Jonathan Grayson - Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Personalized Recovery Program for Living with Uncertainty

I am where I am today because of the contributions and efforts of many people. As one might expect, I have to start with my mother and father, Hal and Helen Grayson, who gave me the confidence to try anything, the courage to fail, and the humor to appreciate it all. Thanks to Tom Borkovec, my mentor in graduate school, whose wisdom, friendship, and curiosity about everything sharpened my thinking and whose extreme patience taught me to write, thus making this endeavor possible. To Edna Foa, whose work with OCD is still the cornerstone and core of our treatment. To Gayle Frankel, the members of GOAL, and everyone I have worked with, this is for you (Im sorry there isnt enough space to name all of you): There is no way to measure what I have learned about life from witnessing the courage you have displayed in your quest for freedom. To my peers at my former center, the Anxiety and Agoraphobia Treatment Center, and my current center, the Anxiety and OCD Treatment Center of Philadelphia: Joanne Dobrowski, B. J. Foster, Lori Kasmen, Harold Kirby, Leslie Lenox, Kathy Rupertus, David Raush, Georgia Sloane, Linda Welsh, Lee Fitzgibbons, Karen Landsman, and Tejal Jakatdar; you are my second family, providing support and stimulation, never letting me get away with anything (well, not too much), and, in the words of Leslie, making work a fun place. I also have to thank my longtime colleagues and friends, Charles Mansueto and Alec Pollard. Its as if we were there at the beginning and I cant thank you enough for all of the inspiration, discussion, and unrestrained fun.

I also want to thank my agent, Jessica Lichtenstein. She found me and made this book possible. Her optimism and energy were a constant source of support. I can think of few tasks more painful than editing an authors first book. With the patience of a saint, Wendy Hubbert at Tarcher guided me through this ordeal, and my gratitude to her knows no bounds.

And, most of all, my family. My son, Josh, whose life has filled me with more love than I would have believed possible. Thank you for so cheerfully allowing me to make the vignettes of your trials and tribulations part of my clinical repertoire. To his wife, Jane, for completing his life and ours. I want to thank you in advance for your life stories that will undoubtedly become part of my clinical repertoire. Finally, to my wife, friend, and lifelong partner, Cathyeverything is from you and for you. What a long, strange trip it has been! For more than forty years, I have shared everything with you, and still you are the endless source of all that I could ever want: a dream come true. Without your patience, sacrifice, support, and help during this endeavor, this book wouldnt be.