Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The OCD Whisperer Podcast with Kristina Orlova
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 206. Why You Can't Stop Overthinking Every Decision (Optimization OCD) | 31 Oct 2026 | 00:10:05 | |
Why does looking for the best option leave you more stuck than when you started?
In this solo episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova, LMFT, an OCD and anxiety specialist, breaks down what people are calling optimization OCD: when a choice can't be just good enough, it has to be the best. If you're overthinking every decision, rechecking choices you've already made, or stuck in decision paralysis, this episode explains why the checking keeps going and what to practice instead.
This episode dives into: • Why optimization OCD isn't an official diagnosis, and where the term came from (OCD therapist Shala Nicely) • Why it's usually not fear of a mistake, but "What if there's a better option I haven't found yet?" • What it can look like: a trip, a $20 purchase, your breakfast, your routine, your whole Saturday • Compulsions that look reasonable: researching, comparing, ranking, spreadsheets, and asking for reassurance • How to tell the difference between being thorough and being stuck • Why checking makes you less sure, not more (the 2003 virtual gas stove study) • Why the list of things you need to be sure about gets longer, not shorter • What research on "maximizers" says about regret, happiness, and OCD tendencies • Why the best choice usually can't be known ahead of time, and why relief never lasts • 3 things to practice: notice the "one more," choose good enough on purpose, and let it stay decided • What progress looks like, and when to reach out to a clinician trained in OCD and ERP
Whether you're struggling with perfectionism, overthinking, reassurance seeking, or decision paralysis, this episode offers a practical way to make a choice and let it be good enough.
Good enough isn't giving up on your life. A lot of the time, it's how you get it back.
🔎 Find an OCD specialist (IOCDF Resource Directory): https://iocdf.org/find-help/ 🎧 Listen next: Episode 202, "Why OCD Makes You Think Your Thoughts Mean Something" → https://ocdwhisperer.podbean.com/e/202-why-ocd-makes-you-think-your-thoughts-mean-something/ 💬 Tell me in the comments: what do you get stuck optimizing?
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Why Can't You Stop Looking for a Better Option? [01:11] – What Is Optimization OCD? [01:56] – Is It Fear of a Mistake, or Fear of Missing the Best? [02:12] – What Can Optimization OCD Look Like? [02:58] – What Do Optimization OCD Compulsions Look Like? [03:36] – Are You Being Thorough or Stuck? [04:23] – Why Does Checking Make You Less Sure? [05:36] – What Does Research Say About Maximizers? [06:16] – Why Can't You Know the Best Choice Ahead of Time? [06:56] – Step 1: How Do You Notice the "One More"? [07:18] – Step 2: How Do You Choose Good Enough on Purpose? [07:54] – Step 3: How Do You Let a Decision Stay Decided? [08:32] – What Does Progress Look Like? [08:52] – When Should You Get Help From an OCD Specialist?
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
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© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 205. Why You Can't Stop Your Intrusive Thoughts | 24 Oct 2026 | 00:31:34 | |
Why does trying harder to stop an intrusive thought only make it louder?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Reid Wilson, director of the Anxiety Disorders Treatment Center in Chapel Hill, NC, and author of the new book Quiet Your OCD Brain. Together, they explore why fighting intrusive thoughts keeps OCD going, and why recovery is about working smarter, not harder.
This conversation dives into: • How Dr. Wilson started treating anxiety and OCD • Why you can know a thought is irrational and still not be able to stop thinking about it • Why OCD works from the “top down” and doesn’t care which topic it picks • The question to ask when a thought grabs you: “Do I want this, or am I being told to do this?” • Why awareness alone isn’t enough, and what your counter-move should be • What to do when relationship, harm, or morality fears feel real and personal • What to do in the moment when you’re replaying a conversation in your head • What it means to treat a worry “as nothing,” even when it doesn’t feel like nothing • Why your amygdala won’t simply believe “it’s nothing,” and why repetition matters • How postponing your worry for a few hours turns into practice, and sometimes into forgetting about it • How metacognitive therapy, ERP, and CBT differ, and why Dr. Wilson says all therapy is exposure
Whether you’re struggling with intrusive thoughts, rumination, relationship OCD, harm OCD, or scrupulosity, this episode offers a practical way to stop fighting the content of your thoughts and start changing how you respond. You don’t have to work harder at it. You just have to work a little smarter.
📲 About Dr. Reid Wilson (guest): • Author, Quiet Your OCD Brain: A Game-Changing Metacognitive Workbook to Defeat Obsessions & Compulsions • Webpage: https://anxieties.com/ • Facebook: www.facebook.com/anxietiesdotcom • Instagram: www.instagram.com/rreidwilson/ • YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCy8zkj7l_XADYW3pKumSuvA • Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1648486800
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Why Can't You Stop Your Intrusive Thoughts? [00:40] – How Did Dr. Reid Wilson Start Treating Anxiety and OCD? [05:04] – Why Does Fighting Intrusive Thoughts Make OCD Worse? [06:12] – Why Doesn't OCD Care What Topic It Picks? [08:11] – Do I Want This, or Am I Being Told to Do This? [10:32] – Why Isn't Awareness Enough to Break the OCD Cycle? [11:10] – What Is Your Counter-Move When OCD Shows Up? [12:51] – What If Your Intrusive Thoughts Feel Real and Personal? [15:31] – How Do You Stop Replaying a Conversation in Your Head? [16:49] – Why Treat the Worry as Nothing? [20:36] – Why Does OCD Recovery Take So Much Repetition? [22:43] – How Does Postponing Your Worry Help With OCD? [24:52] – Metacognitive Therapy vs. ERP vs. CBT: What's the Difference? [29:16] – Where to Find Dr. Wilson and His New OCD Workbook
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
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© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 204. Why You Have to Stop Checking Your OCD Thoughts | 17 Oct 2026 | 00:10:20 | |
Why do you know it's just a thought, but still feel the need to check what it means?
In this episode, Kristina explores: • Why OCD can make an intrusive thought feel urgent, real, and impossible to ignore • How repeatedly checking your thoughts, feelings, and memories can become a mental compulsion • Why you might feel better after checking, only to find yourself questioning everything again • How OCD turns an ordinary doubt into something you feel you must resolve before moving on • Why rereading messages, reviewing conversations, and checking your reactions can keep the OCD cycle going • How sexual intrusive thoughts can lead to mentally testing your feelings and reactions • Why trying to prove what a thought means can keep you trapped in a cycle of doubt • How to recognize mental compulsions that may be happening without you even realizing it • What response prevention looks like in everyday situations, including leaving a message alone while uncertainty remains • Why having a thought is different from actively analyzing and investigating it • How repeatedly searching online, replaying information, or asking AI for reassurance can become part of the OCD cycle • How to return to everyday activities without first needing to feel completely certain or make an intrusive thought disappear • Why progress can mean spending less time checking, even when uncomfortable thoughts are still present
If OCD keeps convincing you that you need to check one more time, replay a memory, test your feelings, or find the perfect explanation before you can move on, this episode can help you recognize the pattern and understand how to start responding differently. You don't have to make a thought disappear before you return to your life.
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Why Does an OCD Thought Feel So Real? [02:57] – How to Respond When You Doubt Something You Said or Did [03:32] – Sexual Intrusive Thoughts: Why You Keep Checking Your Reactions [04:53] – Three Steps to Practice OCD Response Prevention [06:02] – How to Let an Intrusive Thought Be There Without Engaging With It [06:47] – Why You Don't Have to Make a Thought Disappear [07:45] – When Searching Online or Asking AI Becomes Reassurance Seeking [08:44] – How to Recognize Progress in OCD Recovery [09:35] – When to Seek Professional Help for OCD Checking
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
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© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 203. Why OCD Makes You Think You Need to Figure It Out | 03 Oct 2026 | 00:23:39 | |
What if the thing you think is helping your OCD is actually making it stronger?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Connor Stout, who was diagnosed with OCD at age 10 and now uses his lived experience to help others navigate OCD and mental health challenges.
In this episode, Connor opens up about: • Why asking for help felt like a sign of weakness • How stigma around men and vulnerability affected his willingness to speak up • Why he sometimes believed talking about his OCD thoughts could make them come true • What it was like carrying OCD and difficult emotions silently for months • How staying silent actually made his OCD and depressive feelings stronger • How his OCD changed from visible compulsions into mental compulsions and rumination • Why rumination can feel like you're genuinely solving a problem • How rumination can provide short-term relief while making OCD stronger in the long run • Why it's sometimes difficult to tell “Is this OCD or is this me?” • How learning to identify and label rumination helped Connor recognize the OCD cycle • Why falling back into rumination doesn't mean you've lost your recovery progress • How knowledge and awareness helped him recognize his mental compulsions
Whether you're struggling with OCD, intrusive thoughts, rumination, anxiety, or asking for help, Connor's story is a reminder that you don't have to figure everything out alone. Sometimes the first step isn't solving the thought. It's recognizing what your brain is doing... and letting someone else into the conversation.
📲 About Connor Stout (guest): • Mental Health Advocate • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stillgood_wellness/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Connor’s OCD Story: Why Asking for Help Was So Difficult [03:15] – Why Did He Think Talking About OCD Could Make His Thoughts Come True? [04:47] – How Social Expectations Around Men Can Make It Hard to Ask for Help [06:15] – What Is the Cost of Staying Silent About OCD? [08:27] – What Does Rumination Actually Feel Like? [10:37] – Why Does Rumination Feel Like Problem-Solving? [12:10] – Why Does Rumination Give Short-Term Relief but Make OCD Worse? [13:41] – How Can You Start Stepping Away From OCD Rumination? [15:29] – What Would Connor Tell His Younger Self About OCD? [17:13] – What Should Men Hear If They’re Struggling but Afraid to Ask for Help? [18:17] – Why Opening Up Can Help You Realize You’re Not Alone [19:32] – Why You Should Check In on the People You Love [21:02] – Where to Find Connor and Learn More About His OCD Journey
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
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© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 202. Why OCD Makes You Think Your Thoughts Mean Something | 26 Sep 2026 | 00:08:55 | |
What if your OCD thoughts actually mean something about who you are?
In this episode, Kristina explores: • Why OCD can make an intrusive thought feel like evidence • Why feeling convinced does not mean something is true • How anxiety, urgency, discomfort, doubt, and conviction can all feel incredibly convincing • Why mentally analyzing a thought can become a compulsion • How OCD turns ordinary thoughts into something that feels like a problem you must solve • Why trying to prove whether a thought is true or false can keep the OCD cycle going • The difference between having a thought and treating that thought as a message • Why some thoughts suddenly feel more important than thousands of other thoughts you have every day • How to start focusing on the OCD process instead of endlessly debating the content of the thought • Why recovery involves learning not to measure reality by how convinced you feel
If OCD keeps convincing you that you need to understand, analyze, prove, or decode a thought before you can move on, this conversation may help you recognize what is actually keeping the cycle alive.
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – What If My OCD Thoughts Actually Mean Something About Me? [01:38] – Why Does OCD Make Certain Thoughts Feel So Important and Meaningful? [03:00] – Why Can an OCD Thought Feel Completely True When It Isn’t? [04:06] – Why Does Feeling Convincing Become “Evidence” in OCD? [04:37] – How Does Trying to Figure Out a Thought Keep OCD Going? [06:08] – Why Does OCD Make You Treat One Thought Differently From Everything Else? [07:07] – What Question Should You Ask Instead of “What If This Thought Means Something?” [07:52] – How Do You Stop Treating Every Disturbing Thought Like a Message?
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords OCD thoughts, intrusive thoughts OCD, OCD intrusive thoughts, what if thoughts OCD, OCD thoughts meaning, why OCD thoughts feel real, OCD rumination, OCD compulsions, OCD reassurance seeking, OCD anxiety, obsessive thoughts, unwanted thoughts, disturbing thoughts OCD, how to stop analyzing thoughts, OCD overthinking, OCD thought loops, OCD recovery, ERP therapy, exposure response prevention, OCD treatment, trusting yourself with OCD, uncertainty OCD, OCD mental compulsions, mental compulsions, OCD self doubt, OCD false beliefs, OCD thought meaning, OCD specialist, OCD Whisperer
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 201. Why You Can’t Stop Comparing Yourself to Your Partner’s Ex (OCD) | 19 Sep 2026 | 00:36:21 | |
Can’t stop thinking about your partner’s ex? You might be caught in the OCD cycle of retroactive jealousy.
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Danielle Jhiani of My OCD Coach, an anxiety and OCD recovery coach with lived experience of OCD. Together, they explore retroactive jealousy, relationship OCD, intrusive thoughts, compulsive reassurance seeking, and the exhausting search for certainty about a partner’s past.
Danielle opens up about: • Her own experience with OCD across multiple different themes and how that led her to become an OCD recovery coach • Why the brain can become obsessed with a partner’s past relationships, exes, sexual experiences, appearance, and history • The hidden compulsions that can keep retroactive jealousy and relationship OCD going • How learning to recognize and stop compulsions became an important part of her own recovery
Whether you’re struggling with retroactive jealousy, relationship OCD, intrusive thoughts about your partner’s past, reassurance seeking, or obsessive comparison, this episode offers practical insight into recognizing the cycle, responding differently to uncertainty, and building a healthier relationship with your thoughts.
📲 About Danielle Jhiani (guest): • OCD and anxiety recovery coach • Webpage: https://www.myocdcoach.com/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my_ocd_coach/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – What Is Retroactive Jealousy and Why Does the Mind Get Stuck on a Partner’s Past? [04:02] – What Are the Most Common Obsessions in Retroactive Jealousy? [06:19] – What Compulsions Keep Retroactive Jealousy and Relationship OCD Going? [10:17] – Why Do We Analyze Our Partner’s Reactions and Responses? [11:28] – Why Doesn’t Getting One More Detail Ever Give You Enough Certainty? [13:24] – What’s the Difference Between Healthy Curiosity and Retroactive Jealousy? [15:55] – What Should You Do When Intrusive Thoughts or Images About Your Partner’s Ex Won’t Go Away? [19:12] – How Do You Get Unstuck When OCD Keeps Replaying Your Partner’s Past? [22:26] – What Does Recovery From Retroactive Jealousy Actually Look Like? [25:18] – Why Did Danielle Choose OCD Coaching Instead of Becoming a Therapist? [28:20] – How Can Tracking Compulsions Help With OCD Recovery? [29:52] – How Can You Recognize When OCD Is Starting to Creep Back In? [32:37] – Why Can Lived Experience Help Someone Understand OCD Compulsions? [33:36] – What Should You Look For in an OCD Therapist or Coach? [35:31] – Why Becoming an Informed Consumer Matters in OCD Treatment?
