Breaking Free from Fear & Anxiety with Matt Codde

If you can't stop thinking about your partner's past — obsessing over their ex, replaying old memories, or demanding reassurance — this episode is for you. Retroactive jealousy OCD isn't really about the past. It's a present-moment insecurity that gets projected backward, creating an exhausting loop of doubt, questioning, and compulsive reassurance-seeking.

In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW explains exactly what retroactive jealousy OCD is, how it operates as part of the broader OCD cycle, and why treating it as a relationship problem actually makes things worse. Most importantly, he walks you through what you actually need to do to break the loop — not by resolving the past, but by addressing what's happening inside you right now.

Whether you're the one struggling or a partner trying to understand what's happening, this episode will give you the clarity and direction you need.

🧭 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✅ Understand what retroactive jealousy OCD actually is — and why it's not about the relationship

✅ Learn the two most common RJ OCD patterns and how to recognize them

✅ See why reassurance-seeking and questioning your partner makes the loop worse

✅ Understand the real cause of RJ OCD: present-moment insecurity projected onto the past

✅ Learn why the past and the theme are never the true source of the disturbance

✅ Discover what non-resistance means and why it's the foundation of recovery

✅ See how RJ OCD connects to relationship OCD and why addressing it early matters

🚀 Resources to Help You Heal:

📥 FREE Recovery Guide

Start your journey to freedom from OCD and anxiety with expert tools and step-by-step guidance.

👉 Download now: https://www.restoredminds.com/start

📖 Get a Copy of Our Book: From Stuck to Unstuck

Learn practical strategies to overcome fear and reclaim your life.👉 Buy now: https://a.co/d/1WEvonT

📘 Taking Back Control (TBC) Program

Learn how to apply these principles daily and dissolve anxiety at the root.

👉 Apply Now: https://www.restoredminds.com/tbc

🎧 Subscribe & Connect for More Support:

✅ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly episodes, tools, and coaching content.

👉 https://www.youtube.com/restoredminds

✅ Leave a Review on your favorite platform to help others discover this life-changing content:

👉 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3NJI2zD

👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/46AiT30

✅ Ask a Question for a future episode:👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/assessments/2147654461✅ Download the Book – From Stuck to Unstuck

👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/book

Follow Matt Codde, LCSW on Social Media:

🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattcodde.restoredminds

/🔹 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/restoredminds/

📸 If this episode helped you, share it on Instagram Stories and tag us!

⏱️ Timestamps•

00:00 — What This Episode Is About: Retroactive Jealousy OCD•

01:22 — What Is Retroactive Jealousy OCD?

04:52 — Present-Moment Insecurity Projected onto the Past

07:54 — OCD as Chronic Escapism of Unwanted Emotion

08:39 — How to Break the Loop: Non-Resistance and Safety Behaviors

10:04 — How RJ OCD Connects to Relationship OCD

⚠️ Disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a licensed professional for personalized support.

If you or someone you love is caught in relentless doubt about a relationship — questioning feelings, hyperfixating on a partner's flaws, or seeking constant reassurance — this episode is for you. Matt Codde, LCSW breaks down what relationship OCD really is, why it has almost nothing to do with your partner, and what real recovery actually looks like.

Relationship OCD is one of the most misunderstood forms of OCD because it feels so real and relationship-specific. But underneath the doubt, the analysis, and the fear is a fear loop driven by internal emotion — not by your partner. Learning to see this distinction is the first and most important step toward breaking free.

Whether you're the one experiencing it or a partner trying to understand what's happening, this episode offers a clear, compassionate framework for navigating relationship OCD and beginning to heal from the inside out.

🧭 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✅ Understand what separates relationship OCD from normal relationship doubts

✅ Learn the most common obsessions and compulsions in relationship OCD

✅ See why the fear loop has nothing to do with your partner — and everything to do with internal emotion

✅ Understand how 'fear goggles' distort your perception of your partner

✅ Learn why seeking reassurance and analyzing feelings makes relationship OCD worse

✅ Discover what real recovery looks like — and why it starts with the OCD loop, not the relationship

✅ See how the AAA Response can help you break the loop and restore nervous system stability

🚀 Resources to Help You Heal:

📥 FREE Recovery Guide

Start your journey to freedom from OCD and anxiety with expert tools and step-by-step guidance.

