Today’s question was a bit of a tricky one, and deserves a tricky answer. There seems to be a mix of responses across the internet about whether you are what you fear. Some people saying, “No, you are not your fear and your fear is evidence of it not being you because obsessions are ego-dystonic.” Whereas some people say, “Yes, the obsession could be you,” and even fewer saying “Yes, you are what your fear says you are.” But what if the content of the obsession did not even matter, and trying to answer the question conclusively was a waste of time, and was actually the problem in the first place?

The post #271- Am I, Or Am I Not, What My Obsession Says I am? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

For today’s episode, Claire Breedlove, LCSW, joined me to talk about her work treating Religious Scrupulosity among the Latter Day Saints (LDS) population. Claire joined me on episode #189 where she discussed her work in general, but on this episode we do a deeper dive into her use of Inference Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT). This was a fun conversation to look at the differences between ICBT and the traditional ERP/ CBT treatment methods for Religious Scrupulosity and why Claire has shifted her practice to primarily ICBT. Even if you aren’t LDS, but still struggling with Religious Scrupulosity OCD, this episode is definitely worth a listen.

For more on Religious Scrupulosity OCD, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center

The post #270- Treating Religious Scrupulosity With ICBT, feat. Claire Breedlove, LCSW appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Cheesecake Destroyer, no that is not their real name (probably), messaged me a question that is more complicated than it seems. They want to know whether their use of porn is causing them to be creepy toward women. They acknowledge they have had this obsession for while, but does that mean they need to quit porn? Is this really a question, or are they looking for permission? Are they hoping I’ll say, “It’s all OK, and you’re OK”? Can exposures help with this? How can someone work toward being a better person while also recognizing their OCD is wrapped up with the concern about being better (or being creepy)?

Learn more about Moral Scrupulosity! Check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center

The post #269- Is My Porn Use Causing Me Become A Creepy Person? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

To answer today’s audio question, I had on TWO experts on child development and OCD. The questioner who is in the middle of the delicate balance of supporting her daughter’s best moral development while not feeding the Moral Scrupulosity OCD beast. To answer the question I have on Elena Fasan, LCSW, an expert on child and adolescent OCD treatment, and Jenny Foss, MA, child development professor. We talk about how parents can support kids going through the trials of adolescence and how to help raise good, thoughtful, and honest kids while taking into account the ways OCD wants to take over development and the parent/ child relationship.

For more on Moral and Religious Scrupulosity OCD, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center

The post #268- Supporting Good Kids With Moral Scrup, With Elena Fasan, LCSW, and Jenny Foss, MA appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Anthony sent in an audio question where he shared that he’s having trouble with some thoughts about his girlfriend. He keeps wondering whether or not she’s unattractive, like really unattractive, and not his type. What’s worse is that they are planning on moving in together soon! Is he wasting her time by pretending to be into her? Sure, he has some moments of clarity when he thinks she really is attractive, maybe even MORE attractive than he ever thought, but those thoughts are fleeting. What is he to do?

The post #267- Is Anthony’s Girlfriend A Gargoyle, Or Is ROCD At It Again? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Lauren Rosen, MFT, joined me today to help answer Lemon’s question. Lemon wanted to know how she can move forward with her life, pursuing her values, etc., but what if her thoughts and values aren’t really her own? Lauren, the author of The Mental Compulsions Workbook for OCD was the perfect guest to help address this existential question. We discuss ways to identify her mental compulsions, the feared story the compulsions serve, and some ways she can find meaning (whether they are her own or not).

For more on Existential OCD, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center

The post #265- What If My Values Aren’t Mine, Featuring Lauren Rosen, MFT appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Sophi sent in her audio question and had a question about how to best deal with this really unhelpful, bad-for-the-relationship, unwelcomed obstacle of ROCD and Paranoid Personality Disorder. This isn’t a common combination that we’ve talked about on the show but she reached out. She asked about what she can do to get a better handle on these two so it isn’t to ruin her relationships or any other relationships!

The post #264- Paranoid Personality Disorder And ROCD Is Not Sophi’s Friend appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

This is a jam packed episode. I answer four questions from listeners across a wide range of topics. We discuss the differences between an obsession and an intrusive thought. Are they different, and if so, how, and is it important? Another listener wants to know whether someone identifying as gay/ lesbian can still have Sexual Orientation OCD, or is that just a straight people thing? One listener wants to know whether ERP is a good idea to help treat their disordered eating and/ or eating disorder. Finally, someone kinda shares a success story that ends up being a question about how to deal with Casadastraphobia.

The post #263- ERP For Disordered Eating, What’s An Intrusive Thought, And More appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Toblerone Girl messaged me with an audio question recently. Unfortunately, she’s struggling with the dreaded overlap of ROCD and SO-OCD that seem to be made for one another. She notices some genuine feelings, but OCD jumps in and demands the all or nothing of it, and doesn’t take “I’m must be bisexual” as a reasonable label. I discuss some ways she can consider the situation and offer some exercises that may help her develop a new relationship with her thoughts.

To learn more about Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD), check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center

The post #262- When “I’m Bisexual” Is Not Enough To Quiet ROCD/ SOOCD appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today I answer a twofer from Katie; both of them Religious Scrupulosity related. The first question is about how can someone “cast their cares on the Lord” and ask God for healing from OCD in a non-compulsive way. She also wants to know how she can “do all things through Christ who strengthens me” while also exerting her own will on her OCD recovery. Is using her own willpower subverting God’s impact on her recovery, and is a true believer supposed to rely only on God and nothing else for recovery? I do my best to address this from a faith and mental health perspective in order to build her confidence that OCD treatment for Religious Scrup is an act of faith.

For more on Religious Scrupulosity, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center

The post #261- Can I Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.