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords retroactive jealousy OCD retroactive jealousy retroactive jealousy and OCD relationship OCD ROCD OCD about partner’s past OCD and jealousy intrusive thoughts about partner’s ex obsessive thoughts about partner’s past partner’s past OCD relationship anxiety reassurance seeking OCD OCD compulsions OCD rumination mental compulsions ERP for relationship OCD ERP for retroactive jealousy OCD recovery overcoming retroactive jealousy how to stop retroactive jealousy how to stop obsessing about your partner’s ex OCD uncertainty living with OCD
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 200. Why OCD Makes Every Thought Feel Important | 05 Sep 2026 | 00:22:24 | |
What if the person treating your OCD has lived through it too?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Andrea Gutiérrez-Glik, LCSW, an OCD, anxiety, and complex PTSD specialist who also has lived experience with OCD. Together, they explore OCD, trauma, lived experience, I-CBT, and what it means to find treatment that actually fits the person behind the diagnosis.
This honest conversation dives into: • How trauma and OCD can become entangled, and why trauma isn’t necessarily the sole cause of OCD • Why OCD can be especially difficult to recognize in marginalized communities • The differences between ERP and Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT) and why a more trauma-informed approach may be helpful for some clients • How OCD can be experienced both viscerally in the body and cognitively through doubt and rumination • What healing can look like when the sources of trauma are still present in your life • Andrea’s concept of compassion, community, and freedom as important elements of healing • Why lived experience can teach therapists things that textbooks cannot fully capture • How to recognize when you may need a therapist who provides specialized OCD treatment • Why medication can sometimes help people who feel stuck and make it easier to engage in therapy
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself, supporting someone with OCD, or looking for a therapist who truly understands the disorder, this episode offers validation, practical insight, and hope...and a reminder that there may be more effective treatment options available than simply talking about what you’re going through.
📲 About Andrea Gutiérrez-Glik (guest): • Webpage: https://www.andreaglik.com/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somaticwitch/ • Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740123/healing-the-oppressed-body-by-andrea-gutierrez-glik/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – How Does Having OCD Change the Way You Show Up as a Therapist? [02:45] – How Do Trauma and OCD Become Entangled, Especially in Marginalized Communities? [05:59] – Why Is Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT) Controversial, and Who Can It Help? [07:40] – Is OCD Experienced More Viscerally or Cognitively—and Does Treatment Differ? [09:40] – If I-CBT Targets Obsessional Doubt, What Are You Actually Exposing Yourself To? [10:38] – What Does Healing Look Like When the Source of Trauma Is Still in Your Life? [11:57] – What Does “Healing the Nervous System” Actually Mean? [16:10] – What Can Clinicians With Lived Experience Understand That a Textbook Can't Teach? [17:06] – Do You Have to Have Lived Experience to Be a Good Therapist? [19:19] – What Would You Tell Someone Who Feels Stuck in OCD Treatment? [20:48] – How Do You Know When It's Time to Find an OCD Specialist? [21:24] – Where Can People Find Andrea and Her Work?
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords OCD therapist with lived experience OCD and trauma trauma and OCD Inference-Based CBT I-CBT for OCD ERP therapy for OCD OCD treatment OCD misdiagnosis OCD vs anxiety OCD specialist OCD recovery living with OCD OCD intrusive thoughts OCD rumination obsessive compulsive disorder OCD and marginalized communities complex PTSD and OCD finding an OCD therapist lived experience with OCD Healing the Oppressed Body
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 199. Why OCD Won’t Let You Leave the Thought Alone | 29 Aug 2026 | 00:25:54 | |
What if the thing keeping you stuck in OCD isn’t the thought itself...but everything you do to try to finally feel certain?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Natalia Aíza, a licensed therapist specializing in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Together, they take a closer look at what OCD really is, why intrusive thoughts can feel so convincing, and why trying to get rid of the anxiety can actually keep the OCD cycle going. Natalia explains what happens when OCD turns a fear into something you feel you have to solve, and why compulsions aren't always obvious. Checking, avoidance, rereading, rewriting, rumination, overthinking, Googling, searching Reddit, and even asking ChatGPT for reassurance can all become part of the OCD cycle when they're being used to get certainty or relief.
This conversation dives into: • Why OCD can be mistaken for anxiety, depression, or even a personality disorder • What an OCD obsession actually is and why you can become so stuck on a possibility • Why compulsions can look completely different from person to person • Why ERP feels so counterintuitive—and why facing the fear can retrain your brain • What “accepting uncertainty” really means in OCD recovery • Why rumination, Googling, Reddit, and searching for answers can become compulsions • What to do when you realize you've already been ruminating for hours • How to interrupt a compulsion without trying to control the intrusive thought itself • Why self-compassion matters when you fall back into an OCD cycle • How to reconnect with your values and return to your real life instead of staying trapped in OCD
And one of the most important messages from this conversation is that getting caught in a compulsion doesn't mean you've failed. You can notice it. You can stop. And you can choose what comes next.
Whether you're dealing with intrusive thoughts, OCD rumination, reassurance seeking, checking, avoidance, or another form of compulsive behavior, this episode offers a deeper understanding of the OCD cycle and how ERP can help you respond differently.
📲 About Natalia Aiza (guest): • OCD therapist, experiencer, author, and advocate • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letstalk.ocd/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – What Is OCD Really, and Why Is It So Often Misunderstood? [03:07] – What Is an OCD Obsession? [05:02] – Why Does ERP Work When It Feels So Counterintuitive? [06:44] – Why Facing the Fear Can Retrain Your Brain [07:54] – What Does “Accepting Uncertainty” Actually Mean? [10:09] – What If You’re Stuck in Rumination Again? [12:10] – What If You Give In to the Compulsion? [13:40] – The Moment You Realize You’re Stuck in the OCD Cycle [14:32] – What Should You Do After You Catch Yourself Ruminating? [15:29] – How Do You Get Back to Your Real Life? [17:37] – When Is Distraction Actually Avoidance? [18:46] – How OCD Can Make You Lose Touch With What You Enjoy [19:57] – What If You’re Secretly Doing Rituals Without Realizing It? [21:32] – The Hidden and “Sneaky” Compulsions of OCD [24:00] – Shame, Guilt & What Recovery Can Look Like
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • OCD recovery • OCD rumination • OCD intrusive thoughts • OCD compulsions • ERP therapy for OCD • Exposure and Response Prevention • how to stop OCD rumination • OCD reassurance seeking • OCD checking and compulsions • accepting uncertainty OCD • how to stop overthinking OCD • OCD treatment • intrusive thoughts and OCD • living with OCD • OCD anxiety cycle
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 198. Everything You Need to Know About Anxiety in 10 Minutes | 22 Aug 2026 | 00:10:09 | |
Is your anxiety keeping you stagnant or is it really helping you?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova examines generalized anxiety in more detail, including how it impacts the body and mind and why it's important to distinguish between OCD and daily anxiety. She explains how anxiety reacts to uncertainty, why our minds automatically focus on the worst-case scenario, and how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques might be useful.
Kristina covers: • Why future issues and uncertainty are viewed by the brain as possible threats • How racing thoughts, bodily sensations, and persistent "what if?" concerns are signs of anxiety • The key distinction between OCD and general anxiety • How anxiety-related thoughts, actions, and emotional reactions can be altered with CBT
Additionally, this episode delves into: • Typical thought patterns such as assuming the worst and catastrophizing • Why avoidance can actually exacerbate anxiety • How the brain eventually learns, "I can handle this," when confronted with fearful situations • Easy strategies to reduce the bodily signs of worry include moving and breathing slowly. • Why it's not necessary to completely eradicate worry and how developing new coping mechanisms can prevent it from taking over your life • Why typical cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) thought-challenging may be helpful for generic anxiety but may actually exacerbate obsessive analysis and rumination in OCD
This episode provides useful skills, clarity, and a better knowledge of how to react when anxiety manifests, regardless of whether you're struggling with anxiety yourself or attempting to comprehend what you're going through.
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – What Is Anxiety and Why Does the Brain Create It? [02:59] – General Anxiety vs. OCD: Understanding the Difference [04:12] – How CBT Can Help With Anxiety [05:23] – Catastrophizing and Other Common Anxiety Thinking Traps [06:17] – Why Avoidance Makes Anxiety Stronger [06:57] – Facing Anxiety Step by Step [07:12] – Calming the Body When Anxiety Takes Over [07:48] – Anxiety Is Normal: Learning How to Respond to It [08:32] – Why the Right Treatment Depends on the Problem [09:07] – Why Standard CBT Can Backfire With OCD [09:37] – OCD, Rumination, and the Search for Certainty
✅ Resources & Links
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords generalized anxiety generalized anxiety disorder anxiety vs OCD difference between anxiety and OCD CBT for anxiety anxiety treatment how to manage anxiety anxiety and uncertainty anxiety thinking traps catastrophizing and anxiety overcoming avoidance anxiety and overthinking OCD rumination CBT for OCD intrusive thoughts and anxiety
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 197. How to Help Your Child With OCD Without Feeding the OCD Cycle | 15 Aug 2026 | 00:19:26 | |
Is it possible to assist a youngster with OCD without unintentionally exacerbating it?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova talks with Aureen Pinto Wagner, Ph.D. , a clinical psychologist, author, and globally renowned OCD specialist who specializes in assisting kids, teens, adults, and families in managing anxiety and OCD. Together, they examine how parents' responses to a child's OCD might be changed by teaching bravery rather than consolation.
Dr. Wagner opens up about: •Why parents naturally want to protect their children from distress... and how that can sometimes reinforce OCD •How accommodation and reassurance can unintentionally strengthen OCD rituals •Why understanding OCD as a “false alarm” in the brain can change the way families respond •How Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) helps children gradually face fears and build confidence
This conversation also dives into: •The cycle of anxiety, rituals, and temporary relief that keeps OCD going •Practical strategies like question coupons and gradually delaying reassurance •Why parents need to manage their own anxiety and learn to tolerate their child’s discomfort •How facing difficult situations helps children develop confidence, bravery, and self-efficacy •Why recovery takes time, practice, and persistence rather than instant results
This episode offers hope, useful resources, and a strong reminder that you are more courageous than you realize, whether you are a parent helping a child with OCD, a loved one attempting to understand what they're going thru, or someone dealing with OCD yourself.
📲 About Aureen Pinto Wagner (guest): • Anxiety and OCD Treatment Psychologist • Website: www.anxietywellness.com
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – What Led You to Focus on Helping Children and Families With OCD? [02:55] – Why Should Parents Teach Bravery Instead of Trying to Keep Their Child Comfortable? [05:58] – What Does It Actually Look Like When a Parent Stops Accommodating OCD? [10:18] – What Happens When a Family Gradually Stops Accommodating OCD? [13:02] – How Can Parents Stay Patient When Recovery Takes Time? [13:59] – How Can Parents Manage Their Own Anxiety While Helping Their Child? [14:57] – What Do Children Learn About Themselves When Parents Coach Bravery Instead of Avoidance? [17:13] – What Would You Put on a Billboard for a Parent Who Feels Alone? [18:07] – Where Can Parents Learn More About Your Work?
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords childhood OCD OCD in children parenting a child with OCD parents and OCD OCD reassurance seeking family accommodation OCD ERP for children Exposure and Response Prevention OCD treatment for children helping a child with OCD OCD recovery OCD anxiety in children how to support a child with OCD overcoming OCD OCD and bravery
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 196. Why You Think Everyone Is Watching You | 01 Aug 2026 | 00:28:21 | |
Nobody sees the pressure you're carrying...but it's changing the way you live.
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Ivan Tchatchouwo, CEO & Co-Founder of The Zone, a mental wellness platform helping athletes and high performers build resilience. Together, they explore the hidden psychological cost of performance, perfectionism, pressure, identity, and why success doesn't protect us from anxiety or self-doubt.
Ivan opens up about: • His journey from collegiate athlete to mental wellness entrepreneur. • How pressure, injuries, and losing confidence impacted his mental health. • Why elite athletes often suffer in silence despite their success. • The lessons high performers need to avoid burnout, perfectionism, and self-criticism.
This conversation also dives into: • Why excellence can quietly turn into self-criticism. • The hidden stigma around seeking mental health support in elite sports. • Why nobody is paying as much attention to you as you think—and how that realization can change your confidence. • Practical strategies for managing anxiety, staying present, and performing without losing yourself.
Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, student, or someone who constantly feels pressure to perform, this episode offers practical insights to help you build confidence, reduce anxiety, and redefine what healthy success really looks like.
📲 About Ivan Tchatchouwo (guest): • CEO & Co-Founder, The Zone • Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/ivantchatchouwo/ • Instagram (itsthezone): https://www.instagram.com/itsthezone/ • Website: https://www.itsthezone.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – What Does a Mental Performance Coach Actually Do? [03:20] – Growing Up Under High Expectations [06:09] – When Performance Pressure Started Affecting Mental Health [08:45] – Why High Performers Experience Stress Differently [11:21] – The Biggest Misconception About Elite Athletes [15:43] – Healthy Striving vs. Perfectionism [19:41] – When Does Excellence Become Self-Criticism? [21:48] – Advice for Young Athletes Struggling with Anxiety [23:29] – What Ivan Wishes Someone Had Told Him at 18 [24:56] – The Zone: Changing Mental Health for High Performers [27:35] – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Ivan
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords sports psychology mental performance athlete mental health sports anxiety performance anxiety perfectionism self criticism burnout high performers confidence stress management mental resilience athlete mindset anxiety recovery OCD and perfectionism mental health podcast sports mental health performance coaching emotional resilience OCD Whisperer © OCD Whisperer | |||
| 195. Why Nothing You Change Ever Feels Enough (Body Dysmorphia) | 25 Jul 2026 | 00:40:05 | |
What Bodybuilding Taught Me About Mental Health (No One Talks About This)
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova sits down with Christina Williams—IFBB Professional Bodybuilder, performance coach, entrepreneur, and Head of U.S. Partnerships & Business Development at Wictory. Together, they explore the hidden mental health struggles behind elite performance, body image, perfectionism, resilience, and what it truly takes to succeed when the pressure never stops.
Christina opens up about: • Her journey from childhood adversity to becoming an IFBB • Professional Bodybuilder and coach. • The unseen anxiety, pressure, and perfectionism that come with competing at the highest level. • How body dysmorphia affects athletes long before—and long after—they step on stage. • The heartbreaking setbacks, burnout, and life-changing moments that reshaped her purpose.
This conversation also dives into: • Why success doesn't always silence self-doubt. • The emotional cost of constantly being judged for your appearance. • How identity, purpose, and values help you navigate failure and keep moving forward. • Why athletes, high achievers, and perfectionists need support just as much as physical training. • Practical lessons on resilience, mental performance, and finding meaning beyond achievement.
Whether you're an athlete, someone living with anxiety, perfectionism, body image struggles, or simply trying to keep going through life's hardest moments, this episode offers hope, perspective, and powerful reminders that your worth is never defined by a result.