👉 Download now: https://www.restoredminds.com/start

📖 Get a Copy of Our Book: From Stuck to Unstuck

Learn practical strategies to overcome fear and reclaim your life.

👉 Buy now: https://a.co/d/1WEvonT

📘 Taking Back Control (TBC) Program

Learn how to apply these principles daily and dissolve anxiety at the root.

👉 Apply Now: https://www.restoredminds.com/tbc

🎧 Subscribe & Connect for More Support:

✅ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly episodes, tools, and coaching content.👉 https://www.youtube.com/restoredminds

✅ Leave a Review on your favorite platform to help others discover this life-changing content:

👉 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3NJI2zD

👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/46AiT30

✅ Ask a Question for a future episode:

👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/assessments/2147654461

✅ Download the Book – From Stuck to Unstuck

👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/book

Follow Matt Codde, LCSW on Social Media:

🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/restoredminds/

📸 If this episode helped you, share it on Instagram Stories and tag us!

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 What This Episode Is About: Relationship OCD Overview

01:00 A Theme Is Just a Projection of Fear

03:15 Relationship OCD vs. Normal Relationship Doubt

05:00 Common Obsessions & Compulsions

11:50 The Real Driving Force: Internal Pain & the Certainty Trap

14:10 What Real Recovery Looks Like

19:00 Shifting States: How Perception Changes Everything

⚠️ Disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a licensed professional for personalized support.

How to Build an ERP Hierarchy for OCD — And Why Most People Do It Wrong

If you've been trying ERP for OCD and feel like you're spinning your wheels, there's a good chance your exposure hierarchy is missing something critical. In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW walks you through how a traditional ERP hierarchy works — and, more importantly, the key shifts that actually create lasting recovery.

Whether you're dealing with contamination OCD, relationship OCD (ROCD), harm OCD, or any other theme, this framework applies. If you've felt frustrated with traditional ERP, this episode will give you a new way of understanding and applying it.

What You'll Learn:

✅Understand what an ERP hierarchy is and how it's traditionally structured

✅Learn why response prevention is more important than the exposure itself

✅ See why doing exposures while ruminating is not real ERP

✅ Understand the two critical steps Matt recommends before adding intentional exposures

✅Learn how to reframe fear as something within you — not outside you — for deeper healing

✅ See why over-tracking and extreme exposures are often counterproductive

✅ Understand why working with a guide helps you spot compulsions you can't see yourself

🚀 Resources to Help You Heal:

📥 FREE Recovery Guide

Start your journey to freedom from OCD and anxiety with expert tools and step-by-step guidance.

👉 Download now: https://www.restoredminds.com/start

📖 Get a Copy of Our Book: From Stuck to Unstuck

Learn practical strategies to overcome fear and reclaim your life.

👉 Buy now: https://a.co/d/1WEvonT

📘 Taking Back Control (TBC) ProgramLearn how to apply these principles daily and dissolve anxiety at the root.

👉 Apply Now: https://www.restoredminds.com/tbc

🎧 Subscribe & Connect for More Support:

✅ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly episodes, tools, and coaching content.

👉 https://www.youtube.com/restoredminds

✅ Leave a Review on your favorite platform to help others discover this life-changing content:

👉 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3NJI2zD

👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/46AiT30

✅ Ask a Question for a future episode:

👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/assessments/2147654461✅ Download the Book – From Stuck to Unstuck

👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/book

Follow Matt Codde, LCSW on Social Media:

🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/restoredminds/

🔹 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/matthew.codde

📸 If this episode helped you, share it on Instagram Stories and tag us!

