Everything Is an Emergency: An OCD Story in Words & Pictures

ISBN: 006295007X

Author: Katzenstein, Jason Adam

Condition: Used

New York Times Book Review Editors' ChoiceA brilliant, honest, necessary book that exposes theintricacies of the human brain while showing us the way creativity andfriendship can anchor us. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever wonderedif they see the world a little differently. -Ada LimónA New Yorker cartoonist illustrates his lifelongstruggle with OCD in cartoon vignettes frank and funnyJason Adam Katzenstein is just trying to live his life, but hekeeps getting sidetracked by his over-active, anxious brain. Mundane eventslike shaking hands or sharing a drink snowball into absolute catastrophes.Jason has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a mental illness that compels him toperform rituals in order to protect himself from dangers that dont reallyexist. He checks, washes, over-thinks, rinse, repeat.He does his best to hide his embarrassing compulsions, andsometimes this even works. He grows up, worries about his first kiss, falls inlove with making cartoons, moves to New York City - which is magical andgross, etc. All the while, half his energy goes into living his life, while theother half is devoted to the increasingly ridiculous rituals hes decided tomaintain to keep himself from fully short-circuiting,Then, he fully short-circuits.At his absolute lowest, Jason finally decides to do the thingshes always been told to do to get better: exposure therapy and medication.These are the things that have always freaked him out, and they continue tofreak him out. Also, they help him recover.Everything is an Emergency is a comic about all the self-destructivestories someone tells himself, over and over, until they start to seem true. Inimages surreal, witty, and confessional, Jason shows us that OCD can be funny,even when it feels like its ruining your life.