Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is one of the most misunderstood disorders in modern culture. Whether it's using the word "OCD" as slang, assuming it's about being neat and tidy or trivializing the suffering of those who have it, misconceptions abound. That's why it was an honor to hear directly from someone who has lived it-- journalist and best-selling author David Adam. Join us in understanding the human behind the disorder, on today's Baggage Check.

You can learn more about David Adam, including his book "The Man Who Couldn't Stop: OCD and the True Story of a Life Lost in Thought," here.

Follow Baggage Check on Instagram @baggagecheckpodcast and get sneak peeks of upcoming episodes, give your take on guests and show topics, gawk at the very good boy Buster the Dog, and send us your questions!

Here's more on Dr. Andrea Bonior and her book Detox Your Thoughts.

Here's more on this podcast, which somehow you already found (thank you!)

Credits: Beautiful cover art by Danielle Merity, exquisitely lounge-y original music by Jordan Cooper

What is cognitive defusion? Both simple and profound, its the process of separating from your thoughts, gaining distance from them as a nonjudgmental, gentle and curious observer.

It's at the heart of mindfulness-- and relief from many aspects of anxiety and rumination. Want to get started thinking differently about your thoughts? Join us for today's episode.

Follow Baggage Check on Instagram @baggagecheckpodcast and get sneak peeks of upcoming episodes, give your take on guests and show topics, gawk at the very good boy Buster the Dog, and send us your questions!

Here's more on Dr. Andrea Bonior and her book Detox Your Thoughts.

Here's more on this podcast, which somehow you already found (thank you!)

Credits: Beautiful cover art by Danielle Merity, exquisitely lounge-y original music by Jordan Cooper

ALERT! A tech glitch caused an issue in the first minute of the show when it first dropped-- and the issue has now been corrected. Clearly we annoyed the audio gods somehow, but all is well now. So if you were one of the early birds who heard it first, our apologies. We appreciate your patience!

Has the pandemic changed your view of other people-- and maybe, you feel, not for the better? In today's show, Dr. Andrea tackles a question from a listener who is concerned about a shift they've seen in themselves. A combination of working from home permanently, becoming more reclusive, and not liking what they see in humanity has made them maybe.... hate people? Dr. Andrea tackles what might be going on, with some actionable advice and a good bit of hope in this episode of Baggage Check.

Follow Baggage Check on Instagram @baggagecheckpodcast and get sneak peeks of upcoming episodes, give your take on guests and show topics, gawk at the very good boy Buster the Dog, and send us your questions!

Here's more on Dr. Andrea Bonior and her book Detox Your Thoughts.

Here's more on this podcast, which somehow you already found (thank you!)

Credits: Beautiful cover art by Danielle Merity, exquisitely lounge-y original music by Jordan Cooper

"Self-care" lives in infamy in mental health terminology, and has a ton of baggage in its own right. Today we get real about it, cutting through the consumerism and cliches-- in a funny, genuine, and insightful conversation with Anna Borges. Anna has long been writing, researching, and exploring self-care, and currently hosts the Mood Ring: A Practical Guide to Self-Care podcast. She is also the author of "The More or Less Definitive Guide to Self-Care" and has known Dr. Andrea long enough that their individual allergies to BS are maximized when they get together.

Learn more about Anna's work here!

Follow Baggage Check on Instagram @baggagecheckpodcast and get sneak peeks of upcoming episodes, give your take on guests and show topics, gawk at the very good boy Buster the Dog, and send us your questions!

Here's more on Dr. Andrea Bonior and her book Detox Your Thoughts.

Here's more on this podcast, which somehow you already found (thank you!)

Credits: Beautiful cover art by Danielle Merity, exquisitely lounge-y original music by Jordan Cooper

Do you visualize things in your head? How good is your "mind's eye?" Today we dive deep into aphantasia-- a condition that many people have without even knowing it's a thing. In this episode, we welcome Serena Puang, a Yale student and journalist with aphantasia-- and talk about the surprising ways it affects her life. If you've ever wondered (even outside of the holiday season!) "Do you see what I see?" then you'll want to join us for today's Baggage Check.

See Serena Puang's NY Times piece on aphantasia here.

Follow Baggage Check on Instagram @baggagecheckpodcast and get sneak peeks of upcoming episodes, give your take on guests and show topics, gawk at the very good boy Buster the Dog, and send us your questions!

