Confidence and certainty are two concepts that we wrestle with in the course of anxiety and OCD treatment. On this episode, I was honored to interview Jon Hershfield, The Great and Powerful, and he discussed the differences between the two concepts, why we should be seeking confidence over certainty in treatment, and what confidence and self-confidence looks like in our lives and treatment.

I learned a lot from my time with Jon and he is a really fun therapist to talk to, not just because he is full of great information, but he is so passionate about helping people get back to their life after being ensnared by anxiety and OCD’s dastardly clutches.

If you have a moment, please take a few moments to fill out the FearCast Podcast Survey to help improve the FearCast.

The post Certainty and Confidence with Jon Hershfield, MFT appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

On this episode of the FearCast, I answer three listener questions on a range of topics.

First, I answer a question about how to deal with health anxiety when someone actually has a real life chronic health condition.

Next, I talk about how to accept a condition as permanent when a medical treatment exists. So, treatment is out there, but unreasonable or impossible to do.

Last, I discuss the diagnostic criteria for OCD and some of the conditions necessary, or at least important, in making an OCD diagnosis.

Help make the FearCast Podcast a better show! Please take time to fill out the FearCast Podcast survey!

The post Health Real Event, Eye Floaters, and At What Point is it OCD? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

The Faith and Doubt Series is back after a long hiatus; and its back with a bang! On this episode, I had the chance to interview biblical scholar Jaimie Eckert about the top things someone with religious themed OCD, otherwise known as Religious Scrupulosity, should know about Scrupulosity treatment.

Yes, this is the longest FearCast episode on the books as of yet. It is also packed with amazing information and examples direct from the bible that addresses concerns and issues that impact Christians struggling with Scrupulosity. Among these issues, what does the bible say about OCD treatment, will ERP damage my faith, what to do with absolute truth, and what the bible says about certainty and doubt.

For more information about Jaimie Eckert, please visit www.Scrupulosity.com.

For previous episodes from the Faith and Doubt Series:

Religious Scrupulosity

Faith and Doubt: Guest Mike Erre

Faith and Doubt: Guest Fr. Thomas Santa

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More listener questions mean more answered questions on the podcast. On this episode, I start with a brief recap of my big take-away from the IOCDF conference (Inhibitory Learning Model). I’d love to hear about your big take-aways too!

On this episode I answer a question from someone asking about getting headaches after exposures, but also finding they are doing exposures to check on the headaches. Next, I answer a question about hyperawareness then spend some time talking about Sensory Processing Disorder (which may end up being the real problem). Last, I help someone think about how to tell their family they have OCD.

If you like the show, please remember to subscribe and write a review about the show.

The post Listener Questions- Headaches, Sensory Integration, And Disclosing OCD appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

So, you read the title correctly. This is a real mixture of an episode.

On this, the 50th episode, I answer a question about whether a mother of a man with Religious Scrupulosity should continue sending him bible verses as encouragmeent, or if that’s unhelpful. Additionally, in the FearCast After Dark section of the show, I answer two, TWO, questions about what someone should do when they fear they have HOCD while they also enjoy watching gay porn. Are they gay? Are they in denial? Is it HOCD? How does this all work? Listen to find out!

Please remember to subscribe and write a review for the show because it helps others find the show. More importantly, if you like the show, please tell a friend or group member.

I hope to see some of you at the IOCDF online conference, and hopefully I’ll see you in person at next year’s conference!

The post To Share Bible Verses, and When HOCD Doesn’t Conflict With Gay Porn appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

This episode tackles the very real, and very troubling, OCD subtype known as Real Event, or Real Life, OCD. I discuss this subtype, including its common obsessions, compulsions, and treatment. Additionally, I discuss how this subtype can and is being influenced by the existence of “cancel culture.”

Thank you to everyone who listened to this episode. This was, oddly, the most anxiety producing episode for me to record. I hope you are able to learn a little about this subtype and are able to apply some of the tools to your own recovery.

The post Real Event OCD, Cancel Culture, and Reassurance appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

For this episode, I had the privilege to talk with Elena Fasan about the 10 things a parent with a child or adolescent with OCD should know! Elena is a child and adolescent OCD and anxiety disorder specialist and is an expert in parenting OCD.

Thank you for listening to this very long episode. If you have questions for Elena, please feel free to contact me and I will forward then to her.

Here are the resources suggested by Elena and discussed on the episode:

Books for Parents of Children and Adolescents with OCD:

Parenting Books:

Books on child and adolescent development: 

Combination of development and parenting:

For more information on how you can help support a family member or loved one, check out this blog post from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center

The post 10 Things A Parent of a Child or Adolescent With OCD Should Know- With Elena Fasan, LCSW appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Thank you all for joining me on this, the 47th episode of the FearCastPodcast.

On this episode, I answer three questions! Thank you all you listeners, I’ve been getting more and more questions, so I’m going to give more and more answers!

This episode is eclectic. I first answer a question about HOCD and the fear focusing on attraction to someone’s friends. Next, I talk about hyperawareness when someone focuses on EVERYTHING! Lastly, I discuss some ways you can address insomnia as it impacts someone’s OCD and anxiety (and visa versa).

Thank you all for listening. Please remember to subscribe, like, and write a review.

If you have questions for a future episode, please feel free to message me and ask anonymously!

The post Erotic Friend Fiction, Hyper-Hyperawareness, and Insomnia appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

This was a weird episode to record, not because of the content, but because I had to move my whole studio to make it happen.

I was delighted to answer these two questions. One is about an exposure script for TOCD, or Transgender OCD. The listener asks for a script example like I put together for the HOCD episode a while ago. And because he asked so nicely, I couldn’t resist. I also answer a question about how to deal with POCD. What does one have to do to move forward not knowing whether they will become a pedophile?! I discuss some of those issues.

Thank you all for listening. Please remember to subscribe, like, and review. If you have a question for a future episode, please feel free to message me. If you have further feedback for the listeners, let me know and I’ll add it. Also, if you want to be on the show and share your story, please contact me!

The post TOCD Exposures and Surviving POCD appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

This episode is packed with some great questions! First, I answer a question about dealing with sexually explicit thoughts at church! After that, I talk about the relationship between ROCD and HOCD, or as I call it, the ROCD/ HOCD Venn Diagram. They are kinda like salt and pepper. Yes, you can have them separately, but you very often see them together.

I hope everyone is doing well, and is staying happy and healthy during the pandemic!

If you like the show, please remember to subscribe on your podcast outlet of choice and write a review!

The post Intrusive Thoughts At Church, and The HOCD/ROCD Venn Diagram appeared first on FearCast Podcast.