We are accustomed to highly value the human brain, because it is capable of setting large-scale tasks - from building pyramids to landing on the moon - and successfully solving them. However, this same brain sets traps, creating beliefs that torment us. It creates doubts that cause constant worry. And it turns our attention to thoughts that we can’t stop thinking, and we start to feel like we need to do something over and over again to feel relief. The brain can get in the way of making the simplest decision, endlessly presenting different scenarios so that it seems impossible to make the right choice. This is how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) arises. In this book, clinical psychologists Catherine Pittman and William Youngs share their knowledge of the processes that cause obsessive thoughts and actions, and show how to reduce their intensity. They will explain the occurrence of a painful feeling of anxiety and fear, forcing you to constantly perform certain actions in order to feel some kind of relief. And they will help you get out of this vicious circle by suggesting new ways to cope with anxiety. You will master the mechanism of creating new connections in the brain, which will ensure that you can live happily and freely - in accordance with your own goals and values.