the most often seen form of obsessive-complusive disorder, checking. These individuals engage in these kinds of behaviors to avoid some perceived danger, the looming consequence they fear if they don't check and recheck and check again the objects of their obsession. Even though the effects of checking are dramatic, research suggests that behavior therapy and medications can enable 80 percent of checking sufferers to significantly reduce or eliminate their symptoms.

While many books offer generic strategies for treating the whole spectrum of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, this is the first book to apply the proven-effective techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy specifically to overcome checking. Its engaging exercises teach you to identify your specific ritualistic compulsion, and then help you build skills to free yourself from obsession. The book helps you confront your fears and experiment with safe, controlled exposure to situations youive been avoiding. Chapters further help you to troubleshoot particularly difficult situations and educate family members and loved ones

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