Today’s episode comes from Victor who’s having a tough time dealing with obsessions focused on whether or not he has Schizophrenia. Unfortunately, sometimes simply reading something, seeing a video on something, or just hearing an idea related to something can be enough for OCD to suggest, “Maybe that’s you. Now, maybe you should go to unreasonable lengths to ensure you don’t that have.” Victor wants to know how to deal with this, so I offer some ideas on how to approach this new fear and carry on with his life until he does “go crazy”… or he doesn’t… Either one, he’s got a life to lead that OCD doesn’t want him to have.

For more on health and mental health related obsessions, check out this article from The California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center

The post #204- Schizophrenia OCD From Reading About Schizophrenia?! appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s audio questioner wants to know why the anxiety they experience from regular life and every-day triggers is worse than the anxiety they get when doing Exposures. They struggle to make their exposures as triggering as their regular anxiety, but can’t! But is that even necessary?

The post #203- Why Is Real Life Anxiety Tougher Than My ERP Anxiety? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

To learn more about Harm OCD, check out this article from The California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center

Today’s audio question comes from Aaron who asked about a situation he has not heard much about, so he’s looking for some guidance. He’s noticing he has some Relationship OCD (no big deal, right), but he also notices a flair up of Harm related obsessive thoughts alongside and as a result of the ROCD thoughts. We’re all used to ROCD and SO-OCD, but Harm? I offer some thoughts, encouragement and guidance for challenging and facing his obsessions.

The post #202- Relationship OCD Spiked With Harm OCD? What To Do?d appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s episode is all about SPACE Treatment! Natalia Aiza, LPC, joined me to talk about her expertise using SPACE, or Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions, to help adolescents and parents better address anxiety and OCD. Natalia went through the treatment method, discusses how it differs from traditional Exposure and Response Prevention Treatment, addresses resistant children and teens and their resistant parents, how to address accommodation, and how to successfully end treatment. This was a wonderful interview with a ton of great and usable information.

For more information about SPACE:

Breaking Free Of Child Anxiety And OCD by Dr. Eli Lebowitz: https://a.co/d/8gwlrag

The post #201- SPACE Treatment With Natalia Aiza, LPC appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today is so special, I thought I’d answer two listener questions! The first comes from a listener who is questing themselves as they notice they have the urge to Google someone they admire or look up to. Are they being wildly creepy, or is OCD accusing them of being a terrible person? Next comes an audio question from Cynthia who asks about how she can deal with her obsessions attacking her genuinely held interests. Are her hobbies and leisure ruined forever?

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

The post #200- Am I Creepy Or Just Morally Obsessed, And OCD Ruining Interests appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s audio question comes from Spiritual Overthinker who has won the lottery with a wonderful guy with whom she clicks with on a deep, spiritual level. But, as it happens sometimes, OCD suddenly is showing up and making her question the relationship, herself, and their future together! What is she to do? I offer her some suggestions, guidance, and encouragement to challenging her distorted thoughts, leaning on her values, and living what she believes is true and right (all while ignoring OCD’s nonsense).

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

The post #199- The Universe Put Us Together, But ROCD and SOOCD Is RUINING IT! appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s audio question comes in from Doubting Debbie who asks a great question: is this thought she’s having legitimate and worth investigating, or is it just an obsession and nonsense manifestation of her OCD? While a great question, sometimes with ROCD, SO-OCD, or pretty much any obsession, there can be many things going on work acknowledging, challenging, and accepting.

The post #198- Is This Gut Instinct Legit Or Just My OCD? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s question comes from Overthinker. She asks the question about how to beat her SO-OCD. She’s confident she’s narrowed down the core fear, she’s in therapy, she’s working on exposures and taking all the right steps, but she’s missing an important step that I try to highlight. This was a longer question, and unfortunately I didn’t realize there was a bunch of noise and background hiss in the recording, but hopefully you find it helpful and spot some ways Overthinker could do to help her in her progress too!

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

The post #197-Trying To Beat SO-OCD, Despite All These Compulsions! appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s audio question comes from Frank. He wants to know whether Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy can be helpful to someone who is actually in denial of their sexuality. Frank identifies as a cis-gay male, but obsesses about whether or not he is actually trans. So, is Frank actually trans and in denial, or is he obsessing about being trans and is who and how he identifies? I do my best to respectfully and delicately offer my thoughts.

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

The post #196- Can ERP Be Helpful To Someone Who Is In Denial? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s audio question comes from a listener who wants to know whether or not OCD can make them feel depressed, or if they just have depression, or if they have depression and OCD. Either way, Ab, the questioner, shares her deep struggle with feeling overwhelmed by a sense of depression alongside her other obsessions. This question gets a little personal for me, but I share some ideas on what she can do in the face of her experience, how to maintain a grounded perspective through depressive slumps, and how to thrive despite her struggle.

The post #195- Depression, Or OCD Making Feel Depressed, Or Both? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.