Today’s listener question comes from a man who wants to know how to balance their awareness that their health anxiety is driving them to compulsively call doctors or check in on minor physical ailments with the fear that they could potentially miss catching a life threatening illness early! It’s a real conundrum for those suffering with health anxiety, and a reality for every person living. I discuss the question and give a longer explanation of my health anxiety rule of thumb to help manage anxiety about health.

To learn more about health anxiety and health OCD, please check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center

The post #161- Balancing Mental Health With Fear Of Missing Potential Medical Emergency (Health Anxiety) appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s episode covers the ins and outs of the OCD subtype focused on moral and ethical issues, more commonly known as Moral Scrupulosity. This is a very special episode as not only do we go over the subtype and answer a question related to Moral Scrupulosity, but I get to have Jon Hershfield, MFT, join me to go over it all with us! This is a good start to OCD week 2023!

The post #160- Moral Scrupulosity With Jon Hershfield, MFT appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Two questions from two different listeners. One, should they start dating knowing they have SO-OCD, or should they hold off until they sort it all out? Question two, OCD has them in a bind to give money to charity to save people, or to hoard money to save her own family. Either way, they are responsible for harming someone (so says OCD).

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

The post #159- Yes Or No To Start Dating With SO-OCD, And To Give Money Or To Hoard Money? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today I answer two, but really kinda three, questions from listeners. The first is from a woman on her way to a date and she’s wondering if her ROCD is acting up and trying to sabotage the date from the start, or if she’s genuinely picking up on some red flags. The next question is about Depersonalization and Derealization (DPDR) and whether its a symptom or a form of Hyperawareness OCD. Furthermore, this listener wants to know whether ERP can help with it.

The post #158- Is This Feeling My ROCD Or Picking Up On Bad Vibes, And DPDR, Hyperawareness OCD, and ERP appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s guest is Dr. Jeremy Shuman, PsyD, who joins me to talk about his urgency for consider neurodivergent traits when treating OCD and anxiety spectrum disorders. Dr. Shuman discusses a broadened yet refined view of neurodiverse traits and how including a neurodivergent lens in our treatment of OCD and anxiety spectrum sufferers will make treatment more specific, compassionate, and successful.

The post #157- Neurodivergent Treatment For OCD and Anxiety Spectrum Disorders With Dr. Jeremy Shuman, PsyD appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s question is an audio question from a listener who struggles to get help with her obsession. She worries that thinking gory thoughts will make her pass out while she’s driving. Oh, and she’s passed out before from seeing gory images! She’s seen a therapist who recommends ERP, but she’s still driving. What can she do? I offer some guidance on where she can look to get some help and some other ways to think about her obsession. I also discuss Vasovagal Syncope as part of the answer. Buckle up for a quick and broad episode!

The post #156- What If Gory Thoughts Leads To Passing Out Behind The Wheel And ERP Won’t Help!? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s episode is a contamination focused question about how to deal with an obsession that can’t reasonably be disproved, or proved! This is relevant to a lot of people as well who struggle with existential obsessions because we may never be able to see the outcome of an obsession in life, so how do you do ERP when you can’t see the feared outcome happen or not happen?!

The post #155- Coping, And Doing ERP, With Contamination Obsessions That Can’t Be Disproved appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today I was joined by Mike Heady, LCPC, to talk about shame. This conversation really broadened by understanding of the emotional experience of shame, and how the weaponized Toxic Shame can destroy someone from within. Mike is a wonderfully clear communicator and dives deep into a subject that we all know one way or another, whether we want to or not.

The post #154- Shame And Toxic Shame In OCD With Mike Heady, LCPC appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s audio question comes from Sarah. She wants to know how to deal with the returning hyperawareness theme focusing on the items on her desk while she studies. It is really getting in the way of her ability to study. She made some progress before, but with a big upcoming test the theme is back! What can she do?

The post #153- New Hyperawareness Theme? Old Theme? Or Same Old Theme? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today, bass player Brian Killeen joined me to talk about his experience as a working musician and his journey through anxiety and OCD recovery. The Anxiety In The Arts series is focused on amplifying voices of artists, musicians, performers, and creative people as they navigate their way through anxiety as they strive to express themselves. This was a fun conversation and I really enjoyed speaking with Brian.

The post #152- Anxiety In The Arts With Guest Brian Killeen appeared first on FearCast Podcast.