My recovery from OCD began in 1989 and was entirely accidental-at first. When I wrote this book-a decade later-I looked back to the beginning and the end of my compulsive and self-destructive days. For me, the heart of Compulsive Behavior is a form of Magical Thinking. Through our rituals, we are trying to avoid "something" from happening to our loved ones or to our selves. However, we are blind to the fact that something even worse-has already happened. I realized that I had a choice to make between Freedom and Slavery. These realizations provided much of the strength I needed to face the fear. OCD is founded in Fear. But-not just in fear. This disease contains a great deal of Hope. The extremes to which we are willing to go in our attempts to control the universe through our Magical Rituals-show how much Hope we carry. It is however, completely misplaced. Once you realize this you discover the strength to win-and the proper purpose for all that Hope.