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 — What This Episode Is About: Building an ERP Hierarchy

00:20 — What a Traditional ERP Hierarchy Looks Like

01:15 — Understanding the SUDS Scale

02:50 — Why Consistency Matters More Than One Big Exposure

03:20 — The Real Problem: Doing Exposures Without Removing Compulsions

05:30 — Step 2: Reframing Fear as Something Within You

08:00 — How Pride Keeps People Stuck

ERP for OCD & Anxiety | Why Hierarchies Alone Don’t Break the Loop

ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is often called the “gold standard” for OCD and anxiety treatment. But if you’ve tried ERP and felt like it didn’t quite work—or you got partial results and then new fears popped up—you’re not alone.

In this episode of The Restored Minds Show, licensed therapist Matt Codde, LCSW breaks down what ERP really is, how it targets the OCD and anxiety loop, and why so many people struggle to make lasting progress with it. He explains the difference between focusing only on external triggers (like doorknobs, elevators, or driving) versus working directly with the internal fear that keeps projecting onto new themes.

If you’ve been doing exposures, building hierarchies, and “white-knuckling” your way through extreme ERP exercises, but still feel stuck in anxiety, rumination, and compulsions, this episode will help you reframe ERP as an ongoing integration process—not just a worksheet or a one-time challenge.

🧭 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✅ What ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) actually is and how it targets the OCD/anxiety loop

✅ Why fear itself is not a “disorder” — and how getting stuck in lower emotional states creates suffering

✅ The difference between desensitizing to triggers vs. releasing fear from within

✅ Why ERP hierarchies and “doing more exposures” alone don’t create recovery

✅ How mental compulsions (like rumination, checking how you feel, and overanalyzing) secretly block real ERP

✅ Why consistency beats intensity in ERP — and how to integrate ERP as a lifestyle, not a one-off event

✅ How to understand ERP from a consciousness/emotional-release perspective so you can transcend fear instead of just chasing new themes

🚀 Resources to Help You Heal:

📥 FREE Recovery GuideStart your journey to freedom from OCD and anxiety with expert tools and step-by-step guidance.

👉 Download now: https://www.restoredminds.com/start

📖 Get a Copy of Our Book: From Stuck to UnstuckLearn practical strategies to overcome fear and reclaim your life.

👉 Buy now: https://a.co/d/1WEvonT

📘 Taking Back Control (TBC) Program

Learn how to apply these principles daily and dissolve anxiety at the root.

👉 Apply Now: https://www.restoredminds.com/tbc

🎧 Subscribe & Connect for More Support:

✅ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly episodes, tools, and coaching content.

👉 https://www.youtube.com/restoredminds

✅ Leave a Review on your favorite platform to help others discover this life-changing content:

👉 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3NJI2zD

👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/46AiT30

✅ Ask a Question for a future episode:

👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/assessments/2147654461

✅ Download the Book – From Stuck to Unstuck

👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/book

Follow Matt Codde, LCSW on Social Media:

🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/restoredminds/

📸 If this episode helped you, share it on Instagram Stories and tag us!

⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – What Is ERP & How It Targets the OCD/Anxiety Loop

04:15 – The Contamination Example: Exposure + Response Prevention in Real Life

06:10 – Two Ways of Seeing ERP: Nervous System vs. Consciousness & Projection

12:05 – The Hierarchy Myth: Why Exposures Without Response Prevention Don’t Work

16:00 – ERP as a Lifestyle: Rumination, Daily Choices, and Ongoing Practice

21:20 – Transcending Fear: Proper ERP, Higher States, and Getting the Right Guidance

If you’re stuck in your head, constantly overthinking, replaying thoughts, or trying to “figure it out”… this episode will show you how to stop rumination the right way.