📲 About Christina Williams (guest): • Weightloss & Life Transformation Coach • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinawilliamsworld/ • Website: https://imaginewhaticanbe.com/ • Wictory AI: https://wictory.ai/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – What Is It Really Like to Be a Professional Bodybuilder? [03:00] – From Corporate America to Competitive Bodybuilding [07:35] – The Anxiety Nobody Talks About Before Stepping on Stage [10:52] – Body Dysmorphia in Bodybuilding: The Hidden Mental Health Battle [14:14] – How Christina Learned to Handle Criticism, Pressure & Self-Doubt [20:40] – Losing Everything: Competition, Divorce & Starting Over [26:00] – What Keeps You Going When Life Falls Apart? [29:44] – Finding Purpose Through Pain & Mental Health Advocacy [32:51] – Burnout, Recovery & Why More Isn't Always Better [36:52] – Success, Failure & Redefining What Winning Really Means [38:56] – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Christina
✅ Resources & Links
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords body dysmorphia bodybuilding mental health anxiety in athletes perfectionism athlete mental health performance anxiety body image struggles resilience after failure burnout recovery self-worth beyond achievement mental health in sports overcoming adversity confidence and self-doubt OCD and perfectionism high performer mental health © OCD Whisperer | |||
| 194. Why You Keep Doubting Yourself (Even After Doing the Work) | 18 Jul 2026 | 00:30:33 | |
Can anxiety make you a better athlete?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Grant Parr, Mental Performance Coach and Founder of Game Face Performance. Together, they explore the powerful connection between anxiety, performance, confidence, and mental resilience in sports—and why mastering your mindset may be just as important as mastering your physical skills.
Grant shares insights on: • How anxiety affects athletes from youth sports to the Olympic level • Why confidence is built through preparation—not perfection • The hidden pressures athletes face, including fear of failure and judgment • Mental performance techniques that help athletes perform under pressure
This conversation also dives into: • How social media, comparison, and expectations fuel anxiety in sports • Why language matters—and how simple mindset shifts can reduce performance pressure • The connection between self-worth, acceptance, and athletic performance • Practical tools for building resilience, embracing uncertainty, and recovering from setbacks
Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or someone navigating anxiety in everyday life, this episode offers practical strategies to help you perform with greater confidence, resilience, and freedom.
📲 About Grant Parr (guest): • Grant Parr M.A., Mental Performance Coach, Author: The Next One Up Mindset • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gfpmindset/ • Website: https://www.gamefaceperformance.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – What Does a Mental Performance Coach Actually Do? [02:48] – The Modern Athlete's Journey: From Childhood to Elite Competition [05:37] – Understanding Division I, II & III Athletics [07:05] – The Reality of Becoming an Olympian [08:40] – When Does Anxiety Help—and Hurt—Performance? [11:27] – What Elite Athletes Understand About Pressure [13:32] – Why Preparation Creates Confidence [15:40] – The Hidden Mental Health Struggles in Sports [16:50] – Grant's Personal Story: Fear, Pressure & High School Football [20:30] – How Your Self-Talk Increases or Reduces Pressure [21:49] – Why Even Successful Athletes Feel Like They're Failing [24:03] – Trusting Your Preparation Instead of Your Fear [25:55] – Accepting Failure Without Losing Confidence [27:35] – The Mental Side of Performance Is Just as Important as the Physical [29:28] – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Grant Parr
✅ Resources & Links
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • anxiety in sports • sports anxiety • mental performance coach • confidence in athletes • sports psychology • overcoming fear of failure • athlete mindset • performance anxiety • mental toughness • confidence under pressure • self-talk for athletes • resilience in sports • OCD and anxiety • high performance mindset • athletic confidence
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 193. The Hardest Part of OCD Isn't What You Think (No One Talks About This) | 11 Jul 2026 | 00:39:35 | |
Ever wonder why people with OCD can seem incredibly strong... yet still feel completely alone?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Tom Smalley, MS, CMPC—mental performance consultant, OCD advocate, and speaker. Together, they explore the hidden impact of OCD stigma, why uncertainty is at the heart of OCD recovery, and how community, education, and self-compassion can change lives.
Tom opens up about: • His OCD diagnosis at age 16 and living with up to 15 hours of compulsions a day • How ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) helped him reclaim his life • Why embracing uncertainty—not eliminating it—is the key to recovery • His powerful story of experiencing discrimination because of OCD and transforming pain into purpose
This conversation also dives into: • Why reassurance can accidentally keep OCD alive • How everyday phrases like "I'm so OCD" contribute to stigma • Why community and advocacy play such an important role in healing • The connection between sports, mental health, perfectionism, and OCD • How choosing education over anger helps reduce stigma and create lasting change
If you've ever felt misunderstood because of your OCD—or wondered how to support someone who struggles with it—this conversation will leave you feeling seen, understood, and hopeful. Whether you're navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone you love, this episode offers practical insights, encouragement, and a powerful reminder that you are never alone in your recovery.
📲 About Tom Smalley (guest): • MS, CMPC—mental performance consultant, OCD advocate, and speaker • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2s_smalls/ • Website: https://www.struggleintostrength.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – What Do Most People Get Wrong About Supporting Someone with OCD? [06:59] – When Did You Realize Uncertainty Wasn't the Enemy? [11:48] – How Does Everyday Language Add to OCD Stigma? [19:48] – What Would You Tell Someone Feeling Judged Because of OCD? [22:06] – Tom's Story: Being Bullied and Abused Because of OCD [29:31] – Sports, Mental Health & Breaking the Stigma [31:32] – The Therapist Quote That Changed Everything [38:02] – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Tom
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • OCD stigma • OCD recovery • Exposure and Response Prevention • ERP therapy • Living with OCD • Intrusive thoughts • Uncertainty and OCD • Mental health stigma • Sports psychology and mental health • OCD advocate • Harm OCD • Pure OCD • OCD support • OCD community • Anxiety recovery
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 192. Why OCD Makes You Doubt What You Already Know | 04 Jul 2026 | 00:29:02 | |
Every OCD spiral begins the same way... with one moment of self-doubt.
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, ICBT therapist and OCD specialist. Together, they break down exactly how Inference-Based CBT (ICBT) is applied to some of the most common OCD themes—including Harm OCD, Relationship OCD, Contamination OCD, Health OCD, and Pedophilia OCD. Catherine explains how OCD pulls people away from what they already know to be true, replacing reality with imagination, doubt, and endless "what if" stories.
In this episode, you'll learn: • How ICBT approaches Harm OCD and violent intrusive thoughts • Why dreams, body sensations, urges, and images are not evidence of your true intentions • How to apply ICBT to Relationship OCD without constantly scanning your feelings • Why contamination fears and health anxiety rely on possibility instead of reality • How to recognize when OCD is creating stories that feel convincing—but aren't true
This conversation also dives into: • Why people with OCD already know the answer before they start second-guessing themselves • The hidden role of imagination in every OCD theme • The difference between real evidence and imagined possibilities • Why "possibility" alone is never enough in everyday life—but OCD convinces you otherwise • Practical ways to return to reality instead of getting pulled deeper into obsessional doubt
If you've ever found yourself thinking... "But what if this time OCD is right?" ...this episode will help you understand why that question feels so convincing—and how to stop letting it control your life.
Whether you're navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone you love, this episode offers practical strategies, hope, and a completely different way of understanding intrusive thoughts and obsessional doubt.
📲 About Catherine Goldhouse (guest): • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icbttherapist/ • Website: https://www.catherinegoldhouse.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinegoldhouse/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – How Does ICBT Approach Harm OCD and the Fear of Losing Control? [07:35] – If My Body Reacts, Doesn't That Mean the OCD Fear Is Real? [12:21] – How Does ICBT Explain Relationship OCD? [17:17] – How Does ICBT Treat Contamination OCD? [21:21] – What If There Really Is a Virus or Hidden Illness? [29:39] – Closing Thoughts & Where to Learn More
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • Harm OCD • Relationship OCD • ROCD • Contamination OCD • Health OCD • Pedophilia OCD (POCD) • Inference-Based CBT • ICBT for OCD • OCD intrusive thoughts • OCD treatment • OCD recovery • Obsessional doubt • Inferential confusion • Why OCD feels real • Trusting yourself with OCD
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 191. The Reason You Keep Second-Guessing Yourself (OCD Explained) | 27 Jun 2026 | 00:33:21 | |
What if the thing you trust most… your own mind… is the very thing that's tricking you?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, therapist and ICBT expert. Together, they explore one of the most confusing parts of OCD recovery: how OCD pulls you away from reality and convinces you to trust your imagination instead. Catherine opens up about: • Why people with OCD don't actually struggle with certainty—they struggle with second-guessing themselves • How OCD creates obsessional doubt by making you distrust your senses and your own mind • Why compulsions keep OCD alive by reinforcing the idea that you can't trust yourself • How reality sensing helps you reconnect with what you already know to be true
This conversation also dives into: • The moment OCD pulls you into "Yeah, but what if..." thinking • Why feelings and sensations are not always evidence of danger • How imagination can become so convincing that it feels more real than reality itself • The powerful difference between OCD and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) • Why recovery isn't about finding perfect certainty—it's about learning to trust yourself again
If you've ever thought: "I know this doesn't make sense… but what if?" This episode is for you.
Whether you're navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone you love, this conversation offers hope, practical tools, and a completely different way of understanding why OCD feels so real.
📲 About Catherine Goldhouse (guest): • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icbttherapist/ • Website: https://www.catherinegoldhouse.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinegoldhouse/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – What Is Reality Sensing in ICBT? [04:16] – Why People with OCD Second-Guess Themselves [06:42] – The Choice Between Reality and Imagination [08:37] – Why Feelings and Sensations Aren't Always Evidence [11:58] – Why OCD Feels So Convincing [14:04] – Disqualifying Obsessional Doubt [17:33] – The Hidden Stories Behind OCD Fears [21:57] – Is Reality Sensing Like ERP? [23:54] – Is Reassurance Always Bad? [26:12] – OCD vs Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) [30:50] – When No Alarm Is Actually Good News [32:20] – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Catherine Goldhouse
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • OCD recovery • Inference-Based CBT (ICBT) • Inferential confusion • Why OCD feels real • Trusting yourself with OCD • OCD and imagination • OCD compulsions explained • Reality sensing for OCD • OCD doubt and uncertainty • OCD intrusive thoughts • How to stop second-guessing yourself • OCD treatment • OCD therapy • Generalized anxiety vs OCD • Obsessional doubt
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 190. Your Compulsions Actually Make Sense (Here's the Real OCD Problem) | 20 Jun 2026 | 00:27:36 | |
Why does OCD feel more convincing than your own eyes?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, ICBT therapist and OCD specialist.
Together, they explore one of the most powerful concepts in Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT): how OCD overrides your mind by convincing you that possibility is evidence.
Catherine breaks down: • Why intrusive thoughts are not the real problem in OCD • How OCD shifts your default from trust to doubt • Why possibility alone feels convincing when OCD takes over • The hidden role of self-doubt, identity, and imagination in OCD
This conversation also dives into: • How OCD disconnects people from their senses and common sense • The difference between normal reasoning and OCD reasoning • Why people with OCD often search for evidence after already reaching a conclusion • How past experiences become stories that shape OCD fears • The concept of "reverse reasoning" and how it keeps OCD alive • Why imagination can become more trusted than reality
If you've ever found yourself asking, "But what if?" over and over again, this episode will help you understand why OCD feels so convincing—and how ICBT helps people break free from its grip.
Whether you're struggling with OCD yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers practical insights, hope, and a completely different way of understanding OCD recovery.
📲 About Catherine Goldhouse (guest): • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icbttherapist/ • Website: https://www.catherinegoldhouse.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinegoldhouse/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – How Does OCD Override Our Mind? [04:50] – If Bad Things Really Happen, Why Shouldn't I Worry? [08:56] – What's the Difference Between Possibility and Reality? [10:36] – Where Do OCD Stories and Filters Come From? [16:58] – Why Does OCD Feel So Convincing? [19:07] – How Do Identity and Self-Doubt Shape OCD? [20:26] – What Is Reverse Reasoning in OCD? [22:38] – What If My OCD Fear Is Based on a Real Past Experience? [25:05] – Why Does OCD Feel Objective Even When It's Not?
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • inference based CBT • ICBT for OCD • OCD recovery • intrusive thoughts • OCD doubt • possibility vs probability OCD • reverse reasoning OCD • self doubt and OCD • OCD treatment • OCD therapy • OCD thought process • how OCD works • Catherine Goldhouse • OCD mind tricks • overcoming OCD
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 189. Why OCD Believes Possibilities Instead of Reality | ICBT Explained | 13 Jun 2026 | 00:27:36 | |
Could OCD be tricking you into trusting your imagination more than reality?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, ICBT therapist and OCD specialist.
Together, they explore one of the most powerful concepts in Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT): how OCD overrides your mind by convincing you that possibility is evidence.
Catherine breaks down: • Why intrusive thoughts are not the real problem in OCD • How OCD shifts your default from trust to doubt • Why possibility alone feels convincing when OCD takes over • The hidden role of self-doubt, identity, and imagination in OCD
This conversation also dives into: • How OCD disconnects people from their senses and common sense • The difference between normal reasoning and OCD reasoning • Why people with OCD often search for evidence after already reaching a conclusion • How past experiences become stories that shape OCD fears • The concept of "reverse reasoning" and how it keeps OCD alive • Why imagination can become more trusted than reality
If you've ever found yourself asking, "But what if?" over and over again, this episode will help you understand why OCD feels so convincing—and how ICBT helps people break free from its grip.
Whether you're struggling with OCD yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers practical insights, hope, and a completely different way of understanding OCD recovery.
📲 About Catherine Goldhouse (guest): • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icbttherapist/ • Website: https://www.catherinegoldhouse.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinegoldhouse/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – How Does OCD Override Our Mind? [04:50] – If Bad Things Really Happen, Why Shouldn't I Worry? [08:56] – What's the Difference Between Possibility and Reality? [10:36] – Where Do OCD Stories and Filters Come From? [16:58] – Why Does OCD Feel So Convincing? [19:07] – How Do Identity and Self-Doubt Shape OCD? [20:26] – What Is Reverse Reasoning in OCD? [22:38] – What If My OCD Fear Is Based on a Real Past Experience? [25:05] – Why Does OCD Feel Objective Even When It's Not?
