Emily Colas

Emily Colas is an American author best known for her 1998 memoir "Just Checking: Scenes From the Life of an Obsessive-Compulsive," which chronicles her experiences living with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Her memoir details her struggles with intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and the impact of OCD on her daily life, marriage, and role as a mother. The book is written in a series of vignettes that capture both the anxiety and dark humor of living with mental illness. Though "Just Checking" remains her only published book, it received significant attention for its raw, honest portrayal of OCD at a time when public discussion of mental health was less common. The work has been noted for avoiding clinical terminology in favor of personal narrative. Colas's writing style is marked by its fragmentary structure and direct approach to difficult subject matter. Her memoir continues to be referenced in discussions of OCD literature and mental health narratives.

Readers connect with Colas's direct, honest portrayal of living with OCD in "Just Checking." Many appreciate her short, fragmented writing style that mirrors the scattered thoughts of anxiety. Readers liked: - Raw, unfiltered descriptions of OCD symptoms - Dark humor throughout difficult subject matter - Brief vignettes that make heavy content digestible - Personal rather than clinical perspective on mental illness Readers disliked: - Abrupt ending that feels unresolved - Lack of chronological structure - Some found the writing style too choppy - Limited exploration of recovery process On Goodreads, "Just Checking" maintains a 3.7/5 rating from over 1,600 reviews. Amazon reviews average 4.2/5 stars across 90+ ratings. One reader noted: "Her matter-of-fact tone about irrational fears made me feel less alone." Another criticized: "The fragmentary format left me wanting more context and resolution." The memoir remains Colas's only published work, though readers frequently request a follow-up about her continued OCD journey.

Just Checking: Scenes From the Life of an Obsessive-Compulsive (1998) A memoir told through interconnected vignettes that chronicles the author's experiences with severe OCD, detailing her struggles with intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, marriage, and motherhood.

David Adam His memoir "The Man Who Couldn't Stop" chronicles his personal experience with OCD while weaving in scientific research and historical context. His exploration of intrusive thoughts parallels Colas's frank discussion of mental health struggles through a first-person lens.

Elizabeth Wurtzel Her memoir "Prozac Nation" details her experience with depression with the same unflinching examination of mental illness that Colas brings to OCD. She uses a similar confessional style and fragmentary structure to convey her psychological journey.

Kay Redfield Jamison In "An Unquiet Mind," she combines her professional knowledge as a psychiatrist with her personal experience of bipolar disorder. Her blend of medical insight and raw personal narrative mirrors Colas's approach to making mental illness comprehensible to readers.

Susanna Kaysen "Girl, Interrupted" presents her psychiatric hospitalization through a series of nonlinear vignettes that echo Colas's structural approach. Her examination of mental health treatment and institutional life shares the same direct, observational quality.

Fletcher Wortmann His book "Triggered: A Memoir of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder" chronicles his specific experience with Pure-O OCD. His focus on the lesser-known aspects of OCD matches Colas's mission to illuminate the daily reality of living with the condition.