Triggered: A Memoir of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Fletcher Wortmann
Dunne, Mar 27 2012, $24.99
ISBN: 978-0312622107
Fletcher Wortmann managed to conceal his undiagnosed (at that time) obsessive-compulsive disorder through his graduation from high school. To do so, he embraced OCD while in the third grade by developing coping mechanisms to hide his condition from his parents, other family, peers and teachers. At Swarthmore, his defense mechanisms began to fail. Mr. Wortmann also found comedy at college, which led to friends for the first time in his life. As his mental equilibrium collapsed from seemingly too much academic and dating pressure, he was admitted to McLean Hospital where Mr. Wortmann was diagnosed with OCD and began therapy.
This is an intriguing memoir that I can relate to having OCD and a family member diagnosed in his twenties with Asperger Syndrome. That late recognition is the key as a child wonders why they are wired differently than others and as a young adult needs to accept you will take OCD to the grave. Although Mr. Wortmann fails to provide enough insight into his wired standard operating procedures that drives a person to do things that seem improbable by the Neurotypical norm, Triggered is a wonderful look at a person accepting and coming to grips with his disorder.
Harriet Klausner
Fletcher Wortmann
Dunne, Mar 27 2012, $24.99
ISBN: 978-0312622107
Fletcher Wortmann managed to conceal his undiagnosed (at that time) obsessive-compulsive disorder through his graduation from high school. To do so, he embraced OCD while in the third grade by developing coping mechanisms to hide his condition from his parents, other family, peers and teachers. At Swarthmore, his defense mechanisms began to fail. Mr. Wortmann also found comedy at college, which led to friends for the first time in his life. As his mental equilibrium collapsed from seemingly too much academic and dating pressure, he was admitted to McLean Hospital where Mr. Wortmann was diagnosed with OCD and began therapy.
This is an intriguing memoir that I can relate to having OCD and a family member diagnosed in his twenties with Asperger Syndrome. That late recognition is the key as a child wonders why they are wired differently than others and as a young adult needs to accept you will take OCD to the grave. Although Mr. Wortmann fails to provide enough insight into his wired standard operating procedures that drives a person to do things that seem improbable by the Neurotypical norm, Triggered is a wonderful look at a person accepting and coming to grips with his disorder.
Harriet Klausner
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