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • inference based CBT • ICBT for OCD • OCD recovery • intrusive thoughts • OCD doubt • possibility vs probability OCD • reverse reasoning OCD • self doubt and OCD • OCD treatment • OCD therapy • OCD thought process • how OCD works • Catherine Goldhouse • OCD mind tricks • overcoming OCD
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 188. Guided Mindfulness Meditation for Anxiety and Overthinking | 10 Jun 2026 | 00:09:51 | |
A guided meditation to help with overthinking, anxiety, and a mind that just won’t slow down. Some days your head feels on overdrive. You sit down to relax and the thoughts keep racing anyway. This meditation doesn’t ask you to stop the thoughts. You’ll rest your attention on your breath, lose it, get pulled into a thought, and come back. That’s it. That’s the skill of mindfulness, and it gets stronger every time you practice. No experience is needed to start. Feel free to sit on the floor, sit in a chair, or even lie down. Headphones can help, but they aren’t required. You can’t do this exercise wrong. Having your mind wander off and coming back isn’t the practice failing, it’s actually the practice working. I’m Kristina Orlova, a licensed marriage and family therapist. I treated anxiety and OCD, and I live with OCD myself, so I understand what a loud brain feels like. This meditation is general and may work for anyone, whether you deal with anxiety or just want to reset your day. One honest note. This is for general wellbeing, not a substitute for therapy. If breath focus ever makes you more anxious, that's a real thing that happens to some people. Open your eyes, listen to the sounds around you instead, or take a break. DISCLAIMER: This guided meditation is provided for educational, informational, and relaxation purposes only. It is not medical advice, psychotherapy, or mental health treatment, it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any physical or psychological condition, and it is not a substitute for care from a licensed professional. Although Kristina Orlova is a licensed marriage and family therapist, watching or listening to this content does not create a therapist-client relationship with Kristina Orlova or KOR Results Family Therapy Inc. No specific result, benefit, or improvement is promised or guaranteed, and results vary from person to person. If you have a pre-existing medical or mental health condition, including epilepsy, a seizure disorder, severe depression, psychosis, PTSD, or any other psychiatric condition, consult your physician or a qualified mental health provider before practicing meditation or using relaxation content. Never listen while driving, operating machinery, or doing anything that requires your full attention. If you feel worse at any point, stop listening. By using this content, you acknowledge that you do so voluntarily and at your own risk, and you agree that KOR Results Family Therapy Inc., Kristina Orlova, and anyone involved in creating or distributing this content are not liable for any claim, injury, loss, or damage arising from or connected to its use. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 in the US or contact your local emergency number. #guidedmeditation #meditationforanxiety #overthinking #mindfulness #calmmind
Please visit my website to get more information: https://www.korresults.com/ for private practice inquiries and www.theocdwhisperer.com for the show.
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| 187. You Don't Have A Thought Problem. You Have A Doubt Problem. (OCD Explained) | 05 Jun 2026 | 00:25:22 | |
Why do OCD thoughts feel so real? What if the problem is not the intrusive thought itself… but the conclusion your brain makes about it?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Catherine Goldhouse, therapist and ICBT specialist, to explore a powerful shift in understanding OCD through Inference Based CBT (ICBT). Together, they unpack why OCD may not be about random intrusive thoughts at all, but about the meaning, doubt, and stories we attach to them.
Catherine explains: • Why ICBT sees OCD differently than traditional ERP and CBT • The difference between intrusive thoughts and obsessional doubt • Why OCD sufferers often feel trapped asking “What if this means something?” • How OCD creates false conclusions about identity, danger, relationships, morality, and certainty • Why thoughts like “What if I’m dangerous?” or “What if I secretly want this?” feel so convincing
This conversation also dives into: • Why some thoughts feel triggering and emotionally loaded • The hidden “story” OCD creates beneath fears and compulsions • Harm OCD, Relationship OCD, sexuality OCD, contamination fears, and intrusive thoughts • The difference between trust versus doubt in OCD recovery • Why ICBT focuses on how OCD begins rather than what happens after the fear appears • How OCD changes the way people trust themselves, their senses, and reality
If you have ever wondered: “Why does my OCD feel so real?” “Why do I doubt myself so much?” “Why can’t I stop asking what if?”
This episode may completely change the way you understand OCD.
Whether you are navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone you love, this episode offers insight, validation, and a hopeful new perspective on recovery.
📲 About Catherine Goldhouse (guest): • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icbttherapist/ • Website: https://www.catherinegoldhouse.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinegoldhouse/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Introduction to the ICBT Series & Why OCD May Not Be What We Think [01:27] Does ICBT View OCD Differently Than ERP? Understanding Intrusive Thoughts vs OCD Conclusions [04:58] Are Intrusive Thoughts Really The Problem? Why OCD Sufferers Get Stuck On Meaning [07:13] What Is The Difference Between ICBT And ERP? [09:05] Why Does OCD Create Obsessional Doubt? Understanding The "What If?" Process [10:27] Why Do Certain Triggers Feel So Real? The Role Of Pre Existing Stories In OCD [13:56] How Is ICBT Different From CBT, Cognitive Distortions, And Meaning Making? [16:31] What Are OCD Stories And How Do They Shape The Questions We Ask? [17:54] What Is The Difference Between Inferences And Appraisals In OCD? [20:53] Why Does OCD Doubt Things Other People Naturally Trust? [22:49] Trust vs Doubt: A Different Way To Understand OCD Recovery [24:21] Where To Learn More About ICBT & Closing Thoughts
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • ICBT for OCD • intrusive thoughts OCD • OCD intrusive thoughts explained • ERP vs ICBT • obsessional doubt OCD • why OCD feels real • harm OCD intrusive thoughts • OCD false memories and doubt • relationship OCD help • OCD rumination • uncertainty and OCD • OCD recovery strategies • trust versus doubt OCD • OCD therapy explained • how OCD starts
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 186. The Wildest OCD Recovery Story I’ve Heard | 29 May 2026 | 00:35:57 | |
You thought it was bad behavior… but your child was secretly terrified.
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Keesha Scott, mom, entrepreneur, podcast host, and author, about her daughter’s deeply personal journey with OCD, emetophobia (fear of vomiting), panic disorder, and recovery.
Together, they explore what it’s really like to parent a child with OCD, the painful road to getting the right diagnosis, and how exposure therapy (ERP) helped her daughter reclaim her life.
Keesha opens up about: • How OCD first showed up as “bad behavior” before anyone realized what was happening • Going through multiple therapists before finally getting the correct diagnosis • How talk therapy unintentionally made OCD worse • Why ERP therapy (Exposure and Response Prevention) changed everything • The role medication played when OCD became too severe to engage in treatment • Parenting a child whose OCD impacted school, friendships, and family life • The emotional toll of supporting a child through severe anxiety and panic disorder • What OCD recovery looked like over the years — and where her daughter is today
This is an honest, emotional, and hopeful conversation for parents navigating OCD, anxiety, panic, or intrusive thoughts in their children — and a reminder that recovery is possible, even when things feel impossible.
Whether you're parenting a child with OCD, struggling yourself, or supporting someone you love, this episode offers hope, practical insight, and a reminder that healing happens one step at a time.
📲 About Keesha Scott (guest): • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CakeForDinnerPod/videos • Cake for dinner instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cakefordinnerpod/ • Personal instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keeshawscott/ • Website: https://keeshascott.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [01:29] – What was it like getting the right OCD treatment for your daughter? [03:23] – How many therapists did you go through before getting the right diagnosis? [04:20] – Did you ever feel like the “worst parent” before understanding it was OCD? [06:14] – What happened once you finally found the right OCD treatment? [07:52] – What did exposure therapy for emetophobia actually look like? [09:17] – What was going through your mind as a mom during treatment? [12:48] – What do you wish someone told you about parenting a child with OCD? [15:03] – What support did you get for yourself as a mom? [18:15] – How did naming OCD and fighting back help recovery? [20:37] – Did she continue using ERP tools long term? [23:39] – What was hardest about stopping reassurance and accommodation? [24:37] – How long did it take before you noticed things changing? [28:49] – How did you gradually help her face fears and exposures? [31:26] – How long did this recovery journey actually take? [33:38] – What does life look like now for you and your daughter?
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • parenting a child with OCD • OCD in children • OCD recovery story • ERP therapy for OCD • exposure response prevention • emetophobia and OCD • reassurance seeking OCD • intrusive thoughts in children • panic disorder and OCD • OCD treatment for kids • OCD family accommodation • helping a child with OCD • anxiety and OCD parenting • real OCD symptoms • mental health parenting
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 185. You’re stuck because you’re doing ERP halfway | 22 May 2026 | 00:33:01 | |
*What is intensive treatment for OCD — and who is it actually for?*
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Chad Brandt, clinical psychologist and OCD specialist. Together, they explore intensive ERP treatment for severe OCD, the Bergen 4-Day Treatment model, and why longer-form exposure therapy can create rapid breakthroughs in recovery.
Dr. Chad Brandt opens up about: • His background treating severe OCD and anxiety disorders • What makes ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) the gold standard for OCD treatment • How intensive OCD treatment differs from traditional weekly therapy and IOP programs • Why “doing exposures fully” matters more than simply doing more exposures • The most common fears and objections people have before starting ERP • Why OCD recovery is about changing your response to uncertainty — not eliminating thoughts
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone you love, this episode offers hope, practical insight, and a deeper understanding of what real OCD treatment can look like.
📲 About Dr. Chad Brandt (guest): • Chad Brandt, PhD • OCD Therapist and ERP Specialist • Web page: https://www.drchadbrandt.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:32 – What Is Intensive Treatment for OCD? 01:04 – Who Is Dr. Chad Brandt & Why Does He Specialize in Severe OCD? 03:05 – Does Dr. Chad Brandt Personally Have OCD? 04:30 – What Is the Best Therapy for Severe OCD? 06:00 – What Does Intensive ERP Treatment Actually Look Like Day-to-Day? 08:06 – How Is This Different From Traditional IOP Programs for OCD? 10:18 – Isn’t a Full-Day OCD Intensive Overwhelming? 11:39 – Do Patients Burn Out During Long ERP Sessions? 13:54 – What Is the Bergen 4-Day Treatment Method? 15:39 – Does Intensive OCD Treatment Actually Work Long-Term? 18:03 – What Happens During an OCD Intensive From Start to Finish? 20:09 – Why “Getting the Form Right” in ERP Matters So Much 21:52 – What Are the Most Common Objections People Have to ERP? 24:18 – Is ERP or EMDR Better for OCD Treatment? 25:58 – What Is EMDR & Why Isn’t It the Gold Standard for OCD? 26:57 – Why Exposure + Response Prevention Is Essential for OCD Recovery 28:45 – How Much Does Intensive OCD Treatment Cost? 31:01 – How Can People Contact Dr. Chad Brandt?
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • intensive OCD treatment • ERP therapy for OCD • Bergen 4-Day Treatment • severe OCD treatment • exposure response prevention • OCD recovery • intrusive thoughts • mental compulsions • OCD specialist • OCD therapy • ERP vs EMDR • anxiety and OCD • overcoming OCD • uncertainty and OCD
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 184. A 50-Year OCD Expert Explains Why Recovery Feels So Hard | 15 May 2026 | 00:19:46 | |
Can OCD therapy actually make OCD worse if it’s done incorrectly?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Fugen Neziroglu, one of the pioneers in OCD treatment and the founder of the BioBehavioral Institute. With over 50 years of experience and more than 4,000 OCD patients treated, Dr. Neziroglu shares what most people still misunderstand about OCD therapy, ERP, CBT, and recovery.
Dr. Neziroglu opens up about: • How OCD treatment looked in the 1970s before ERP, SSRIs, and CBT even existed • The surprising story behind the first OCD medication studies in the United States • Why many people think they’re getting ERP therapy when they’re actually not • What “real” OCD treatment should look like for severe OCD cases • Why some people need more support than once-a-week therapy • How intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and residential treatment can help people reclaim their lives
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” in OCD treatment but still feel stuck, this episode may help you understand why. Whether you’re struggling with contamination OCD, intrusive thoughts, severe anxiety, compulsions, or treatment-resistant OCD, this conversation offers real hope and practical insight from someone who helped shape modern OCD treatment itself.
📲 About Dr. Fugen Neziroglu (guest): Bio Behavioral had the first Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in the US and brought OCD to the forefront nearly 50 years ago and she wrote many books on OCD. She also won the lifetime achievement award for OCD. This establishes her expertise in the field and my passion for continuing to help suffering patients. She has devoted her entire life to OCD. • Ph.D., ABBP, ABPP • Hofstra Medical School • Board Certified in Behavioral and Clinical Psychology • Fellow of Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy • Executive Director - Bio-Behavioral Institute • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fugen-neziroglu-ph-d-a-b-b-p-a-b-p-p-91a2752b/ • Bio Behavioral Institute: https://www.biobehavioralinstitute.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:35] – 50 Years of OCD Treatment History + How ERP Started [04:40] – Why A Lot of OCD Therapy Doesn’t Actually Work [08:58] – What To Do If OCD Treatment Isn’t Helping [12:26] – Paying for OCD Treatment + Insurance & Financial Help [14:30] – What OCD Recovery Actually Looks Like [16:03] – How Long Does OCD Recovery Take? [17:41] – Can People Fully Recover From OCD?
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • OCD treatment • ERP therapy for OCD • severe OCD recovery • OCD therapy explained • exposure response prevention • OCD intrusive thoughts • OCD treatment not working • CBT for OCD • treatment resistant OCD • OCD recovery stories • anxiety and OCD treatment • intensive outpatient OCD program • OCD help • contamination OCD • OCD specialist
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 183. If Your Child Gets Stuck in Routines, Please Listen to This... | 08 May 2026 | 00:26:21 | |
The Hidden OCD Behind “Normal” Routines in Kids...
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Julie Lustig, clinical psychologist and founder of CBT Tools for Life Center. Together, they explore how childhood OCD and anxiety often hide in plain sight—and why so many parents miss the early signs.
Dr. Lustig opens up about: • Why OCD can take 14–17 years to be properly diagnosed • How common childhood behaviors (like routines) can become rigid compulsions • The most overlooked OCD symptoms—including reassurance-seeking and mental rituals • How Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) helps kids regain control
This conversation also dives into: • The subtle ways OCD shows up beyond handwashing or neatness • How to separate a child from OCD using playful, externalizing tools • Why small “wins” and gradual steps are key to recovery
OCD isn’t just anxiety—it’s a loop that keeps kids feeling stuck. But as Dr. Lustig explains, when kids learn they don’t have to listen to OCD, everything can change.
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting a child, this episode offers clarity, tools, and real hope for recovery.
📲 About Dr. Julie Lustig (guest): • Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Founder and Director of the CBT Tools For Life Center • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-l-lustig-ph-d-a30287342/ • Web Page: https://www.cbttoolsforlife.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 What actually leads a psychologist to specialise in childhood OCD and anxiety? 04:34 The early OCD signs in kids most parents completely miss (and mistake for normal behaviour) 06:33 Your child’s “slow routines” might not be habits — hidden OCD symptoms explained 09:16 How do you explain OCD to a child without making it scarier? The surprising approach 12:21 What OCD recovery actually looks like in kids — real transformation stories from treatment 18:16 When a child says “I can’t do this” — what clinicians actually do in that moment
✅ Resources & Links
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • childhood OCD • OCD in kids • signs of OCD in children • ERP therapy for OCD • anxiety in children • OCD symptoms parents miss • treating OCD early • reassurance seeking OCD
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 182. OCD + ADHD: Why It Feels So Much Harder Than It Should | 01 May 2026 | 00:38:10 | |
Why does it feel like everyone else can manage their OCD… but you just can’t seem to make it stick?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Rachel LaFleur. Together, they unpack the often-missed overlap between ADHD and OCD—and why you might feel stuck in your recovery even when you’re doing “everything right.”
Dr. LaFleur opens up about: • Why so many adults—especially women—are missing an ADHD diagnosis • How intrusive thoughts + attention struggles can feed each other • The hidden signs of ADHD that don’t look like hyperactivity • Why OCD therapy might not “stick” without addressing ADHD
This conversation also dives into: • The subtle ways ADHD shows up in your daily life (even if you seem “high-functioning”) • Why you might feel motivated but still unable to act • Tools like attention training, structure, and accountability that actually work • The bigger message: you’re not failing—your brain may just need a different approach
If you’ve ever thought: “Why can’t I just do what I know helps?” This episode will help you understand what’s really going on—and what to do next.