Rumination isn’t just thinking—it’s a compulsion that keeps you trapped in the OCD and anxiety loop. And the more you try to solve it mentally, the worse it gets.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✅ Why trying to “stop rumination” actually keeps you stuck

✅ The real reason you overthink (it’s not what you think)

✅ How rumination acts as a hidden compulsion in OCD & anxiety

✅ The emotional trigger behind your thinking loop

✅ Why solving thoughts will never bring relief

✅ The 3-step process to break free from rumination

✅ How to shift from fighting the problem → building a solution

✅ What to focus on instead to truly regain control of your life

🚀 Resources to Help You Heal:📥 FREE Recovery GuideStart your journey to freedom from OCD and anxiety with expert tools and step-by-step guidance.👉 Download now: https://www.restoredminds.com/start

📖 Get a Copy of Our Book: From Stuck to UnstuckLearn practical strategies to overcome fear and reclaim your life.👉 Buy now: https://a.co/d/1WEvonT

📘 Taking Back Control (TBC) ProgramLearn how to apply these principles daily and dissolve anxiety at the root.👉 Apply Now: https://www.restoredminds.com/tbc

🎧 Subscribe & Connect for More Support:✅ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly episodes, tools, and coaching content.👉 https://www.youtube.com/restoredminds

✅ Leave a Review on your favorite platform to help others discover this life-changing content:👉 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3NJI2zD👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/46AiT30

✅ Ask a Question for a future episode:👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/assessments/2147654461

✅ Download the Book – From Stuck to Unstuck👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/book

Follow Matt Codde, LCSW on Social Media:

🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/restoredminds/

📸 If this episode helped you, share it on Instagram Stories and tag us!

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction: How to Stop Rumination

00:36 – Why “Stopping” Isn’t the Real Goal

01:19 – Step 1: Define What You Actually Want

02:14 – Identifying the Gap in Your Life

03:58 – Why Knowing Isn’t Enough

04:47 – Step 2: Awareness of Rumination

05:52 – The Real Cost of Overthinking

06:24 – Why You’re Actually Ruminating

07:47 – The Emotional Root of Rumination

08:13 – Step 3: Implement the Right Solution

09:02 – Why Most Approaches Fail

10:24 – The Correct Way to Break the Loop

10:33 – Final Framework Recap

11:05 – Closing Thoughts

⚠️ Disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a licensed professional for personalized support.

If you feel stuck overthinking, replaying thoughts, or trying to “figure things out,” this Rumination Episode will change how you understand it completely.

In this episode, we break down what rumination really is, why it feels so automatic, and how it silently keeps you trapped in the OCD and anxiety loop. More importantly, you’ll learn why trying to solve your thoughts doesn’t work—and what actually leads to freedom.

If you’ve been stuck in your head, constantly analyzing, or chasing certainty, this episode will help you see the pattern clearly and begin shifting out of it.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✅ What rumination really is (and why it’s more than “just thinking”)

✅ Why overthinking is actually a compulsion in OCD and anxiety

✅ The hidden trap of chasing certainty—and why it keeps you stuck

✅ How rumination feeds the fear → thought → compulsion loop

✅ Why trying to “figure it out” never brings relief

✅ The real reason you feel stuck in your head

✅ How rumination disconnects you from your life and relationships

✅ The key shift to break the loop and stop overthinking

🚀 Resources to Help You Heal:📥 FREE Recovery GuideStart your journey to freedom from OCD and anxiety with expert tools and step-by-step guidance.👉 Download now: https://www.restoredminds.com/start

📖 Get a Copy of Our Book: From Stuck to UnstuckLearn practical strategies to overcome fear and reclaim your life.👉 Buy now: https://a.co/d/1WEvonT

📘 Taking Back Control (TBC) ProgramLearn how to apply these principles daily and dissolve anxiety at the root.👉 Apply Now: https://www.restoredminds.com/tbc

🎧 Subscribe & Connect for More Support:✅ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly episodes, tools, and coaching content.👉 https://www.youtube.com/restoredminds

✅ Leave a Review on your favorite platform to help others discover this life-changing content:👉 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3NJI2zD👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/46AiT30

✅ Ask a Question for a future episode:👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/assessments/2147654461

✅ Download the Book – From Stuck to Unstuck👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/book

Follow Matt Codde, LCSW on Social Media:

🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/restoredminds/

📸 If this episode helped you, share it on Instagram Stories and tag us!

