I lived with OCD for nearly sixty years. From childhood tics to compulsions that consumed hours of my day, I believed nothing could truly change. Every attempt to resist only made things worse. Every effort to “outthink” my OCD left me more exhausted. I thought I was destined to live out the rest of my life in that relentless cycle.

Then, at 68 years old, something shifted.

One night, during an especially intense surge of symptoms, I paused and asked myself a simple but profound question: What is actually happening right now? That moment of genuine curiosity changed everything. I noticed a pattern I had been living for decades
without naming:

Urge → the compulsion begins to rise.
Action → I give in to it.
Relief → temporary calm.
Regret → shame, frustration, and despair.

This was the loop, and for the first time, I saw it clearly. Instead of rushing from urge to action, I paused. I labeled the urge for what it was. And to my surprise, I felt relief—not from giving in but from holding back.

That pause became the beginning of the ULR Method™: Urge, Label, Relief. It didn’t erase OCD overnight. But it changed my relationship with it. I was no longer just reacting. I was noticing, naming, and choosing. After six decades of feeling hopeless, I finally experienced control and
genuine relief.

For example, one of my persistent struggles was a vocal tic. Typically, the urge would rise until I felt forced to give in. But when I began practicing ULR, I caught the urge as it surfaced, said the word “Urge” silently to myself, and then waited and observed. The pressure eased, and the relief that followed was stronger than the fleeting comfort I used to get from performing the tic. That moment showed me the method could be applied not just in theory, but in the most stubborn, real-world situations.

And here’s what’s important: the ULR Method™ isn’t just a three-word slogan. In my book, I explain how this process works in daily life in detail. I describe the many forms OCD has taken in my own journey and how ULR can be adapted to fit them—from physical compulsions like hand-washing to hidden mental rituals to tics that seemed impossible to interrupt. I include variations, troubleshooting strategies, and routines that differentiate between progress and setback.

In other words, the book doesn’t just tell the story of how the method came to be—it offers a complete toolbox, including processes, practices, and real-world examples that show how you can apply this deceptively simple idea in many ways across many different OCD struggles.
I share this because I want others to know that it is never too late. Healing is possible. Change can happen at any age. Sometimes, it begins not with resistance or force but with a slight pause and a new perspective.

My book, OCD and the New ULR Method™, shares not only my story, but the detailed steps, variations, and insights that helped me turn the corner. You can explore more at www.AwakenMyPotential.com.

This book is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Results may vary.