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or trying to make sense of your own patterns, this episode offers clarity, validation, and practical strategies to help you move forward.
📲 About Dr. Rachel LaFleur (guest): • Rachel C. LaFleur, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, Stony Run Psychology & Wellness • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-lafleur-ph-d-73735056/ • Web Page: https://stonyrunpsych.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:01 Intro & Guest Welcome 00:21 Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 01:36 Can you explain the overlap between ADHD and OCD? 04:06 What are the “spidey senses” for ADHD? 07:10 How do you actually tell if it’s ADHD and not just normal behavior? 13:03 What gets in the way of OCD treatment if someone also has ADHD? 14:48 What do you do if ADHD is suspected but not diagnosed? 19:30 What if someone has ADHD but won’t take medication? 22:32 Can you give a concrete example of how you’d practice this? 29:48 What do loved ones typically notice? 30:50 What do friends or others actually see? 37:05 Outro & Where to Find Rachel
✅ Resources & Links
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • ADHD and OCD overlap • OCD not improving • ADHD symptoms in adults • why OCD therapy isn’t working • ADHD in women • rumination and ADHD • attention training for OCD • executive dysfunction
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 181. I Kept Asking 400 Times… Here’s Why | 24 Apr 2026 | 00:30:05 | |
I thought I was just “anxious”… until my thoughts started scaring me.
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Alicia and Liam, hosts of OCD Confessionals. Together, they explore how OCD can go unrecognized for years, how it impacts relationships and family life, and what changes when you finally understand what’s really going on.
Alicia and Liam open up about: • Being undiagnosed for years despite severe anxiety and intrusive thoughts • The hidden compulsions, fears, and “noise” that took over daily life • How OCD affected their marriages, parenting, and sense of identity • The moment everything shifted—from confusion to clarity and proper treatment
This honest conversation also dives into: • The subtle and often misunderstood ways OCD shows up • How reassurance, checking, and avoidance impact relationships • Parenting with OCD and raising emotionally aware kids • Why understanding OCD—not “fixing” it—is what actually helps
OCD can feel isolating, confusing, and overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers clarity, validation, and real-life insight into what healing can look like.
📲 About Alicia & Liam (guests): • Liam: Former TV news anchor, Host of The OCD Confessional • Alicia: Mental Health Advocate, life w/ADHD + OCD, Host of The OCD Confessional • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theocdconfessional/ • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ocd-confessional/id1842857962 Web Page: https://www.theocdconfessional.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – “We Met Once… And I Told Her She Has OCD” 02:00 – “Confessing the ‘Crazy’ Stuff Out Loud (And Laughing About It)” 05:02 – “Is OCD Always Serious… Or Are We Missing Something?” 06:32 – “When OCD Hijacks Your Relationships” 08:32 – “I Had Everything… So Why Was I Falling Apart?” 11:02 – “Why No One Caught My OCD (For Years)” 13:02 – “I Was Breaking Down in Secret” 15:02 – “The Night Everything Finally Made Sense” 17:32 – “Why Not Asking for Help Makes It Worse” 19:02 – “How OCD Shows Up in Parenting (And Kids Notice)” 20:32 – “Mom, This Is Your OCD…” 22:32 – “Are You Protecting Your Kids… Or Teaching Fear?” 24:02 – “The Hardest Skill: Letting Your Kid Be Uncomfortable” 26:02 – “What I’d Tell My 8-Year-Old Self About OCD” 27:32 – “What Happens When You Finally Understand It?” 28:32 – “Where to Find Us + Why These Conversations Matter”
✅ Resources & Links
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • OCD and autism • autism and OCD differences • ERP therapy autism • neurodivergent OCD treatment • OCD rumination vs autism • OCD treatment options • window of tolerance OCD
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 180. Why OCD Treatment Doesn’t Always Feel Right: Understanding the Overlap with Autism | 17 Apr 2026 | 00:28:30 | |
Is it OCD… or autism? And how do you actually treat both?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Jenna Stone, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and founder of SideQuest Psychotherapy. Together, they explore the complex overlap between OCD and autism, and how proper evaluation and therapy can change everything.
Jenna opens up about: • Her personal journey with OCD and lived experience in the mental health field • How autism and OCD can overlap—and why they’re often misunderstood • The differences between OCD rumination and autistic processing • How therapy needs to adapt when working with neurodivergent clients
If you’ve ever questioned whether symptoms are OCD, autism, or both—this episode will give you clarity, direction, and a more compassionate understanding of your experience.
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone, this episode offers practical insight, validation, and hope for a more personalized path to recovery.
📲 About Jenna Stone (guest): • Clinical Director at SideQuest psychotherapy, lcsw-c • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidequestwithjenna/ • Substack: https://substack.com/@jennastone • SideQuest psychotherapy: https://www.sidequestpsychotherapy.com/ • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sidequestwithjenna
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Is It OCD… or Autism? (Why This Topic Matters) [00:45] – What Got You Into This Work? (Jenna’s Personal Story) [02:42] – What Does an Autism + OCD Evaluation Actually Look Like? [04:32] – What Do You Mean by “Nervous System”? (Explained Simply) [06:02] – Can ERP Work for Autism + OCD? (Or Is It Different?) [08:22] – OCD Rumination vs Autistic Thinking (Key Difference) [10:32] – Why Do Autistic People Overthink Social Situations? [13:02] – Is This OCD… or Just How the Brain Works? [15:02] – What If Someone Can’t Communicate What They Feel? [17:32] – How Should Parents Handle OCD Behaviors in Kids? [20:32] – Are You Helping… or Making OCD Worse? (Hard Truth) [22:32] – Which Therapy Works Best: ERP, ICBT, or ACT? [25:02] – Why Therapy Takes Longer for Neurodivergent Clients [27:02] – How Do You Actually Build Trust With These Clients? [29:02] – What Does GOOD Therapy Look Like for OCD + Autism? [30:32] – Final Takeaway: What People Still Get Wrong
✅ Resources & Links
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • OCD and autism • autism and OCD differences • ERP therapy autism • neurodivergent OCD treatment • OCD rumination vs autism • OCD treatment options • window of tolerance OCD
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 179. Can DBT Help OCD? What Actually Works (ERP, ICBT & Emotional Regulation Explained) | 10 Apr 2026 | 00:32:58 | |
Does Your Brain Feel Like It’s Been Hijacked?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Maggie Duret, LPCC, an OCD specialist who integrates DBT, ERP, and ICBT into her practice. Together, they explore how to manage the "Red Alert" of high-distress OCD and the specific nuances of moral and religious scrupulosity.
Maggie opens up about: • The Misdiagnosis Trap: Her journey from years of being treated for "generalized anxiety" to finally recognizing her moral scrupulosity. • The Weight of Being "Good": Her personal experience with excessive prayer, confession, and the "Just Right" trap of finding a perfect path. • Healing Layers: How ERP was her initial game-changer, while ICBT provided a deeper level of recovery and trust in herself. • Transitioning Roles: Moving from a DBT background with personality disorders to becoming a passionate OCD advocate and clinician.
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers high-impact tools and the reminder that recovery is about building a life worth living.
📲 About Maggie Durret (guest): • LPCC and OCD specialist • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northlightcounseling/ • Northlight Counseling: https://www.northlightcounseling.org/ • Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/maggie-duret-saint-paul-mn/1498178
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Is it Anxiety or Something Sneakier? (The Diagnosis Trap) 03:40 – Inside the Mind of a "High-Functioning" Catholic with OCD 06:36 – When Faith Becomes a Medical Emergency (Scrupulosity) 08:49 – ICBT vs. ERP: Which Therapy Actually Works for You? 14:50 – Why Your Nervous System "Hijacks" Your Recovery 19:10 – The TIPP Hack: How to Reboot Your Brain in 30 Seconds 25:52 – Listening to Senses Over "Internal Alarms" 29:20 – Building a Life Worth Living (Beyond the Symptoms)
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords • religious scrupulosity • DBT for OCD • TIPP skill for anxiety • moral OCD recovery • vagus nerve hack for panic • ICBT vs ERP • mental compulsions reassurance seeking
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| 178. Why You Feel Like a "Fraud" Even When You’re Successful (High-Functioning OCD) | 03 Apr 2026 | 00:26:25 | |
Can you build a global movement and lead a team while navigating the "fangs" of OCD
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Pavel Reppo, founder of A Fine Mind and a leader in international mental health. Together, they explore the intersection of high-stakes leadership, cultural expectations, and the persistent drive required to turn a diagnosis into a catalyst for social impact.
Pavel opens up about: • His "gateway" symptoms at age 13, including severe hand-washing rituals triggered by household turbulence. • How cultural stigmas in Belarus and the Eastern Bloc shaped his initial understanding of mental health. • The "Alien" feeling of Relationship OCD and the cycle of debilitating confessions. • His transition from "camouflaging" through perfectionism to seeking professional therapy in his early 20s.
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone, this episode offers a raw, unpolished look at the reality of high-functioning OCD and the hope that comes with finding a community that sees you for who you are.
📲 About Pavel Reppo (guest): • Executive Director - Finemind • CEO - Matchbox Fund • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavelreppo/ • A Fine Mind org. : https://afinemind.org/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – The Global Leader’s Secret: Building a mental health empire while fighting a private war. [01:46] – The Divorce Catalyst: How a "turbulent home" forced a child to find control in rituals. [03:32] – The "Grit" Trap: Why the Eastern European mindset of "choosing happiness" fuels OCD. [06:20] – The Perfectionist Masquerade: Using straight A’s to hide the "Alien" feelings inside. [07:34] – The Relationship Punching Bag: When "Relationship OCD" turns confession into a toxic loop. [09:32] – The Therapy Shift: Why talk therapy failed and how the precision of ERP changed everything. [12:02] – The ACT North Star: How to stop listening to "sneaky" emotions and start living by values. [13:52] – Micromanagement Fangs: When OCD poisons remote leadership and global delegation. [15:47] – The 18-Hour Collapse: Reaching the breaking point—burnout, depletion, and starting over. [20:09] – The Double-Edged Sword: Does OCD-driven tenacity actually help you succeed? [21:39] – The New Fatherhood Filter: Re-learning balance and "holding back" for the next generation. [23:57] – Beyond the Highlight Reel: Why we need to stop presenting a "polished" version of recovery.
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords living with OCD Relationship OCD stories ERP therapy for perfectionism Pavel Reppo mental health high functioning OCD leadership Relationship OCD confessions ACT therapy for OCD
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 177. Why You’re Never "Ready": Dr. Lauren Cook on Social Atrophy & The Emetophobia Trap | 27 Mar 2026 | 00:18:22 | |
Can you be terrified of the future and still move forward to build it?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Lauren Cook, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of Generation Anxiety. Together, they explore the unique mental health pressures facing Gen Z and Millennials, and how to navigate big life transitions without letting anxiety hold the steering wheel.
Dr. Cook opens up about: • Her personal battle with Emetophobia (the fear of vomit) and how it nearly stopped her from becoming a mother. • The debilitating rituals and "Safety Taxes" that keep our worlds small. • Why ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is the gold standard for reclaiming your life from specific phobias. • Her journey to parenthood and how she manages anxiety while raising a family. • Why ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is the gold standard for reclaiming your life from specific phobias. • Her journey to parenthood and how she manages anxiety while raising a family.
Whether you’re navigating a major life transition or struggling with a "hidden" phobia, this episode offers the psychological frameworks and distress tolerance tools you need to embrace the mess and find your liberated living.
📲 About Dr. Lauren Cook (guest): • Clinical Psychologist, Speaker, Consultant • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.laurencook/ • Heartship therapy: https://www.heartshipcounseling.com/ • Dr. Lauren's web page: https://www.drlaurencook.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – "What is Emetophobia?" Dr. Cook on the "hidden" fear of vomit. [03:06] – The Parenthood Crossroad: Why I almost wrote off motherhood because of my phobia. [04:34] – The Gen Z Trifecta: What are the biggest drivers of mental health stress today? [05:44] – "Social Atrophy": Why your social skills feel like a weak muscle post-pandemic. [06:16] – Adult Separation Anxiety: Why is this peaking in college students (not just kids)? [07:32] – The "Ready" Delusion: Why you have to embrace the mess before the fear goes away. [08:59] – The SUDS Strategy: How to challenge your biggest fears without being "flooded." [10:42] – The "Emotional Flu": A clinical reframe for surviving bad breakups and setbacks. [11:51] – The Achievement Paradox: Why "success" and perception aren't making us happy. [12:16] – Values vs. People-Pleasing: How to stop living a life designed by other people. [14:05] – Empowered Acceptance: Moving from "I'm a speck" to "I'm a movement." [16:25] – The "Both-And" Rule: How to hold global grief and personal joy at the same time.
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords emetophobia recovery Dr. Lauren Cook Generation Anxiety adult separation anxiety Gen Z mental health social anxiety muscles ERP for phobias distress tolerance skills anxious attachment recovery millennial stress management
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 176. The Hardest "No": Why I Stopped Fixing My Child’s OCD | 20 Mar 2026 | 00:32:57 | |
Can you stop being a "fixer" and start building your feeling muscle?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Jenn Rapkin, a Naturopathic Physician, bodyworker, and author of The Feeling Muscle. Together, they explore the powerful intersection of mindfulness, parenting a child with OCD, and learning how to sit with the "just right" discomfort that keeps so many of us stuck in rituals.
Dr. Jenn opens up about: • Her hidden battle with OCD as an adolescent in the 70s and 80s • The heartbreaking moment her 8-year-old son was swallowed by "Just Right" OCD • Why she had to go against every motherly instinct to stop accommodating his rituals • The reality of residential treatment and finding the "recipe" for her son's recovery
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself, supporting a child through treatment, or struggling to sit with uncertainty, this episode offers a profound roadmap for building the emotional strength to outlast the storm.
📲 About Jenn Rapkin (guest): • Naturopathic physician & bodyworker • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennrapkin/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575991456912 • Web Page: https://drjennrapkin.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – The Secret to Outlasting Pain: Can you build a "muscle" for your emotions? [01:57] – The 1970s Silent Struggle: Growing up in a "crowded" mind before OCD had a name. [04:38] – The Barcelona Nightmare: How COVID triggered an 8-year-old’s "Just Right" trap. [06:33] – The Resistance: Why adults (and kids) would rather ritual than feel. [08:49] – The Nuclear Option: When outpatient care fails and residential is the only way out. [10:32] – The Nurturer’s Dilemma: Why "helping" your child is keeping the OCD alive. [12:53] – The Grief of Parenting: Admitting your marriage and life have become "small." [14:58] – The Trigger Loop: What happens when a parent’s OCD meets their child’s. [18:58] – The Whiteboard Revelation: The "Bell Curve" secret to sitting with discomfort. [21:44] – The "Handshake" Method: A step-by-step guide to practicing with frustration. [26:07] – The Fleeting Truth: Why we trust our joy but believe our pain is permanent. [29:20] – The Witness vs. The Fixer: How to hold space for someone else’s storm.