⏱️ Timestamps

01:24 – What Rumination Really Means

02:55 – Why You Keep Ruminating

04:01 – Fear → Thought → Projection

05:51 – Rumination Is a Compulsion

06:39 – The Illusion of Certainty

08:13 – The Real OCD Trap

09:52 – The Problem With Rumination

10:04 – You’re Missing Your Life

11:44 – Why Rumination Is So Serious

13:46 – People Don’t Take It Seriously

15:21 – Rumination = Addiction Pattern

16:40 – Obsession vs Compulsion Explained

18:31 – How to Stop Rumination

19:00 – Install a Solution (AAA Response)

20:32 – Why You Must Take This Seriously

⚠️ Disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a licensed professional for personalized support.

If you’re struggling with harmful intrusive thoughts, this episode will change how you understand everything. Harm OCD isn’t a disease — it’s a self-reinforcing loop driven by fear, thoughts, and compulsions.

In this episode, we break down why trying to “fix” the thoughts keeps you stuck, how the OCD loop actually works, and what it really takes to break free and reclaim your life.

If you’ve been feeling trapped in anxiety or intrusive thoughts, this will give you a completely new perspective.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✅ Why Harm OCD isn’t a disease, but a self-reinforcing loop

✅ The real mechanism behind fear → thought → compulsion → loop

✅ Why focusing on thoughts keeps you trapped in anxiety

✅ How the mind tricks you into thinking you’re staying safe

✅ The difference between understanding the loop vs. breaking it

✅ Why your life feels smaller the longer the loop runs

✅ The key shift needed to break free from Harm OCD

✅ How changing your state of consciousness changes everything

🚀 Resources to Help You Heal:📥 FREE Recovery GuideStart your journey to freedom from OCD and anxiety with expert tools and step-by-step guidance.👉 Download now: https://www.restoredminds.com/start

📖 Get a Copy of Our Book: From Stuck to UnstuckLearn practical strategies to overcome fear and reclaim your life.👉 Buy now: https://a.co/d/1WEvonT

📘 Taking Back Control (TBC) ProgramLearn how to apply these principles daily and dissolve anxiety at the root.👉 Apply Now: https://www.restoredminds.com/tbc

🎧 Subscribe & Connect for More Support:✅ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly episodes, tools, and coaching content.👉 https://www.youtube.com/restoredminds

✅ Leave a Review on your favorite platform to help others discover this life-changing content:👉 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3NJI2zD👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/46AiT30

✅ Ask a Question for a future episode:👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/assessments/2147654461

✅ Download the Book – From Stuck to Unstuck👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/book

Follow Matt Codde, LCSW on Social Media:

🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/restoredminds/

📸 If this episode helped you, share it on Instagram Stories and tag us!

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Harm OCD Isn’t a Disease

01:00 – Why You Stay Stuck in the Loop

02:51 – Fear → Thought → Compulsion Cycle

03:19 – How OCD Shrinks Your Life

04:04 – Why Understanding Isn’t Enough

04:45 – The Trap: Feeling Safe vs Being Stuck

05:24 – What Actually Creates the Disorder

05:57 – How to Break the Loop

06:03 – Shift in Consciousness Changes Everything

⚠️ Disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a licensed professional for personalized support.

Harm OCD and harmful intrusive thoughts can feel terrifying — especially when your mind produces violent or disturbing thoughts that feel completely against who you are.

In this episode of The Restored Minds Show, licensed therapist Matt Codde, LCSW explains Harm OCD and harmful intrusive thoughts, what they really mean, and why having these thoughts does not make you a dangerous person.

If you’ve ever wondered why these intrusive thoughts appear and why trying to control or analyze them only makes them worse, this episode will help you understand the real mechanism behind the OCD loop.

Rather than focusing on eliminating thoughts, Matt explains why recovery from Harm OCD comes from changing how you respond to thoughts, emotions, and compulsions.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✅ What Harm OCD and harmful intrusive thoughts actually are

✅ Why intrusive thoughts do not reflect who you are

✅ The difference between intrusive thoughts and real harmful intent

✅ Why trying to control or suppress thoughts strengthens OCD

✅ How shame and guilt reinforce the intrusive thought cycle

✅ Why compulsions keep harmful intrusive thoughts stuck

These insights will help you start breaking the OCD loop and understand why intrusive thoughts lose power when you stop reacting to them.

