Body Punishment: OCD, Addiction, and Finding the Courage to Heal

150 Pages·2015·0.77 MB·English

by  Maggie Lamond Simone

Special Praise for Body Punishment
“Body Punishment has an inviting and comforting way of discussing a
misunderstood and isolating illness. Reading it was like sitting in an overstuffed
couch talking to a best friend. It gives hope to those suffering with OCD but also
those with loved ones with OCD that they can’t ‘understand.’ Wonderful read. I
did not put it down until I read it cover to cover!”
Lisa I. Carroll
Supervising US Probation Officer, Middle District of Louisiana
“Sarcastic, witty, insightful! Maggie Lamond Simone writes with a sincerity that
is endearing and frank, giving a voice to the internal conversations that lead to
silent suffering for many. Body Punishment is an insight into the life and mind of
an innocent being conditioned by OCD—colorful, dramatic, passionate, sharp,
and disruptive at times, though beautiful when seeing it as a whole.”
Kaushal B. Nanavati, MD, FAAFP, ABIHM
Director, Integrative Medicine, Upstate Cancer Center Assistant Professor,
Department of Family Medicine SUNY Upstate Medical University
“Maggie Simone provides a deeply personal account of her experiences with
OCD and addiction. She shows how one can overcome significant psychiatric
challenges while leading a productive, fulfilling life.”
Kevin P. Hill, MD, MHS
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School
“Body Punishment is a deeply personal account of living with OCD. Maggie
recounts her childhood and how undiagnosed OCD impacted her self-esteem and
life experiences. Maggie’s open, honest, and humorous writing style allows the
reader an unusually intimate glimpse into the life of someone living with OCD.
“She chronicles the evolution of addiction from self-medicating to alleviate
symptoms of anxiety to the point where alcohol use takes on a life of its own.
Her life example offers hope, empathy, and a sense of belonging for someone
with OCD.
“Body Punishment is a compelling read and one we will recommend to our
clients.”
Cary Rector, MS, LMHC
Tonja Rector, MA, LMFT
“Body Punishment is remarkably intimate and inspiring. Maggie Lamond
Simone bares her soul in a way that can only be described as beautifully
vulnerable.
“Correlating her experiences in the martial arts with her growing realization
about her mental illness and alcoholism, she brilliantly exposes both as journeys
of insight, healing, and personal growth. This book creates an opening for those
who struggle with any mental affliction; through her courageous self-disclosures,
Simone lets others know they are not alone, that they can be empowered to act,
and, perhaps most importantly, there is no shame in mental illness.”
Dr. William A. Raineri, Orthodontist
Fourth Degree Black Belt

Central Recovery Press (CRP) is committed to publishing exceptional materials addressing addiction
treatment, recovery, and behavioral healthcare topics, including original and quality books, audio/visual
communications, and web-based new media. Through a diverse selection of titles, we seek to contribute a
broad range of unique resources for professionals, recovering individuals and their families, and the general
public.
For more information, visit www.centralrecoverypress.com.
© 2015 by Maggie Lamond Simone All rights reserved. Published 2015.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission
of the publisher.
Publisher:
Central Recovery Press
3321 N. Buffalo Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89129
20 19 18 17 16 15 1 2 3 4 5
ISBN: 978-1-937612-82-5 (e-book) Photo of Maggie Lamond Simone by Katrina Grady Publisher’s Note:
This is a memoir, a work based on fact recorded to the best of the author’s memory. Central Recovery Press
books represent the experiences and opinions of their authors only. Every effort has been made to ensure
that events, institutions, and statistics presented in our books as facts are accurate and up-to-date. To protect
their privacy, the names of some of the people and institutions in this book may have been changed.
This book contains general information about OCD, alcoholism, and suggested treatments. The information
is not medical advice, and should not be treated as such. Central Recovery Press makes no representations
or warranties in relation to the medical information in this book; this book is not an alternative to medical
advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you have any specific questions about
any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you think
you or someone close to you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate
medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue
medical treatment because of information in this or any book.
Cover design, interior design, and layout by Sara Streifel, Think Creative Design
This book is dedicated to my parents, who, with little of the knowledge available
today about what goes on in our heads and why, never lost sight of their love for
us.
I’m hoping one day my children will say the same about me.
CONTENTS
FOREWORD BY KELLY HAMILTON, LMHC, BCC
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
WHITE BELT
CHAPTER TWO
YELLOW BELT
CHAPTER THREE
ORANGE BELT
CHAPTER FOUR
PURPLE BELT
CHAPTER FIVE
BLUE BELT
CHAPTER SIX
GREEN BELT
CHAPTER SEVEN
BROWN BELT
CHAPTER EIGHT
RED BELT
CHAPTER NINE
HIGH RED BELT
CHAPTER TEN
BLACK BELT
EPILOGUE
RESOURCES