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A review by neenor
Pure by Rose Cartwright
5.0
Four stars for the book itself, five stars because of what it means.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and I’ve had it since I was 10 years old. In some ways I’m lucky, because I got diagnosed and treated early, and a lot of my obsessions and compulsions are the ones commonly talked about (contamination, checking, etc.). Obsessions that aren’t so well known are the intrusive thoughts, which can often be of a violent, harmful, or sexual nature. Having these thoughts doesn’t make the person dangerous - it’s just excessive doubt and fear of the worst, which obviously causes great anxiety. Because these topics are perceived as taboo, people don’t really talk about them - and that means that when someone with OCD gets these thoughts, they don’t want to tell anyone for fear that they will be labelled as violent or a pervert or a paedophile (which they are not). Treatment is widely available and can be really helpful, but because of these fears individuals will avoid seeking help, leading to obsessions and compulsions getting worse and their quality of life rapidly deteriorating.
This needs to stop, and Pure is a step towards that change. Rose is so open about her experiences with ‘Pure O’ (OCD that commonly manifests with intrusive thoughts and mental compulsions, making it seem as if the person isn’t doing compulsions when they actually are), and I think it is fantastic that Channel 4 are turning it into a series. This message needs to get out there, and I really hope that as more people learn about this story, there will be greater awareness and acceptance of OCD, leading more individuals feeling able to safely seek help.
I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and I’ve had it since I was 10 years old. In some ways I’m lucky, because I got diagnosed and treated early, and a lot of my obsessions and compulsions are the ones commonly talked about (contamination, checking, etc.). Obsessions that aren’t so well known are the intrusive thoughts, which can often be of a violent, harmful, or sexual nature. Having these thoughts doesn’t make the person dangerous - it’s just excessive doubt and fear of the worst, which obviously causes great anxiety. Because these topics are perceived as taboo, people don’t really talk about them - and that means that when someone with OCD gets these thoughts, they don’t want to tell anyone for fear that they will be labelled as violent or a pervert or a paedophile (which they are not). Treatment is widely available and can be really helpful, but because of these fears individuals will avoid seeking help, leading to obsessions and compulsions getting worse and their quality of life rapidly deteriorating.
This needs to stop, and Pure is a step towards that change. Rose is so open about her experiences with ‘Pure O’ (OCD that commonly manifests with intrusive thoughts and mental compulsions, making it seem as if the person isn’t doing compulsions when they actually are), and I think it is fantastic that Channel 4 are turning it into a series. This message needs to get out there, and I really hope that as more people learn about this story, there will be greater awareness and acceptance of OCD, leading more individuals feeling able to safely seek help.