🚀 Resources to Help You Heal:📥 FREE Recovery GuideStart your journey to freedom from OCD and anxiety with expert tools and step-by-step guidance.👉 Download now: https://www.restoredminds.com/start

📖 Get a Copy of Our Book: From Stuck to UnstuckLearn practical strategies to overcome fear and reclaim your life.👉 Buy now: https://a.co/d/1WEvonT

📘 Taking Back Control (TBC) ProgramLearn how to apply these principles daily and dissolve anxiety at the root.👉 Apply Now: https://www.restoredminds.com/tbc

🎧 Subscribe & Connect for More Support:✅ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly episodes, tools, and coaching content.👉 https://www.youtube.com/restoredminds

✅ Leave a Review on your favorite platform to help others discover this life-changing content:👉 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3NJI2zD👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/46AiT30

✅ Ask a Question for a future episode:👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/assessments/2147654461

✅ Download the Book – From Stuck to Unstuck👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/book

Follow Matt Codde, LCSW on Social Media:🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/restoredminds/📸 If this episode helped you, share it on Instagram Stories and tag us!

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction: Harm OCD & harmful intrusive thoughts

01:31 – Harmful intent vs intrusive thoughts (key difference)

03:02 – Why Harm OCD thoughts feel so frightening

04:41 – Why intrusive thoughts don’t reflect who you are

06:01 – Why the brain produces disturbing thoughts

07:30 – You are not your thoughts

09:03 – How shame and guilt intensify Harm OCD

11:03 – The compulsions that keep the OCD loop alive

13:01 – Why trying to control thoughts makes them worse

16:00 – The real problem: the OCD loop, not the thoughts

17:23 – Why talk therapy often fails with intrusive thoughts

19:52 – Thoughts vs emotions: what’s actually driving OCD

21:30 – Three steps to start breaking the Harm OCD cycle

24:03 – Final encouragement and recovery message

⚠️ Disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a licensed professional for personalized support.

In this episode, we explore why consciousness needs to be integrated in mental health and why understanding awareness itself may be essential for lasting recovery from OCD, anxiety, panic attacks, and emotional suffering.

Matt explains how many traditional treatment models overlook the role of consciousness and identity in the healing process. Instead of only trying to eliminate symptoms, this episode explores how expanding awareness can help people disidentify from their thoughts and emotions — allowing true transformation rather than temporary coping.

If you've struggled with anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or feeling trapped in your own mind, this conversation offers a deeper perspective on recovery and why consciousness-based work may be the missing piece.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✅ Why many mental health models focus only on symptom management

✅ The difference between awareness and identification with thoughts

✅ Why anxiety may be a state of consciousness rather than a disease

✅ How identifying with emotions can keep people stuck in anxiety loops

✅ Why lasting recovery requires expansion rather than suppression

✅ The connection between consciousness, identity, and emotional healing

🚀 Resources to Help You Heal:

📥 FREE Recovery GuideStart your journey to freedom from OCD and anxiety with expert tools and step-by-step guidance.👉 Download now: https://www.restoredminds.com/start

📖 Get a Copy of Our Book: From Stuck to UnstuckLearn practical strategies to overcome fear and reclaim your life.👉 Buy now: https://a.co/d/1WEvonT

📘 Taking Back Control (TBC) ProgramLearn how to apply these principles daily and dissolve anxiety at the root.👉 Apply Now: https://www.restoredminds.com/tbc

🎧 Subscribe & Connect for More Support:✅ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly episodes, tools, and coaching content.👉 https://www.youtube.com/restoredminds

✅ Leave a Review on your favorite platform to help others discover this life-changing content:👉 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3NJI2zD👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/46AiT30

✅ Ask a Question for a future episode:👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/assessments/2147654461

✅ Download the Book – From Stuck to Unstuck👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/book

Follow Matt Codde, LCSW on Social Media:🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/restoredminds/📸 If this episode helped you, share it on Instagram Stories and tag us!

