SPOTLIGHT TOUR: A Secret Life: Enduring and Triumphing Over OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by James S. Juliana

Book Description:

Are you one of the millions who reside within a secret life, a life which constantly feels out of your own control: Are you plagued by repetitive thoughts and/or actions which interfere with your daily activities? The author lived for more than 40 years with an undiagnosed form of mental illness, a phobia now known as OCD: obsessive-compulsive disorder. His emotional pain and suffering were at times almost unmanageable. In his mid-sixties, the author, a loving husband, father and accomplished high school teacher and athletic coach, discovered a unique psychologist within the Denver therapeutic community who utilizes a radical but highly successful treatment that’s allowed the author to control his OCD symptoms almost 100%. “A Secret Life” is one of the few books written by an OCD sufferer and descries in detail the pain and chaos living with this illness can cause not just the victim, but those closest to him. This story doesn’t stop there, but provides readers with options and advice dealing with OCD from someone who broke the curse of living a secret life. Now he’s ready to share his story in order to help others.

Jim Juliana was a hard-working family man with a devoted wife and adoring children. As a teacher, he taught numerous subjects over a 28-year career, was an assistant principal/athletic director for three years and mentored generations of youngsters in the classroom and in athletics. Juliana was a coach for forty years at the high school level. Coach Juliana has been a part of two state championship teams, a city championship team and several league title teams. He spent two years as a college instructor and football coach. But Jim Juliana had a secret life, one over which he had no control. For most of his life, he also fought – and eventually defeated – an embarrassing and almost debilitating OCD. OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder that effects three to five million adults in the US each year. OCD involves irrational fears or repeated thoughts or obsessions that drive an individual to engage in repetitive behaviors or compulsions. Jim Juliana’s life was finally changed when he found a therapist whose treatment all but eliminated his OCD incidents. A Secret Life chronicles Juliana’s battle against his OCD and gives readers options and information for treatment based on his experiences.

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Special Q&A by the Author!

What was harder, treating your OCD or writing your book and why?

            Although it may seem unusual, I would say at this point in my life, writing my book has been much more difficult and time-consuming than treating my OCD the past four years. When I began to see Dr. Gallagher four years ago, I was at the bottom of the barrel and willing to attempt just about any alternative to my life with OCD. The Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy which helped me to overcome the OCD symptoms, was relatively simple and painless. However, remembering and reliving the past 55 years of OCD obsessions and compulsions and all of the negative consequences was very difficult, at times, for both Betsy and me to relive.

What makes your book about OCD different from other books on the same topic?

            Throughout my life, dealing with OCD from the age of ten, to the present, I have never read a complete book written by someone suffering from OCD. My book describes in detail my obsessions and compulsions, and how these obsessions and compulsions drastically interfered in my daily life, in my interactions with others and how the OCD negatively affected my career. The goal of my wife and I in writing the book, was to provide for OCD sufferers a real-life example of how a person with OCD can still live a happy and productive life.

How did writing your book in longhand work for you?

            Both of the books I have written and published were originally written in longhand. I was fortunate to have a wife willing to transcribe multiple yellow legal pads into a typed format for my two books. I have always felt more comfortable writing my thoughts down in longhand. Usually my wife Betsy will type out the chapters and I will edit the pages and Betsy will retype my edits several times over until we are satisfied with the contents.

What was the reaction from your friends to the book?

            I recently celebrated my high school 50^th reunion and had an opportunity to spend a week with the majority of my former classmates and teammates, several of whom I have kept in close contact over the years. The majority of them have read the book, and not one ever suspected I had any kind of emotional or mental illness problem. Some were totally blown away because they thought of me as the successful jock who totally had his life together. The consensus from my friends was a sincere thanks for having the courage to write the book.

What is your favorite place to be in the world?

            My favorite location is a beach along any ocean. Preferably in the Virgin Islands or the south Jersey shore.  I thoroughly enjoy the serenity and peacefulness of the waves hitting the sand.