Bellwood, OCD and Me

For many individuals – walking out the front door of our home each day is just something we do; driving home from work may just be a 20-minute commute; or talking to a group of individuals is just a casual conversation. But for many others – these daily activities are far from being – just something that we do. For individuals who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), the daily functions of life take on a whole different meaning. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are approximately 2.2 million American adults age 18 and older, or about 1.0 percent of people in this age group in a given year, who have OCD.1 OCD can affect individuals in many different ways. As a service provider to students with disabilities at the post secondary level, I have seen firsthand the struggles an individual may have managing their daily life activities.
This book, Bellwood, OC and Me, written by Neil O’Donnell, is a beautiful, heartfelt account of the struggles an individual with OCD faces on a daily basis. More importantly, this book is a tribute to the strength, faith, and love of an individual to see that life with OCD is a journey to find acceptance and balance. Bellwood to many individuals who lived on the street, is just that, a name. But to the author it was so much more ¬ — it was a sanctuary of peace, family, and calmness. As I turn the pages of this book, I could feel the provoking emotions in each word and experience the strength of this individual’s journey with OCD. Please take the time to walk this journey and see life through the eyes of an individual with OCD – it will open you to a new world of hope and grace.
– Anne Marie Dobies