Needing to Know for Sure

A book review of Needing to Know for Sure: a CBT-Based Guide to Overcoming Compulsive Checking & Reassurance Seeking by Martin N. Seif, PhD and Sally M. Winston, PsyD

Stars: *****

New Harbinger Publications (2019)
Mental Health
182 pages

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: “How do I know I made the right decision?” “What if I’m wrong?” “I need to know for sure.”

Do you have thoughts like these—thoughts that cause you to second-guess yourself, and lead to anxiety, stress, and worry? Do you find yourself repeatedly checking your email for no reason, asking others for their opinions about something again and again, or lying awake at night overanalyzing and planning ahead in an attempt to feel less anxious? If so, you probably have a problem with compulsive reassurance seeking. The good news is that you can break free from this “reassurance trap”—this book will show you how.

In this unique guide, you’ll find proven-effective tips and tools using CBT to help you tolerate uncertainty, face specific worrying scenarios, and gradually reduce the compulsion to incessantly seek reassurance. Most importantly, you’ll learn to deal with those pesky “doubt attacks” and trust your own judgment.

Asking for reassurance is a self-reinforcing behavior—if you do it, you’re less likely to handle stressful situations without needing further reassurance. And so the cycle continues. The CBT skills in this book will help you break this exhausting and painful pattern, so you can build self-confidence and improve your life.

Needing to Know For Sure

Whether you have a diagnosis of OCD or you just have some obsessive or compulsive tendencies you will find this book helpful. The book is designed to help you overcome compulsive checking & reassurance seeking.

Not sure this book is for you? Do you worry that you did something wrong when there is no proof that you did? Do you doubt every decision you make or have an excessively hard time making decisions without knowing things for SURE? Are you worried you might be having inappropriate feelings toward someone?

The chapters include: The Limits of Reassurance, How Voices of the Mind Can Set and Release the Trap, Recognizing Your Trap, Are You Sure? The Psychology and Biology of Uncertainty, Therapeutic Surrender: Four Mindful Steps for Escaping the Reassurance Trap, Breaking the Bonds of Compulsive Reassurance Seeking, Addressing Obstacles to Recovery and The Benefits of Tolerating Uncertainty: Living in a World of Maybe and Good Enough.

This would be a good book for anyone struggling with these symptoms. Very well written and helpful.

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