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords parenting a child with OCD Just Right OCD treatment Dr. Jenn Rapkin Feeling Muscle how to sit with uncomfortable feelings SPACE treatment for parents childhood OCD recovery mindfulness for intrusive thoughts ERP for kids
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 175. Body Dysmorphic Disorder: How to spot the hidden signs with Robyn Stern, LCSW | 13 Mar 2026 | 00:31:29 | |
Is it OCD, or is your brain just wired differently?🧠
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Jeremy Shuman, a psychologist and specialist in the intersection of Autism and OCD. Together, they explore the complex overlap between neurodevelopmental traits and obsessive-compulsive patterns.
Dr. Shuman opens up about: • The definition of Autism and the shift toward the Neurodiversity Movement. • Why observable behaviors like "stimming" are often mistaken for OCD compulsions. • The internal experience of sensory seeking versus sensory rejecting. • The trait of Monotropism and how deep focus differs from clinical obsessions.
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone who is neurodivergent, this episode offers essential tools and insights to help you understand the "why" behind the rituals.
📲 About Robyn Stern (guest): • Specialized treatment for OCD, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), and anxiety disorders • Web Page & all contacts: https://www.rlsterntherapy.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Welcome to the show: Meet Robyn Stern. [02:20] – "Before you knew it was BDD, what did you think was wrong with you?" [03:32] – "What was it like? Did you think it was just insecurity or that you were just anxious?" [07:22] – "What was the turning point that made you decide to seek help?" [11:07] – "Did you just stop talking to your friends altogether?" [12:57] – "Did you think you were just being vain or that you were broken?" [20:43] – "What is the actual therapy to get better?" (The difference between OCD and BDD treatment). [24:02] – The "Perfect Storm" of beauty standards and BDD [25:12] – "Is it a painful pill to swallow thinking this is just your lot in life?" [28:12] – "How can you have a relationship with a person when you're in a relationship with a body part?" [30:22] – How to connect with Robyn Stern and find resources.
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords Body Dysmorphic Disorder BDD recovery Robyn Stern LCSW lived experience BDD appearance OCD vs BDD mirror checking compulsions overcoming body shame BDD treatment and therapy
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 174. STOP Treating Autism like OCD: The "Golden Rule" of Differential Diagnosis with Dr. Jeremy Shuman | 06 Mar 2026 | 00:29:04 | |
Is it OCD, or is your brain just wired differently?🧠
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Jeremy Shuman, a psychologist and specialist in the intersection of Autism and OCD. Together, they explore the complex overlap between neurodevelopmental traits and obsessive-compulsive patterns.
Dr. Shuman opens up about: • The definition of Autism and the shift toward the Neurodiversity Movement. • Why observable behaviors like "stimming" are often mistaken for OCD compulsions. • The internal experience of sensory seeking versus sensory rejecting. • The trait of Monotropism and how deep focus differs from clinical obsessions.
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone who is neurodivergent, this episode offers essential tools and insights to help you understand the "why" behind the rituals.
📲 About Dr. Jeremy Shuman (guest): • licensed psychologist, expert in OCD and anxiety disorders, autism and OCD • Web Page: https://mindfulstl.com/providers/jeremy-shuman-psy-d/ • OCD/Autism SIG Interest Form: https://www.tfaforms.com/5069768
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Why what you know about Autism is wrong [03:05] – The DSM Trap: Why Autism diagnosis was designed for "School-age White Boys" (and who gets left out). [05:16] – Hidden Clues: Common behaviors in school and social life that scream "A deeper look is needed." [06:52] – Is it OCD or Autism? The "Locked Door" vs. the "Body Motion" (Distinguishing the two). [09:32] – The Golden Rule of Diagnosis: Is your behavior "Neutralizing a Threat" or "Regulating your Body"? [11:32] – Beyond ERP: Why a "Standard" OCD treatment plan might fail an Autistic client. [14:42] – The Case of the Circular Mind: When "Rumination" is actually a neurological focus trait. [18:37] – The "Car Breakdown" Analogy: A must-watch for families struggling to understand their loved one’s disability. [22:17] – The Big Question: Is OCD actually a form of Neurodivergence? (Dr. Shuman’s definitive answer). [25:26] – The "Scalpel vs. Weapon" Controversy: Can Exposure Therapy actually be harmful to the Autism community?
✅ Resources & Links
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords autism and ocd neurodivergent ocd monotropism ocd erp for autistic people distinguishing ocd and autism stimming vs compulsions neurodiversity movement mental health Dr. Jeremy Shuman ocd
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 173. How long does OCD RECOVERY take? The 4 to 8 month roadmap EXPLAINED! | 27 Feb 2026 | 00:33:06 | |
Is Perfectionism Hijacking Your Values? 🧠
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Marisa Mazza, PsyD. Together, they explore the final pieces of the ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) puzzle: values and committed action, and how to integrate these tools into a long-term recovery journey.
Dr. Mazza opens up about: • The critical difference between "Values" (directions) and "Goals" (destinations) • How perfectionism can turn your guiding principles into rigid, impossible rules • The "60–70% Rule"—why aiming for "good enough" is the secret to avoiding burnout • A breakdown of the 6 core processes of ACT: Presence, Values, Committed Action, Self-as-Context, Defusion, and Willingness
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone, this episode offers a clear, compassionate roadmap for moving away from a life ruled by fear and toward a life led by what truly matters to you.
📲 About Marisa Mazza (guest): • PsyD, a faculty member of the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute, author of The ACT Workbook for OCD • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmazza/ • Web Page: https://www.choicetherapy.net/team
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – The "Success" Trap: Why your goals might actually be feeding your OCD. [02:01] – The North Star Method: Values vs. Goals (And why the difference is everything). [04:29] – The 60% Rule: How "Good Enough" is the ultimate weapon against perfectionism. [05:55] – The Life Basket Strategy: How to stop OCD from hijacking your entire energy supply. [09:24] – The "Miracle Morning" Test: A 60-second self-reflection to find your true self. [11:58] – The "Itty Bitty Step": How to move forward when you feel completely paralyzed. [14:56] – Courage is Fear Walking: Why you don't need to "feel ready" to start recovery. [16:54] – The Carrot Technique: Finding the "Big Purpose" that makes the pain of ERP worth it. [21:07] – Failing with Purpose: Why you need to get "good" at failing to get better. [24:20] – The Recovery Roadmap: What actually happens inside an ACT therapy session? [26:40] – Compulsion Math: Why short-term relief is stealing your long-term life [29:30] – The Real Timeline: How long does it actually take? (4 months vs. 1 year) [32:27] – The "Slow Food" Movement: Why rushing recovery is the fastest way to stay stuck
✅ Resources & Links
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords ACT for OCD Values vs Rules OCD Committed Action therapy OCD recovery roadmap Acceptance and Commitment Therapy tips Perfectionism and OCD Exposure and Response Prevention Dr. Marisa Mazza
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 172. ACT for OCD: The "Observer Self" Hack to Stop Intrusive Thoughts | 20 Feb 2026 | 00:22:41 | |
How can you stay present when your brain is screaming with OCD? 🧠
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Marisa Mazza, PsyD. Together, they explore the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) concepts of Self-as-Context and Present Moment Awareness—and how to apply them even when anxiety feels overwhelming.
Dr. Mazza opens up about: • Why "being present" feels threatening or impossible when you have OCD • The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise and how to use tactile sensations to anchor yourself • The concept of the "Observer Self" (Self-as-Context) and why you are the sky, not the weather • How to build a tolerance for uncomfortable internal experiences without fighting them
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone, this episode offers practical tools, grounding strategies, and a path toward living a full, present life.
📲 About Marisa Mazza (guest): • PsyD, a faculty member of the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute, author of The ACT Workbook for OCD • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmazza/ • Web Page: https://www.choicetherapy.net/team
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – The "Being Present" Trap: Why Mindfulness Feels Scary [02:16] – The Goal of ACT: You Don’t Have to be Perfect [03:12] – The 5-4-3-2-1 Reset: Grounding Your Physical Body [03:35] – Tactile vs. Internal: What to do when "Feeling" is Overwhelming [06:32] – Micro-Mindfulness: Success in Just 30 Seconds [10:23] – Sky vs. Weather: Why Your Thoughts Aren't "The Truth" [11:29] – Zooming Out: You Are More Than Your Intrusive Thoughts [14:52] – The Tennis Match Metaphor: Stop Swinging at Every Thought [16:32] – Real-Life Application: Staying Present Mid-Trigger [18:32] – From Fusion to Freedom: Reclaiming Your Power to Choose
✅ Resources & Links
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords OCD mindfulness Present moment awareness OCD ACT therapy for OCD Self-as-context explained Dr. Marisa Mazza Grounding techniques for anxiety Intrusive thoughts recovery Observer self mindfulness
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 171. OCD Recovery: 2 Skills to Stop Fighting Your Mind (OCD Defusion & Acceptance Tools) | 13 Feb 2026 | 00:30:09 | |
Can You Really Accept a Thought You Hate? 🧠
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Marisa Mazza, a psychologist and expert in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Together, they explore the "how-to" of diffusion and acceptance—the tools that transform your relationship with intrusive thoughts from a battle into a peaceful coexistence.
[Dr. Mazza opens up about]: • The Thought Machine: Why your brain is hardwired to produce automatic, often negative thoughts, and why you can't just "turn it off" • The Velcro Effect: Understanding the evolutionary biology behind why negative thoughts stick while positive ones slide away • Defusion Strategies: Practical ways to "unhook" from obsessions using labels, billboards, and even silly voices like Mickey Mouse • True Acceptance: Why accepting a thought doesn't mean you like it, want it, or agree with it—it simply means you're willing to have it
By the end of this episode, you’ll realize that while you can’t control the "Thought Machine," you can absolutely control how you respond to it.
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone, this episode offers tangible strategies and a mindset shift toward psychological flexibility.
📲 About Marisa Mazza (guest): • PsyD, a faculty member of the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute, author of The ACT Workbook for OCD • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmazza/ • Web Page: https://www.choicetherapy.net/team
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – The Cure Lie: Why thoughts are 100% automatic [04:57] – Velcro Brain: Why your mind clings to the negative [07:31] – The Unhooking Hack: Simple phrases to detach instantly [08:56] – Mental Billboards: Stripping the power from intrusive thoughts [12:31] – The OCD Compass: Your fears reveal your deepest values [16:44] – The Acceptance Trap: Willingness vs. wanting the thought [21:53] – Brain Labeling: Turning off the internal panic alarm [26:07] – The 4-Step Script: How to handle a massive spike [28:45] – Not Your Fault: Reclaiming your life from OCD
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
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© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 170. Why ERP Isn’t Enough: Using ACT to Build a Life Beyond OCD Symptoms | 06 Feb 2026 | 00:31:43 | |
🧠Is the opposite of anxiety actually trust?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Marisa Mazza, PsyD, a faculty member of the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute and author of The ACT Workbook for OCD. Together, they explore Psychological Flexibility—the core of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—and how it integrates with ERP to help you live a "big, beautiful life" even with OCD.
Key points covered: • Defining Psychological Flexibility: Understanding the 6 core processes of ACT (Presence, Values, Committed Action, Self-as-Context, Diffusion, and Acceptance). • The ERP + ACT Integration: Why symptom reduction isn't always enough and how ACT addresses the "day-to-day living" aspect of recovery. • The "Flashlight" Metaphor: Shifting your focus from internal control to values-based living. • Slowing Down to Heal: Why we use busy-ness as a distraction and how to safely sit with the "scary" silence.
Recovery isn't just about stopping compulsions; it’s about having the flexibility to roll with life’s punches. Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone, this episode offers a philosophical and practical roadmap for moving beyond just "getting by" to truly thriving.
📲 About Marisa Mazza (guest): • PsyD, a faculty member of the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute, author of The ACT Workbook for OCD • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmazza/ • Web Page: https://www.choicetherapy.net/team
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] - The OCD Whisperer x Dr. Marisa Mazza [03:12] - Psychological Flexibility: The "Game Changer" in Treatment [05:26] - A New Relationship with Your "What Ifs" [09:13] - Beyond Symptom Reduction (ACT vs. ERP) [13:12] - The "Grief" Example: Putting Acceptance into Action [16:32] - Why "Slowing Down" Feels So Dangerous [22:47] - The Silent Retreat Test: Facing What We Run From [27:26] - The Ultimate Reframe: Trust vs. Anxiety [29:40] - Your "Itty Bitty Baby Step" for Today
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords OCD Recovery Mental Health Podcast Anxiety Relief Overcoming OCD OCD Treatment Psychology Therapy Tips OCD Whisperer
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| 169. My OCD Was at Its Worst While My Baby Was Fighting for Her Life | 30 Jan 2026 | 00:31:13 | |
🧠Can OCD trick even a trained medical professional? What happens when your worst fear actually comes true—and your OCD tells you it’s your fault?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Sarah Michelle Boes, nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, mother, and OCD advocate. Together, they explore what it’s like to live for decades with undiagnosed OCD, how pregnancy intensified obsessive thinking, and how recovery is possible even after hitting rock bottom.
Sarah opens up about: • Living with OCD symptoms since childhood without knowing it • Being misdiagnosed until adulthood • How pregnancy and motherhood intensified magical thinking OCD • The moment she realized OCD—not reality—was running the show • Entering intensive ERP treatment and rebuilding her life
This is an honest, vulnerable conversation about living through fear, uncertainty, and doubt—and learning how to move forward anyway. Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers hope, clarity, and practical insight into long-term recovery.
📲 About Sara Boes (guest): • NP, mental health advocate, author, Founder • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmichelleboes/?hl=en • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-michelle-boes/ • Web Page: https://sarahmichelleboes.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Meet Sarah Boes [01:10] The First Signs of OCD No One Recognized [03:31] Pregnancy Triggered My Worst OCD Ever [04:27] The Baby Shower That Broke My Brain [05:10] When OCD “Got It Right” About My Child [07:22] Life After a Severe OCD Diagnosis [10:08] Hitting Extreme OCD and Entering Intensive Treatment [11:52] What Actually Helped Me Recover From OCD [13:39] Losing the Constant Feeling of Urgency [15:39] Who Am I Without My OCD? [17:02] Doing the Things OCD Tried to Take Away [20:01] OCD Remission, Relapse, and Real Recovery [21:52] When OCD Targets What You Love Most [25:35] The Sneaky Ways OCD Comes Back [27:34] Reassurance, Relationships, and Setting Boundaries [30:09] Final Thoughts and Where to Find Sarah
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✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
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| 168. Why you can’t stop OCD thoughts and what actually works (Acceptance Explained) | 23 Jan 2026 | 00:19:42 | |
🧠Can you really accept OCD thoughts without agreeing with them? And what does “acceptance” actually look like when your mind is attacking you nonstop?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova, LMFT, speaks with Dr. Sarah Brungardt, psychologist and founder of Calm OCD. Together, they explore one of the most misunderstood (and feared) concepts in OCD recovery: accepting intrusive thoughts without engaging in compulsions.
