Bossing Up: Overcoming OCD

A Therapist's Raw Journey from Childhood Trauma to Healing with Kristin Louise Duncombe | Ep 103

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What if the therapist you're seeing has walked the exact same path you're on right now? In this deeply personal and powerful episode, I sit down with Kristin Louise Duncombe—therapist, author, and OCD survivor—who shares her raw journey from childhood tics and emetophobia to becoming the healer she desperately needed as a child. 💜

If you've ever wondered "Will this OCD ever go away?" or felt alone in your struggles with intrusive thoughts, this conversation will give you hope, validation, and practical strategies that actually work.

🎯 What You'll Discover:

  • Kristin's Childhood OCD Journey:

    🔹 How childhood tics, hypochondria, and emetophobia controlled her life [00:02:00]
    🔹 Why she became convinced she had leukemia and how magical thinking took over [00:03:00]
    🔹 Growing up in the 1970s with zero access to OCD treatment or support [00:04:00]

  • The Truth About "Will OCD Ever Go Away?":

    🔸 Why this question is so common and what it really means [00:07:00]
    🔸 The paradoxical approach that actually breaks the OCD cycle [00:07:00]
    🔸 How acceptance (not elimination) becomes your superpower against OCD [00:08:00]

  • From Trauma to Triumph:

    🔹 Kristin's experience with sexual abuse and how it intersected with OCD [00:12:00]
    🔹 The connection between bulimia, addiction, and OCD patterns [00:14:00]
    🔹 How she transformed her pain into purpose by becoming the therapist she needed [00:02:00]

    🔑 Breakthrough Moments in This Episode:
    • The Hidden Meaning Technique: How to befriend your OCD and use it as information about what's really bothering you [00:05:00]
    • Emetophobia Treatment: Real strategies for one of the hardest OCD subtypes to treat [00:16:00]
    • The "Fear of Life" Reframe: Why throwing up isn't about dying—it's about being afraid to live [00:18:00]
    • Exposure Therapy Reality: What actually works vs. what's just performative [00:19:00]
      • ⏰ Episode Timeline:

      00:00:00 Introduction: Several OCD Patients Ask "Will This Ever Go Away?"

      00:01:00 Meet Kristin Louise Duncombe: Therapist, Author, OCD Survivor
      00:02:00 Kristin's Childhood: Tics, Hypochondria, and Emetophobia
      00:04:00 Growing Up Without Treatment in the 1970s
      00:05:00 The Behavioral Approach and Hidden Meaning Technique
      00:07:00 "Will This Ever Go Away?" - The Question Every OCD Patient Asks
      00:09:00 OCD in Remission: Understanding Lapses vs. Relapses
      00:12:00 Kristin's Trauma Story: Sexual Abuse and the State Department Cover-Up
      00:14:00 The Connection Between OCD, Bulimia, and Addictive Behaviors
      00:16:00 Treating Emetophobia: What Actually Works
      00:18:00 The "Fear of Life" vs. Fear of Death Reframe
      00:19:00 Exposure Therapy: Real Strategies That Work
      00:21:00 Kristin's Book "Object: A Memoir" and Final Wisdom
      00:22:00 Carrying On Despite OCD: You Can Have Problems and Still Live

      📖 Key Takeaways for Women with OCD:
      • OCD comes and goes—accepting this reality reduces its power over you
      • The techniques you learn for one OCD theme work across ALL themes
      • Your worry about being a bad person is actually proof you're not
      • Seeking help and trusting others is essential—you can't do this alone
      • You can have OCD and still carry on with a beautiful, meaningful life
        • 🔥 TRANSFORM YOUR OCD WITH INTENSIVE SUPPORT 🔥

        Are you tired of feeling controlled by OCD? Kristin's story shows that healing is possible—and you don't have to wait decades like she did to get the help you need.

        My exclusive OCD Intensives program is designed for women who are:

        • Struggling with intrusive thoughts that won't go away
        • Tired of doing compulsions that only provide temporary relief
        • Ready to learn acceptance-based approaches that actually work
        • Wanting to break free from the OCD cycle in weeks, not years

          • In just 3 weeks, you'll learn:

          • How to befriend your OCD instead of fighting it
          • Exposure techniques tailored to YOUR specific fears
          • The hidden meaning behind your obsessions
          • How to live a full life even when OCD shows up

            • SPOTS ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED! I only accept ONE woman per month into this transformative program.

            👉 VIEW PROGRAM DETAILS & APPLY NOW

            📚 KRISTIN LOUSIE DUNCOMBE:
            • Buy Kristin's Book: "Object: A Memoir" - Available on Amazon
            • Follow Kristin on IG
              • 💪 SUPPORT YOUR HEALING JOURNEY

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              This conversation is proof that you can survive OCD, trauma, and impossible circumstances—and come out the other side as someone who helps others do the same. You are not alone. 💜

              Affiliate links may be included, supporting my content at no extra cost to you.

              This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

              DISCLAIMER: https://bit.ly/3ycFiY4

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              Bossing Up: Overcoming OCDBy Erin Davis
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