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction: Why consciousness matters in recovery

02:02 – The 5 reasons consciousness should be integrated in mental health

02:34 – Why mental health without consciousness becomes symptom management

06:10 – Anxiety is not the enemy — it’s a state of consciousness

08:01 – Why OCD and anxiety are also identity problems

09:31 – “Your mind is driving you crazy” – who is observing the mind?

12:02 – Why understanding consciousness changes how recovery works

12:56 – Sustainable recovery requires expansion, not suppression

14:16 – Why coping behaviors prevent real healing

16:00 – Expansion of consciousness and emotional capacity

16:39 – Avoiding spiritual bypass and clinical reductionism

18:26 – Why integrating consciousness transforms mental health recovery

⚠️ Disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a licensed professional for personalized support.

In this episode of The Restored Minds Show, licensed therapist Matt Codde, LCSW shares some thoughts on medication and anxiety, including the role of SSRIs, benzodiazepines, placebo research, and how medication fits into a broader recovery journey.If you're struggling with anxiety, OCD, panic attacks, or other fear-based symptoms, you’ve probably wondered whether medication is the answer. In this episode, Matt explores the research, discusses common experiences people report with anxiety medication, and explains why medication may help some people — while not addressing the deeper cause of anxiety.

Rather than taking an extreme position for or against medication, this conversation explores how medication might fit into a balanced recovery approach focused on emotional healing, exposure work, and long-term integration.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✅ Some thoughts on medication and anxiety treatment

✅ What recent research suggests about SSRIs and placebo effects

✅ Why anxiety may not be caused by a chemical imbalance

✅ When medication might help people engage in recovery work

✅ The risks of long-term benzodiazepine use

✅ Why emotional and psychological healing are essential for lasting recovery

These insights can help you better understand the role medication may play in your own anxiety recovery journey.

Sources & Further Reading

• Moncrieff, J., et al. (2022). The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence. Molecular Psychiatry.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12104218/

• University College London (2022). Analysis: Depression is probably not caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain – new study.https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2022/jul/analysis-depression-probably-not-caused-chemical-imbalance-brain-new-study

🚀 Resources to Help You Heal:📥 FREE Recovery GuideStart your journey to freedom from OCD and anxiety with expert tools and step-by-step guidance.👉 Download now: https://www.restoredminds.com/start

📖 Get a Copy of Our Book: From Stuck to UnstuckLearn practical strategies to overcome fear and reclaim your life.👉 Buy now: https://a.co/d/1WEvonT

📘 Taking Back Control (TBC) ProgramLearn how to apply these principles daily and dissolve anxiety at the root.👉 Apply Now: https://www.restoredminds.com/tbc

🎧 Subscribe & Connect for More Support:✅ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly episodes, tools, and coaching content.👉 https://www.youtube.com/restoredminds

✅ Leave a Review on your favorite platform to help others discover this life-changing content:👉 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3NJI2zD👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/46AiT30

✅ Ask a Question for a future episode:👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/assessments/2147654461

✅ Download the Book – From Stuck to Unstuck👉 https://www.restoredminds.com/book

Follow Matt Codde, LCSW on Social Media:🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattcodde.restoredminds/

🔹 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/restoredminds/

📸 If this episode helped you, share it on Instagram Stories and tag us!

⏱️ Timestamps

01:02 – Why medication decisions should be personal

02:02 – The middle ground between anti-medication and over-prescribing

03:03 – SSRIs and why they’re commonly prescribed

04:07 – What placebo research reveals about SSRIs

05:51 – Can emotional healing change brain chemistry?

09:01 – Why chemical imbalance may not be the true cause

10:08 – The risks of benzodiazepines for anxiety

11:52 – Why long-term healing requires more than medication

14:01 – How belief and placebo may influence treatment

15:02 – Finding doctors aligned with your recovery goals

16:04 – The importance of emotional healing and consciousness work

⚠️ Disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a licensed professional for personalized support.