Here's more on Dr. Andrea Bonior and her book Detox Your Thoughts.

Here's more on this podcast, which somehow you already found (thank you!)

Credits: Beautiful cover art by Danielle Merity, exquisitely lounge-y original music by Jordan Cooper

New Year's resolutions are such a powerful cultural construct that even those of use who say we don't make them sometimes secretly find ourselves, come January 1st, vowing to floss more. Today, we're talking about what the science says about how to get resolutions-- or any goals-- to stick. We'll pick apart seven of the most common dud resolutions that are typically abandoned by February, and let you know how to make them more meet-able.

Follow Baggage Check on Instagram @baggagecheckpodcast and get sneak peeks of upcoming episodes, give your take on guests and show topics, gawk at the very good boy Buster the Dog, and send us your questions!

Here's more on Dr. Andrea Bonior and her book Detox Your Thoughts.

Here's more on this podcast, which somehow you already found (thank you!)

Credits: Beautiful cover art by Danielle Merity, exquisitely lounge-y original music by Jordan Cooper

How do we describe this episode? We don't really know where to begin, to be honest. Does "going deep about the meaning of Christmas with a beloved sci-fi/horror writer whose latest book involves inter-dimensional parasites feeding on human hosts" make any sense to you? We promise it will, after you listen.

For years, Dr. Andrea has thought back to a piece that bestselling author Jason Pargin wrote about the deeper human truths underlying the holiday season. So, she invited him for a conversation about it-- and what we get is a funny, poignant and thought-provoking discussion about everything from gratitude, loss, fame, loneliness, and technology, to what the idea of "church" can mean to atheists.

Join us.

Read Jason's piece in Cracked.com here.

Follow Baggage Check on Instagram @baggagecheckpodcast and get sneak peeks of upcoming episodes, give your take on guests and show topics, gawk at the very good boy Buster the Dog, and send us your questions!

Here's more on Dr. Andrea Bonior and her book Detox Your Thoughts.

Here's more on this podcast, which somehow you already found (thank you!)

Credits: Beautiful cover art by Danielle Merity, exquisitely lounge-y original music by Jordan Cooper

Cultivating gratitude is widely known as being great for us. So why does it feel so hard at times, and sometimes that it doesn't seem to help? Might it be because we go about it in dysfunctional ways?

On today's show, we get real about gratitude-- what it is, and what it most certainly isn't. We discuss what the research shows is helpful about it, and what we might as well stop doing. The good news is, getting gratitude right really is good for our minds, bodies, and relationships. And on this episode, we give you some actionable steps to start on that path today. (Or tomorrow-- we're not about perfectionism here.)

Follow Baggage Check on Instagram @baggagecheckpodcast and get sneak peeks of upcoming episodes, give your take on guests and show topics, gawk at the very good boy Buster the Dog, and send us your questions!

Here's more on Dr. Andrea Bonior and her book Detox Your Thoughts.

Here's more on this podcast, which somehow you already found (thank you!)

Credits: Beautiful cover art by Danielle Merity, exquisitely lounge-y original music by Jordan Cooper

Listener discretion note: this episode contains a discussion of the issue of suicide, specifically in terms of warning signs and risk factors, and the noting of a high-profile loss.

Tragic events this week have put suicide front and center in the headlines once again. We wanted to put together, as immediately as we could, a clear, honest and open discussion about suicide-- its risks, its warning signs, its myths, and what to do when you're concerned about yourself or someone you love.

Shame and stigma lead to silence-- which leads to people not getting the help they need.

You are not alone. And there is help.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the United States. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

Today's listener question is from someone who lost their beloved Mom two years ago, and their father has gotten more and more isolated-- because Mom was the social heart of the marriage. What can you do when you're worried about an isolated parent, but you live hundreds of miles away? If you've ever had your heart break not only from your own loss, but from watching your loved one go through it in their own way, we've got some support for you in this episode of Baggage Check.

Follow Baggage Check on Instagram @baggagecheckpodcast and get sneak peeks of upcoming episodes, give your take on guests and show topics, gawk at the very good boy Buster the Dog, and send us your questions!

Here's more on Dr. Andrea Bonior and her book Detox Your Thoughts.

Here's more on this podcast, which somehow you already found (thank you!)

Credits: Beautiful cover art by Danielle Merity, exquisitely lounge-y original music by Jordan Cooper