Dr. Brungardt breaks down what acceptance truly means, why fighting thoughts keeps OCD stronger, and how learning to tolerate uncomfortable emotions can give you your life back.
Dr. Sarah opens up about: • Why the goal of OCD therapy is not eliminating thoughts or emotions • How emotional reasoning keeps people stuck in compulsive loops • Why rumination is one of the most overlooked compulsions in OCD • What real acceptance looks like in daily life (and why it feels impossible at first)
Acceptance doesn’t mean approval. It doesn’t mean giving up. It means learning how to live with uncertainty instead of letting OCD control your choices. Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and practical insight into how acceptance actually works in recovery.
📲 About Sara Brungardt (guest): • CEO of "calmocd" • OCD & Anxiety Specialist • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calmocd/ • CalmOCD web page: https://www.calmocd.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Meet Dr. Sarah Brungardt: Your Guide to Understanding OCD [01:17] – Why “Acceptance” Sounds Impossible at First [03:23] – Sitting With Feelings That Feel Unbearable [05:47] – How Can You Avoid Engaging with Thoughts [08:03] – Acceptance Is the First Exposure [09:59] – How Long OCD Recovery Really Takes [12:10] – How can I feel positive emotions during OCD attacks [13:51] – How can you stop trying to figure out OCD thoughts [16:29] – When Acceptance Becomes the Obsession
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✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords OCD acceptance intrusive thoughts OCD rumination OCD ERP therapy for OCD mental compulsions OCD recovery tools accepting intrusive thoughts OCD psychoeducation
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| 167. Understanding OCD Beyond ERP: Obsessional Doubt, I-CBT, and Real Recovery | 16 Jan 2026 | 00:30:10 | |
🧠What If OCD Isn’t About Uncertainty—But About Doubting the Wrong Things?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova, LMFT shares her personal journey living with OCD and how her understanding of treatment has evolved over time. Drawing from both lived experience and nearly a decade of clinical work with OCD, Kristina breaks down ERP, ICBT, ACT, and why learning how OCD actually works mattered more than chasing themes or subtypes.
This conversation dives into: • Living with relationship OCD, morality OCD, and “feeling off” OCD • Why rumination was her most powerful (and invisible) compulsion • How ERP—especially imaginal exposures—changed her relationship with intrusive thoughts • What it really meant to reach recovery and live without being ruled by OCD
Kristina shares how learning to spot rumination, tolerate uncomfortable body sensations, and stop feeding imaginary stories helped her step out of OCD’s internal world and back into real life.
Whether you’re living with OCD, supporting someone who is, or trying to decide which treatment approach is right for you, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and practical insight into what recovery can actually look like.
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – I Didn’t Know I Had OCD (Even as a Therapist) [02:52] – Why Understanding OCD Matters More Than Knowing Your “Subtype” [05:17] – Why ERP Helped Me (And What People Get Wrong About It) [07:32] – The Compulsion No One Talks About: Rumination [09:52] – When Your Brain Starts Searching for Problems That Don’t Exist [12:07] – Exposure to Feelings: Letting Anxiety Exist Without Fixing It [14:32] – The Breakthrough I Had With I-CBT [16:55] – Obsessional Doubt vs Real-Life Uncertainty [20:27] – The Moment I Stopped Believing Every Story My Mind Created [22:42] – How to Tell When You’re Doubting Normally vs Obsessionally [24:42] – Why There Is No “One Right” Way to Treat OCD [27:32] – Recovery Is Possible (And What I Want You to Take From This)
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords OCD recovery relationship OCD ERP therapy for OCD ICBT for OCD rumination OCD obsessional doubt intrusive thoughts OCD living with OCD OCD treatment options
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| 166. Therapist Explains: The Subtle Signs of Childhood OCD Parents Overlook | 09 Jan 2026 | 00:22:07 | |
👨👩👧👦Is your child’s OCD hiding behind good behavior and perfectionism?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Katherine Schooland, LMFT, founder and director of Raising Brave Kids, a multi-state practice specializing in child and teen anxiety and OCD. Together, they explore how childhood OCD can quietly hide in high-functioning, compliant, and “well-behaved” kids — and why it’s so often missed. Katherine shares deep clinical insight into how OCD actually shows up in children, especially when it doesn’t look anxious, disruptive, or obvious.
Katherine breaks down: • How childhood OCD can hide behind reassurance-seeking, perfectionism, and compliance • Why mental compulsions and rumination are so hard for parents to spot • The difference between normal developmental worries and OCD “stickiness” • How ERP-informed parenting can interrupt the OCD cycle early • What happens when childhood OCD goes unrecognized into adolescence and adulthood
Whether you’re parenting a child with OCD, suspect something deeper than “just anxiety,” or supporting a family navigating uncertainty, this episode offers clarity, hope, and concrete tools to help kids — and parents — move forward.
📲 About Katherine (guest): • LMFT, founder and director of Raising Brave Kids • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisingbrave.kids • Raising Brave Kids: https://www.raisingbravekids.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – When OCD Hides in “Good Kids” [01:36] – The Reassurance Trap Parents Don’t Realize They’re In [04:10] – When Perfectionism Isn’t a Strength Anymore [06:02] – Avoidance That Doesn’t Look Like Avoidance [07:01] – The Mental Rituals No One Sees [09:17] – How Loving Parents Accidentally Feed OCD [10:47] – Supporting Your Child Without Becoming the Anxiety Regulator [13:23] – Why Parents Must Regulate Themselves First [14:16] – What Happens When Childhood OCD Is Missed [16:49] – Why Early Skills Change Everything [17:40] – The Biggest Gaps in OCD Treatment Today [20:09] – You’re Not Failing—There Is a Way Forward
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords childhood OCD OCD in children parenting a child with OCD reassurance seeking OCD mental compulsions ERP for kids family accommodation OCD anxiety vs OCD in children
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| 165. Perinatal OCD vs Normal Parental Anxiety: How to Tell the Difference | 02 Jan 2026 | 00:21:18 | |
🤰These Thoughts Don’t Mean You Want to Harm Your Baby
In this second of two episodes about perinatal OCD on The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova is joined again by Betty Flores, LCSW, a perinatal mental health specialist and founder of Perinatal Wellness, for an honest and deeply needed conversation about perinatal OCD, intrusive thoughts, pregnancy, and postpartum mental health. Betty shares her own lived experience with undiagnosed perinatal OCD—including how both she and her therapist initially missed the signs—and how that journey ultimately led her to specialize in helping parents who feel terrified by thoughts they don’t understand.
Betty opens up about: • Experiencing intrusive thoughts during postpartum that were misunderstood as “normal worry” • Why perinatal OCD is often missed or minimized—even by trained professionals • Taboo intrusive thoughts involving harm and why they don’t reflect intent • How reassurance, checking, and mental review quietly fuel the OCD cycle • Why ERP therapy and proper education changed everything
Whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, supporting a loved one, or trying to understand intrusive thoughts, this conversation offers clarity, education, and relief—without minimizing how real and painful this experience can be.
📲 About Betty Flores (guest): • Certified in Perinatal Mental Health | EMDR | ERP • Perinatal OCD/Anxiety, Reproductive Trauma, Grief & Loss • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perinatal_wellness/ • Perinatal Wellness: https://www.perinatal-wellness.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – When the Expert Misses OCD in Herself: A Therapist’s Undiagnosed Perinatal OCD [03:19] – Why Perinatal OCD Is So Often Misdiagnosed (Even by Professionals) [05:40] – Normal Parent Worry vs OCD: The One Difference That Changes Everything [07:25] – OCD Is the Doubting Disease: How “What If” Thoughts Take Over [08:15] – Can You Control OCD During Pregnancy? What Actually Helps [09:25] – What Postpartum OCD Really Looks Like (Thoughts, Urges, and Checking) [10:37] – Responsibility, Parenthood, and OCD’s Biggest Trap [13:20] – How Common Is Perinatal OCD (And Why Parents Stay Silent) [14:59] – Can Postpartum OCD Turn Into Psychosis? Clearing Up a Common Fear [16:58] – Baby Blues vs Postpartum Depression: The Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords perinatal OCD postpartum OCD intrusive thoughts pregnancy harm OCD parents ERP therapy for OCD postpartum anxiety vs OCD OCD intrusive thoughts baby maternal mental health
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 164. Perinatal OCD Explained: When Protective Instincts Turn Into Intrusive Fear | 26 Dec 2025 | 00:16:40 | |
🤰Are these protective instincts… or is it postpartum OCD?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Betty Flores, LCSW, a perinatal mental health specialist from Perinatal Wellness. Together, they explore how postpartum and pregnancy OCD show up, why intrusive thoughts feel so convincing during this stage of life, and how parents can tell the difference between normal worry and an OCD-driven threat response.
Betty breaks down: • What intrusive thoughts in pregnancy and postpartum actually look like • How perinatal OCD disguises itself as “being a good parent” • The difference between normal protective instincts and OCD-driven urgency • Why reassurance-seeking, checking, and mental reviewing fuel the cycle
If you’re pregnant, postpartum, trying to conceive, or supporting someone who is — and struggling with frightening thoughts that don’t match who you are — this episode offers clarity, normalization, and hope. You are not broken, dangerous, or failing as a parent. And help is available.
📲 About Betty Flores (guest): • Certified in Perinatal Mental Health | EMDR | ERP • Perinatal OCD/Anxiety, Reproductive Trauma, Grief & Loss • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perinatal_wellness/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Normal Protective Instinct or OCD? Why This Question Confuses Almost Every Parent [02:32] – The “What If” Spiral: Intrusive Thoughts in Pregnancy & Postpartum Explained [05:02] – Why Mental Compulsions Are Harder to Spot Than Physical Ones [05:52] – “If I Say This, Will I Be Reported?” Why Parents Stay Silent About Intrusive Thoughts [07:42] – Do These Thoughts Mean I Want to Harm My Baby? How to Tell the Difference [09:45] – What OBs, Midwives, and Doctors Often Get Wrong About Perinatal OCD [11:00] – Why Perinatal OCD Is So Often Misdiagnosed as “Just Anxiety” [12:26] – Does Perinatal OCD Ever Go Away? What Actually Helps [14:02] – ERP in Pregnancy & Postpartum: Why It Works (And Why People Fear It) [14:34] – Final Takeaway: You’re Not Dangerous — You’re Stuck in an OCD Loop
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords postpartum OCD perinatal OCD intrusive thoughts postpartum pregnancy anxiety vs OCD ERP for postpartum OCD intrusive thoughts about baby maternal mental health
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| 163. Relationship OCD, Shame, and Recovery: Learning to Live With Uncertainty | 19 Dec 2025 | 00:26:45 | |
💔Can OCD convince you that you’re incapable of love?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Zack Tucker, OCD advocate and creator of OCDestigmatize. Together, they explore relationship OCD, health anxiety, shame, and what real recovery actually looks like when OCD never fully disappears—but stops controlling your life.
Zack opens up about: • Relationship OCD and the fear of “not really loving” partners • How intrusive thoughts destroyed past relationships and self-esteem • Promiscuity, avoidance, and using control to cope with emotional pain • ERP, exposure, and redefining what recovery truly means • Living with OCD long-term while still building love, confidence, and meaning
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers hope, perspective, and reassurance that you can live fully—even with uncertainty.
📲 About Zack Tucker (guest): • popular mental health Instagram page owner • OCD survivor • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocdestigmatize/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Meet Zach & Why He Started Speaking Publicly About OCD [01:22] – Relationship OCD: Believing You’re Incapable of Love [02:42] – How OCD Destroys Relationships Without Anyone Seeing It [04:22] – Real Doubt vs OCD Doubt: Why Relationship OCD Feels So Convincing [05:57] – The First Breakup That Wasn’t Caused by OCD [08:17] – What Recovery Actually Looks Like (Thoughts Still Exist) [10:12] – From POCD to Health OCD: When Themes Shift but Fear Stays [12:12] – Living With Real Risk: Health OCD, Rabies, and Uncertainty [15:32] – Vietnam as Exposure Therapy: Facing Every Fear at Once [17:42] – Why Recovery Isn’t Cold Turkey (And Why Self-Compassion Matters) [20:07] – Ending Shame by Putting OCD on the Internet [22:02] – What He’d Tell His Younger Self About OCD and Recovery
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords relationship OCD OCD recovery intrusive thoughts ERP therapy for OCD health anxiety OCD living with OCD managing OCD long-term OCD and relationships
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 162. Social Media Is Making Your OCD Worse — Here’s Why | 12 Dec 2025 | 00:13:07 | |
🧠Can social media trigger your OCD without you even realizing it?
In this solo episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova explores how social media interacts with OCD, compulsions, and obsessive thoughts. She shares strategies for scrolling with intention, not on autopilot, and how to reclaim control over your digital habits.
Kristina opens up about: • How a quick scroll can spark OCD spirals and leave you feeling anxious or empty • The sneaky ways social media hijacks compulsions and triggers obsessions • Why intention-focused use is more effective than avoidance • Simple, actionable steps to reclaim control over your scrolling habits
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone, this episode offers practical strategies, awareness tools, and encouragement to transform your social media use into a value-driven practice.
💪Listener Challenge: Before bed tonight, pause and screenshot your home screen. Circle the app you reach for first when you feel triggered and post it (or save privately). Then write: “I’m choosing intention — not autopilot.” Let’s show social media who’s really in charge.
📲 About Krista Reed (guest): • OCD/BDD/BFRB Specialist in KS • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristaruthreed/?hl=en • Breathe Between Battles: A Daily Reflection Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSL41QCR?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&bestFormat=true
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – What happens when social media feels like a drug? [00:28] – Why can a “quick scroll” leave us anxious and empty? [02:02] – How do endless scrolling and notifications hijack our attention? [02:37] – Can heavy social media use harm our mental health? [04:04] – How does OCD interact with compulsions and comparison triggers online? [05:02] – Why does a quick glance spiral into self-critique and rumination? [07:16] – How are OCD symptoms evolving with technology? [08:09] – What’s the difference between intentional use and avoidance? [09:02] – How can we use social media with awareness and intention? [09:50] – How can small actions help reclaim control over our mind? [10:49] – Listener Challenge — you MUST try this [12:07] – How can community support help in taking back social media?
📚 Research Sources Mentioned in This Episode: • Primack et al. (2017). Social media use across multiple platforms linked to higher depressive symptoms. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4853817/ • Keles et al. (2020). Social media associated with anxiety, depression, loneliness, and lower well-being. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7785056/ • Giraldo-Luque et al. (2023). Excessive social media use connected to stress, poor sleep, and emotional distress. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10129173/ • Lin et al. (2017). Using more social media platforms predicts higher anxiety/depression. https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2017.1b16 • Hunt et al. (UPenn). Cutting social media to 30 min/day reduces anxiety, depression, loneliness. (summary) https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/cutting-back-social-media-reduces-anxiety-depression-loneliness • Dalvi-Esfahani et al. (2022). Compulsive social media use positively correlated with OCD symptoms. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9407245/ • Garcia & Thibedeau (2018). OCD symptoms increasingly include digital compulsions. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6120640/ • Frontiers Review (2022). Problematic social media use linked to OCD, ADHD, anxiety. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1106004/full
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords social media and OCD living with OCD managing compulsions mindful social media use OCD awareness strategies intentional scrolling OCD recovery tips
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 161. How Sex and Intimacy Can Help You Move Through Grief | 05 Dec 2025 | 00:34:30 | |
🧠 Can grief and OCD completely change your sex drive, intimacy, and connection with your partner?
