Today’s episode comes from an audio question. The questioner asks what she can do about obsessions that switch themes rapidly. Should she keep doing scripts? Keep doing what her therapist says? Follow the fluctuating obsession? I call this “Flavor of the Week OCD” and it is a phenomenon that happens from time to time and I offer some tips on what you can do to help.

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On today’s episode, I was joined by Dr. Claggett-Woods to talk about reassurances, support, feedback, and coping statements. She discusses the differences between these terms, how they are used and overused, and how they can undermine treatment when used incorrectly. Additionally, we talk about the compulsive effort of overdoing exposures and how this can lead to treatment stagnation and demoralization.

The post Treatment Pet Peeves: Reassurance, Support, Feedback, and Overdoing Exposures with Dr. Claggett-Woods appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Can my history of porn usage lead me down a slippery slope to pedophilia related porn use, and eventually reveal me to be a pedophile? (7:40) What happens if I “relieve myself” and the idea of a pedophilia related content pops up in my mind. Then what does that say about me? Also, what’s up with the show “Toddlers and Tiaras?” (26:33) How is that show on the air, and how does exposure to that show, no matter how helpful it is, make watching it OK?

All these questions and more!

The post Chronic porn use leading to POCD, and what’s up with ‘Toddlers & Tiaras’? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

On today’s episode, I answer a question about how someone can tell the difference between suppressed attraction or whether the feelings they have are the result of HOCD? Along with this question, the listener wants to know how they can deal with (well, they actually want to suppress) the compulsions when they are around other people. It is a great question and I discuss the mindset someone should have in this situation, how to accept uncertainty, and do mindfulness and exposures with this obsession.

The post How Can I Tell If It’s HOCD or Suppressed Attraction? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

On this episode I answer a listener’s multifaceted question about OCD, Panic Disorder, and the fear of going insane. The listener expresses concern that they were misdiagnosed with Panic Disorder when they should have been diagnosed with OCD, and whether their anxiety is so overwhelming that they will lose touch with reality and be unable to deal with their obsessions. I talk discuss some issues involved in the diagnoses process between them, and some other aspects of the obsessions to consider. Most importantly, I discuss some treatment elements they may encounter in treatment, such as Cognitive Restructuring and various exposure ideas.

The post Panic Disorder or OCD, or Will I Eventually Just Go Insane? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

On today’s episode, I answer two listener questions. The first is from someone experiencing panic-like symptoms with the awareness of seeing the sky as a “dome” that makes her feel claustrophobic. She refers to an episode of Phobia Phriday on Casadastraphobia, which is linked below. The second question is about someone who experiences hyperawareness, which bothers her, but it is about sensations that she likes and loves.

The post Fear of Seeing a Dome In The Sky and Cozy-Comfy Hyperawareness appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Harm OCD is an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder subtype focused on violent or harming themes. This is a common obsession for people suffering with OCD and can cause a tremendous amount of anxiety for those experiencing the thoughts and compulsions. On this episode, I discuss what Harm OCD is, why it is part of OCD, common obsessions, compulsions, and triggers, and most importantly how you can work with it.

In addition to the information about this subtype, I created two exposure examples that you can use to help craft your own exposures or to use with your therapist. The first is a guided imagery meditation (57:17) that moves you through visualizing a scene with increasing intensity and closeness, and the other is a self-harm obsession script example (1:09:30) focusing on the fear of harming oneself. Both of these examples are general and can be crafted to suite your specific needs.

If you have questions about Harm OCD or harm related obsessions for the podcast, feel free to send them here, or email me the audio at [email protected].

For more about Harm OCD, please see my article here:

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Originally published on December 24, 2021, however it did not post correctly. Here it is now.

To close out 2021, I’m answering two quick questions from listeners. The first question is about whether someone can have more than one obsession. Spoiler, yes you can. The next question is about whether someone can orgasm during ERP, and if you do what does that mean and what do we do about it.

Thank you to everyone who sent in questions this year and who are considering sending in questions in 2022. Thank you for including me in your recovery and thank you for letting me have a voice in your fight against that anxious voice. Keep pushing and punching anxiety in its stupid face!

The post Can I have more than one obsession, and what if I orgasm during ERP? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

For today’s lovely yuletide episode, I was joined by Mitzi VanCleve to talk about how to manage anxiety, obsessions, and stress associated with Christmas for those suffering with Religious Scrupulosity. Mitzi has a wealth of hard-earned wisdom to offer people and it was a pleasure to finally have her on.

To no surprise, this episode is very Christian-centric, however I am planning on addressing other faiths’ religious holidays through the lens of Religious Scrup on future episodes. If you have suggestions for topics or guests, please feel free to reach out.

For more from Mitzi VanCleve, check out her book at Amazon, or read her blog at The OCD Christian.

The post Christmas and Religious Scrupulosity with Mitzi VanCleve appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Thanks for joining me for another episode! Today’s episode is an listener audio question about how to deal with OCD attacking the ERP process. In it, I discuss where to find good resources for treatment when in-person or even online therapy can’t be accessed, and how to face “Obsessing about obsessing.” Additionally, I answer a quick question about what to say when people on social media (or in real life) say things like “I’m sooo OCD.” I offer a few ideas, but I want to know what YOU, the listener, would say to someone in this situation. If I get enough of them, I’ll post them all to another future episode!

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