Determined to find answers, the family embarks on a difficult journey through psychiatrists, therapists, medications, hospitals, setbacks, and moments of hope. Their search for recovery takes them across cities and through some of the most challenging periods of their lives.

• Will treatment help?
• Can a marriage survive when mental illness becomes the centre of family life?
• How much can a family endure before it begins to break?

Ctrl Alt Repeat is the true story of one family’s struggle to reclaim a life hijacked by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Honest, emotional, and deeply personal, it offers a rare glimpse into the realities of severe OCD—not only for the person suffering from it, but also for the spouse, child, and family members who live alongside it every day. Through heartbreak, frustration, resilience, humour, setbacks, and hope, this memoir explores what happens behind closed doors when mental illness becomes part of everyday life. At its heart, Ctrl Alt Repeat is a story about love, endurance, and the determination to keep moving forward when life seems stuck on repeat.

Inside the Book

Excerpt 1: The Day Everything Changed

A cocktail of unwanted emotions was searing through me like sharp, tiny bullets. Horror – upon seeing my wife bested by such insignificance. Confusion – at the apparent absurdity of it all. Apprehension – would the fabric that held us together start crumbling?

I still couldn’t believe it.

Two ants! Two ants?

…

After that first tete-a-tete with this truckload of panic caused by two insignificant ants, I knew. Without a shadow of doubt, I knew that Sonal was not merely averse to ants as I had been thinking. I knew that it was no ordinary fixation.

It hit me hard to admit to myself that she was mentally unwell. Seriously, mentally unwell.

Excerpt 2: Caught in the Crossfire

Sonal felt enslaved by her OCD, and I felt enslaved by Sonal. My selfishness was making me blind to the extent of her suffering. Sure, I was there with her making sacrifices and wanting her to get well. But I did not understand the quantum of her suffering well enough.

I chose to dwell on the feeling of being enslaved.

I only shudder to think what Shlok was going through, caught in the crossfire, as he was then.

Excerpt 3: A Glimpse of Hope

Wonder of wonders! My gritty and unpredictable wife surprised me yet again. She resolutely said she would make do.

I was so proud of her.

…

Not once did she let anyone know how much being there was troubling her. Not one errant squeak. She put on a brave face and made a supreme effort to enjoy with us as much as her dastardly OCD would allow her to.

Why Readers Connect With This Book

Unlike most books about OCD, Ctrl Alt Repeat is not a clinical guide or a treatment manual. It is a lived experience. Readers witness OCD not through diagnostic labels and textbook definitions, but through the eyes of a husband trying to understand what is happening to his wife, a child trying to navigate a world that suddenly makes less sense, and a family searching desperately for answers.

The book explores:

• The hidden impact of OCD on spouses and caregivers
• How mental illness affects marriages and family relationships
• The emotional cost of long-term caregiving
• The challenges of finding effective treatment
• The realities of hope, setbacks, frustration, and recovery
• The resilience required to keep moving forward when progress feels painfully slow

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a self-help book?

No. Ctrl Alt Repeat is a memoir based on the author’s family’s real experiences with OCD. While readers may gain insights into the disorder and recovery, the primary focus of the book is telling a true story.

Is the story based on real events?

Yes. The book is based on the author’s family’s real-life experiences living with severe OCD and navigating the challenges that followed.

Do I need to know about OCD before reading this book?

No. The story is written for a general audience and can be appreciated by anyone interested in memoirs, family relationships, mental health, or stories of resilience.

Who should read this book?

This book may resonate with:

• Individuals living with OCD
• Spouses and partners of people with OCD
• Family members supporting a loved one with mental illness
• Mental health professionals and students
• Caregivers
• Readers who enjoy true stories and memoirs

What makes this book different from other books on OCD?

Most books on OCD focus on symptoms, diagnosis, or treatment. Ctrl Alt Repeat focuses on the human experience behind the disorder and the effect it can have on an entire family.

Is the book only about OCD?

No. While OCD is central to the story, the book is also about marriage, parenting, caregiving, resilience, hope, frustration, sacrifice, and the strength required to rebuild life when circumstances seem overwhelming.

Does the book offer hope?

Yes. The book presents an honest account of recovery, including setbacks, uncertainty, and difficult moments. It is ultimately a story about perseverance and the possibility of rebuilding a meaningful life despite adversity.

A Note From the Author

When OCD entered our lives, it affected far more than one individual. It changed our routines, our relationships, our parenting, our plans, and our understanding of what it means to care for someone through illness.

I wrote this book because most conversations about OCD focus on symptoms and treatment. Very few talk about what happens behind closed doors to the families living with it every day. This is our story. The mistakes we made. The lessons we learned. The setbacks we endured. The hope we discovered.

If it helps even one person with OCD—or one family supporting a loved one with OCD—feel a little less alone, it will have served its purpose.

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