In this powerful episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Krista Reed, licensed therapist and trauma specialist, about how grief, trauma, cortisol, and the nervous system directly affect sexuality, desire, and emotional intimacy in people with OCD.
❤️This episode explores: • Why grief and OCD can shut down desire — or make it feel overwhelming • How cortisol and chronic stress disrupt arousal and connection • The role of sex, intimacy, and orgasm in nervous system regulation • Why shame around desire is so common in OCD • How trauma stored in the body blocks emotional and sexual safety
This is one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about OCD, grief, and sex — and how to begin healing at the nervous system level.
📲 About Krista Reed (guest): • OCD/BDD/BFRB Specialist in KS • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristaruthreed/?hl=en • Breathe Between Battles: A Daily Reflection Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSL41QCR?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&bestFormat=true
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Why Grief and OCD Can Completely Disrupt Desire [00:42] – Lowering Cortisol: The Foundation of Emotional and Sexual Regulation [01:53] – What Chronic Stress Does to Libido and Arousal [02:39] – Journaling the Thoughts You’re Too Ashamed to Say Out Loud [03:28] – When Your Mind Is Loud but Your Body Feels Numb [05:02] – Creativity, Fantasy, and Sexual Energy as Emotional Escape [06:08] – Discipline vs Avoidance in Mental and Sexual Health [07:41] – Showing Up for Your Body Even When You Don’t Want To [08:36] – Mood Swings, Hormones, and Emotional Intimacy [09:24] – Burnout, Attraction, and Feeling Disconnected From Pleasure [10:34] – The Body’s Natural Drive for Physical Release [11:28] – Sex as Stress Relief: When It Helps and When It Becomes Escape [11:57] – The Nervous System, Orgasms, and Temporary Calm [12:32] – Shame, Desire, and Wanting Comfort at the Same Time [13:20] – Using Sex for Safety After Emotional Loss [14:43] – Physical Connection as a Shortcut to Feeling Alive [15:36] – When Pleasure Becomes Regulation, Not Destruction [16:12] – Emotional Regulation Through Touch, Not Self-Punishment [17:37] – There Is No “Wrong” Way to Feel Arousal During Grief [18:49] – Alcohol, Hookups, and Numbing Emotional Pain [19:56] – Dopamine, Sex, and the Trap of Chasing Relief [20:44] – Cultural Shame Around Grief, Desire, and Coping [22:08] – When Sex Feels Like Healing but Turns Into Avoidance [24:12] – The Line Between Connection and Self-Destruction [26:12] – OCD’s Role in Sexual Intrusive Thoughts and Guilt [26:54] – Letting Arousal Exist Without Turning It Into Compulsion [27:40] – Harm Reduction in Sex, Dating, and Emotional Coping [29:16] – Why Control Feels Safer Than Surrender [30:33] – Writing About Sex, Loss, and Shame Without Censoring Yourself [31:43] – What Sexual Self-Compassion Actually Means [32:56] – Forgiveness, Healing, and Reclaiming Desire [33:45] – Boundaries in Intimacy and Emotional Safety [34:38] – You’re Not Broken for Wanting Relief Through Your Body [35:42] – Final Reflections on Grief, OCD, Sex, and the Nervous System
✅ Resources & Links
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📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords OCD and sex intimacy and OCD grief and sex drive trauma and desire nervous system and arousal OCD relationships sexual shame and OCD
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| 160. OCD & Grief: How Trauma Hijacks Your Mind | Real Stories & Coping Tips | 29 Nov 2025 | 00:47:04 | |
🧠 Can you grieve “correctly” when you have OCD?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Krista Reed, clinical social worker and specialist in OCD, BFRBs, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Together, they explore how grief, loss, and real-life emotional pain interact with OCD — and how deeply the experience can impact identity, relationships, and recovery.
❤️Krista opens up about: • The childhood loss that first ignited her OCD • How witnessing traumatic events shaped her fears • The return of old compulsions — and the arrival of new ones — after recent family deaths • The struggle of balancing caregiving, parenting, and severe OCD during her father’s hospitalization
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers compassion, insight, and the reminder that there is no right or wrong way to grieve.
📲 About Krista Reed (guest): • OCD/BDD/BFRB Specialist in KS • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristaruthreed/?hl=en • Breathe Between Battles: A Daily Reflection Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSL41QCR?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&bestFormat=true
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Krista’s Story: Becoming an OCD Specialist Because She Had No Choice [00:40] – Why We’re Talking: Real-Life Grief Colliding With OCD [02:19] – The Moment It All Started: A Childhood Death That Changed Everything [04:42] – Misunderstood Trauma: When a Small-Town Tragedy Sparks Lifelong OCD [07:48] – The Hospital Nightmare: Krista’s Dad Nearly Dies and OCD Explodes [08:17] – “What If I Want Him to Die?” The Darkest OCD Thoughts No One Talks About [10:39] – The Heartbreaking Moment: Her Dad Wakes Up and Doesn’t Know Who She Is [13:15] – Masking While Falling Apart: Parenting Through an OCD Spiral [14:25] – Pre-Grief, Fear, and the Reality of Being in the Unknown [15:55] – When OCD Comes Back After New Losses: Two Deaths in Two Weeks [18:22] – “Your Food Is Contaminated”: New Compulsions That Come Out of Nowhere [20:19] – Grieving Wrong? How OCD Makes You Doubt Your Own Emotions [21:30] – Conflicting Feelings: Relief, Sadness, Gratitude, and Guilt All at Once [24:20] – When Two Family Members Die but the Pain Feels Different Each Time [28:09] – Kristina’s Story: Losing Her Mom and Feeling Everything at Once [31:36] – Being Told You’re “Too Much”: The Hidden Shame of Deep Feelers [34:18] – Why People With OCD Often Feel Grief More Deeply Than Others [37:21] – The Empathy Factor: Why Some People Cry for Strangers and Feel Everything [37:39] – What Grief Really Triggers in People With OCD [39:23] – What to Do When OCD Hijacks Your Grief [39:45] – When Old Traumas Return Out of Nowhere: OCD Has No Timeline [42:01] – The 2020 Spiral: OCD Convinces Krista Her Dad Will Die Again [43:00] – Planning a Funeral That Isn’t Happening: OCD’s Wildest Curveball [43:13] – Breaking the Spell: How Krista Finally Called OCD’s Bluff [44:01] – Even Clinicians Get Stuck: Why This Disorder Is So Relentless [44:20] – Final Thoughts: Normalizing Your Grief, Your Feelings, and Your Journey
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
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| 159. How One Man Turned OCD Pain Into 60,000 Followers | 19 Nov 2025 | 00:28:34 | |
🧠 *Can self-compassion really help you recover from OCD?*
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Lukasz, known online as Intrusive OCD Memes. Together, they explore how humor, community, and self-awareness play a role in managing OCD, and how sharing personal experiences can help both yourself and others.
Lucas opens up about: • First symptoms of OCD as a child and struggles with contamination fears • How intrusive thoughts and mental compulsions impacted his relationships • His journey toward seeking therapy after years of coping alone • Using humor and memes as a form of self-therapy and community support
Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone else, this episode offers hope, insight, and tools to show that connection, humor, and community can make a real difference.
📲 About Lukasz Czajkowski (guest): • IOCDF Advocate with OCD/ROCD • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intrusiveocdmemes?igsh=dDFyOGl6eXNyNmVz • YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@intrusiveocdmemes
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Meet Lucas: The Man Behind Intrusive OCD Memes [00:40] – How a Meme Account Became a Lifeline for OCD [02:11] – Why He Waited YEARS to Get an OCD Diagnosis [04:38] – The Dark Side of Air OCD and Pandemic Struggles [06:56] – OCD Almost Destroyed His Relationship… Here’s What Happened [08:55] – Shocking OCD Symptoms From His Childhood [10:01] – Living With OCD in Poland: The Cultural Reality [12:45] – Stigma, Misunderstandings, and Why Most People Don’t Get OCD [15:34] – How Memes Are Actually Helping People With OCD [17:13] – Bringing OCD Awareness to Thousands at Work [19:33] – Mental Health Is Not Linear: Prepare for Setbacks [21:05] – Reading the Recipe vs. Making the Apple Pie: OCD Therapy Explained [22:37] – Panic in a New City: Why Environment Matters [23:53] – Self-Compassion and Patience: The Secret Weapons for OCD [25:15] – Hidden Cultural Pressures You Didn’t Know About [26:04] – You’re Not Alone: Finding Community When Struggling [27:47] – Follow Lucas Online for Memes and OCD Resources
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords self-compassion and OCD OCD recovery tools mindfulness for OCD CBT for OCD intrusive thoughts and self-kindness reducing OCD suffering Kimberley Quinlan OCD OCD Whisperer Podcast
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| 158. Self-Compassion & OCD: The Secret Habit Making Your Anxiety Worse | 12 Nov 2025 | 00:31:07 | |
🧠 Can self-compassion really help you recover from OCD?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, host Kristina Orlova speaks with Kimberley Quinlan, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, creator of CBT School, and author of The Self-Compassion Workbook for OCD. Together, they explore how learning to treat yourself with kindness can transform your relationship with OCD and emotional suffering.
Kimberley opens up about: • Why self-compassion is not weakness or self-indulgence • How criticizing yourself actually increases stress hormones • What it means to “be a safe place” for your own emotions • Simple ways to start practicing compassion without triggering compulsions
Whether you’re living with OCD or supporting someone who is, this episode offers real strategies to reduce suffering, calm your nervous system, and heal with compassion.
📲 About Kimberley Quinlan (guest): • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youranxietytoolkit/ • YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@youranxietytoolkit • CBT school: https://www.cbtschool.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Meet Kimberley Quinlan — Therapist, Author, and OCD Expert [01:18] What “Self-Compassion for OCD” Really Means (and Why People Get It Wrong) [03:00] Why Being Kind to Yourself Isn’t Weak — It’s Actually Science [04:40] The Stress Hormone Secret: How Self-Criticism Fuels OCD Suffering [07:25] Real Compassion vs. Compulsions — The Long-Term You Strategy [08:55] Becoming a Safe Place for Yourself: Handling Guilt, Shame & Emotions [11:05] The Surprising Power of Doing Nothing With Your Emotions [13:10] Why People Struggle to Accept Themselves (Even When They “Know” How) [16:25] When OCD Tricks You Into Thinking Self-Kindness Is Dangerous [19:00] Step-by-Step: The Self-Compassion Break That Calms Intense Feelings [21:30] “You’re Not Alone” — The Humanity Behind Anxiety & Intrusive Thoughts [23:10] Gentle Self-Kindness vs. “Screw You, Anxiety!” — Finding Your Style [25:30] The Fear of Feeling Itself — Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Avoidance [28:10] The Real Goal: Becoming a Safe Space for Every Emotion [30:05] Where to Find Kimberley — “Your Anxiety Toolkit” Resources
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords self-compassion and OCD OCD recovery tools mindfulness for OCD CBT for OCD intrusive thoughts and self-kindness reducing OCD suffering Kimberley Quinlan OCD OCD Whisperer Podcast
© OCD Whisperer | |||
| 157. Just-Right OCD & Somatic Intrusive Feelings: Learning to Recognize OCD Signals | 05 Nov 2025 | 00:25:57 | |
🧠 Do you ever feel like something is wrong — even when nothing happened?
In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Heather Brown, LCSW, OCD and trauma specialist. Together, they explore Just Right OCD, magical thinking, somatic anxiety, and how OCD can sometimes feel like trauma.
Heather opens up about: • Her personal experience living with Just Right OCD • Sensations-based OCD: when the fear isn’t a thought, but a feeling • Magical thinking OCD & “what if something bad happens?” spirals • ERP, ACT, Brainspotting & CPT for trauma-related OCD symptoms
Whether you're navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone, this episode offers powerful insight, tools, and hope for healing and self-trust.
📲 About Heather Brown (guest): • OCD, anxiety, trauma, & perfectionism therapy • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evoluercounseling/ • Evoluer Counseling: https://www.evoluercounseling.com/
✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Meet Heather — The Therapist Who Actually Has OCD [00:22] “Just-Right OCD” — The Invisible OCD Nobody Talks About [01:30] When Everyday Tasks Feel Wrong — The Hidden Somatic OCD Signs [02:28] Shower Shock — When OCD Strikes Out of Nowhere [03:25] The Symptom Everyone Misses: “Nothing Happened… So WHY Do I Feel This Way?” [03:44] The OCD You Don’t See — Why So Many Cases Get Missed [04:25] It’s NOT Just Anxiety — The Quiet OCD That Hides in Your Body [04:53] When Thoughts Loop Forever — The Difference Between Worry & OCD [06:05] “If I Don’t Do This, Something Terrible Happens” — OCD’s Magic-Thinking Trap [07:00] Real Story — The Carpool Lane OCD Panic Moment [07:47] What Is Magical Thinking OCD? Explained Simply [08:52] “My Thoughts Could Cause Disaster” — Why It Feels So Real [09:21] Can OCD Cause Trauma? Shocking Truth Explained [10:10] When Trauma and OCD Join Forces — And What Actually Helps [11:04] The Brain Under Fire — How OCD Shakes Your Identity [12:20] How OCD Rewrites Your Beliefs About Yourself [13:15] Trauma Treatment + OCD Treatment — When You Need Both [14:20] ERP, ACT, Brainspotting — What REALLY Works? [15:07] The Surprising Therapy That Helps Trauma + OCD [16:35] “Is My OCD Trauma?” — How Clinicians Decide [18:27] Obsession vs Worry — How to Tell the Difference FAST [19:33] Can Treatment Work? Heather’s Recovery & Honest Answer [20:25] When OCD Comes Back — Expert Shares What She Does [21:40] OCD Explained in Kid-Language — The Monster Analogy [23:00] The Cookie Monster OCD Trick — Why Compulsions Backfire [24:06] “How Do I Even Start?” — First Step for Anyone Struggling [25:17] Where to Find Heather — Therapist Who Gets It
✅ Resources & Links
📲 Stay Connected
📩 Business Inquiries: info@theocdwhisperer.com
✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.
🔑 SEO Keywords Just Right OCD Magical Thinking OCD Somatic OCD OCD and trauma OCD in children Feeling-based OCD OCD without intrusive thoughts OCD sensations ERP therapy Brainspotting OCD ACT for OCD How to treat Just Right OCD OCD parenting support OCD recovery stories
© OCD Whisperer | |||