Interview with Vrinda Pendred, Author of Check Mates, the Grounbreaking New OCD Book

It might sound like a surprising thing to say, but Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder affects pretty much everyone. Maybe you have it yourself. Or perhaps your partner has it, or your sibling, or an old childhood friend, or maybe your next-door neighbour. You might not even be aware of it, but the chances are high that you know someone who is obsessive-compulsive.

In recent years, OCD has become more publicly discussed, with celebrities coming forward and admitting they are afflicted by the condition. Yet when David Beckham went public with his diagnosis, much of the world made jokes and laughed. There was little consideration for his lifelong struggle with his own mind, or the difficulties it might pose for his family. There was even less acknowledgment that most people are at least a little obsessive-compulsive themselves.

Despite the growing awareness of such conditions, stereotypes persist…and an inspiring (and inspired) group of writers have boldly decided to do something about that. Together, they have compiled a groundbreaking new book Check Mates: A Collection of Fiction, Poetry and Artwork about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by People with OCD.

Check Mates, edited by Vrinda Pendred, is the first ever collection of fiction, poetry and artwork about OCD, by people with OCD - the real experts on the subject. It also marks the launch of Conditional Publications, the only dedicated publishing house for writers with any kind of neurological condition.

Divided between 'Realism' and the 'Beyond', this book drives the absurdity and horror of OCD straight home. It has been put together by writers and artists from around the world, and showcases a wide range of emotions, from love to hate, joy to rage, fear and sorrow to hope and optimism. There's even a little bit of humour! I think everyone will find something to relate to.

What it doesn't do is shy away from the truth. Every angle is covered, no matter how painful, which makes for a startling and moving read.

If you have OCD, you're going to find yourself in this book and realise you're definitely not alone. If you don't have OCD…you're probably going to find a little of yourself anyway, because that's what this book does: it forces us to look at our own neuroses. I think this book is set to crack wide open a few stereotypes that have been flying around for far too long.

And what makes this book even more special, is that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every single copy of Check Mates will be donated to OCD charities.

Check Mates: A Collection of Fiction, Poetry and Artwork about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by People with OCD is coming to Amazon on 11 May 2010. 

AND... In addition to my gift, there are over 30 other wonderful gifts being offered by mind-body-spirit teachers, authors, coaches and healers from around the planet when you purchase Check Mates on May 11th.

AND... Vrinda Pendred, the editor of Check Mates, is giving away an EXTRA special gift of her own: 'The Passenger', an unpublished short story about Tourette Syndrome.

To find out how you can buy this book on May 11th, claim your free copy of 'The Passenger',
and receive over 30 other gifts, just click HERE

Or copy and paste this link in your browser:
http://conditionalpublications.com/pages/check-mates-launch.html

I hope you will feel inspired by the interview you are about to read. If you do, be sure to sign up for the book launch reminder so you can buy 'Check Mates' and receive over 30 free personal development gifts on May 11,2010. To register, go to: http://conditionalpublications.com/pages/check-mates-launch.html (if you are reading this article after that date, you may buy the book directly from that page).

[Q] How did social media help you not fall into the trap of, or escape, isolationism?

 

[A] I would say that Social Media has not just changed my life, but actually GIVEN me a life.  I moved from Arizona over to England when I was 16 and found it impossible to start over and make friends here.  I am autistic, so approaching people was indescribably difficult for me, and I wound up becoming agoraphobic for a few years.  At one point, I was completely nocturnal and didn't really leave the house for a year.  But what happened was I spent all my time online, chatting to people.  A lot of it was throwaway, but I did make some genuinely amazing friends through it, and that was back when all we had was message boards and chat rooms.  Now, with the Social Media revolution, I have met so many people - many of whom are in the same time zone as me, and I've actually managed to meet them.  When once I knew no one who could relate to the problems I was dealing with, I now have a massive group of friends, all with Tourette Syndrome, who arrange meet-ups so we don't feel so alone.  I came home from one of these meet-ups recently, with a camera full of photographs, and said to my husband, 'I can't believe it.  I just realised I have a huge group of friends again.' I know some people, some of whom wrote for 'Check Mates', who have not been able to leave the house in years.  One of them told me recently she'd never touched a computer before, but now it's transformed everything for her.  I have to say, I can't stand when people live nearby to you and have your phone number but won't talk to you in person because they're too busy on sites like Facebook.  But for people with social anxieties or other disabilities, these things are a Godsend.

 

[Q] How have social media friendships helped you stay connected to society?

 

[A] It's hard enough finding people you relate to closely, without having a neurological condition.  But add those conditions into the equation and you just feel so 'outside' everything, because you think and feel so differently from most people around you.  Going online has widened my search for friends who really 'get me'.  I'm able to go to specific sites, like ocdtribe.com, dedicated to people like myself - I'm now able to create this sort of site, to help others still more.  In fact, 'Check Mates' was born on OCD Tribe.  Today, you no longer have to get a doctor's referral to find emotional support; it's all over the Internet, waiting to help you come out of yourself.

 

[Q] How big a part does social media play in communicating with your friends today?

 

[A] When I moved overseas, the Internet was how I stayed in touch with the friends and extended family I left behind.  In the years since, it has added to that group of friends in a way that actually shocks me!  I am very privileged now to know some incredible people, and without the Internet I would never know they existed.  I think another great thing about social media is that it goes beyond all the usual friendship barriers of age and culture differences.  There are some people I feel quite close to who are twice my age, with a completely different background to me.  But you don't know these things when you chat with someone online; you fall in love with the person inside, and learn all the superficial stuff later.  It's beautiful and affirming, and it plays right into what Conditional Publications is all about: the truth that stereotypes and prejudices are pointless and need to die out once and for all.Be sure to follow Vrinda to her next Virtual Blog Tour stop on Sunday May 9th, hosted by Paula Tarrant at http://inspiredwomenwork.com/



About the Authhor: Vrinda Pendred, of Conditional Publications, has had Tourettes and OCD since she was a very little girl, and as she has grown into adulthood, she has not only become one of the most articulate and knowledgeable experts on the subject of neurological disorders I know, but she is also the most inspiring example of someone who created, not in spite of her challenges, but from her challenges. Her writing is sometimes shocking, always intriguing, and ultimately mind opening. But her outrageously creative mind, which dreamt up the idea to invent a whole publishing company JUST for authors with neurological conditions, sets her apart from any other writer or publisher I know. At age 27 (almost... her birthday is 4 few days before the launch), she is a true role model for all who struggle with disabilities, and I know she is going to make a huge difference on the planet.