Get to know OCD

Supporting someone with OCD can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t fully understand their experience. In this episode of Get to know OCD, Dr. Patrick McGrath breaks down the complexities of OCD and shares practical tips for starting meaningful conversations — whether you’re living with OCD or supporting someone who is. You'll walk away from this talk with insights to foster understanding, build connection, and navigate the challenges OCD brings together.

If you are or a loved one is experiencing OCD, there is external help available. Visit https://learn.nocd.com/YT to learn more about effective, evidence-based treatment. 

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When intrusive thoughts took over his life, Jesse Katches felt isolated, hopeless, and afraid to share his struggles — even with his roommate. Fast-forward to today, and Jesse has transformed his pain into purpose as a mental health advocate reaching millions online.

In this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, Dr. Patrick McGrath sits down with Jesse to discuss his journey through anxiety and OCD, the power of vulnerability, and why taking one small step at a time can change everything. They explore the courage it takes to live authentically, the challenges of sharing personal stories online, and the surprising ways advocacy helps erase the stigma of mental health struggles.

If you are or a loved one is experiencing OCD, there is hope. Visit https://learn.nocd.com/podcast to learn more about effective, evidence-based treatment. 

Show notes:

0:00 Intro 

1:44 Why Jesse began posting online about mental health and OCD 

7:39 Dealing with online trolls  

11:03 Living life in spite of OCD 

14:57 The importance of having nerves 

17:15 Dating with OCD

22:37 Changing the narrative around mental health 

27:00 Remember why you’re doing it

29:51 Know you’re not alone

31:51 Future of content 

34:51 Decreasing the stigma 

36:54 Risk of reaching out for help 

43:45 Being nice to yourself 

47:26 Jesse’s advice to content creators thinking of opening up about struggles 

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Dr. Patrick McGrath and Michelle Massi bring 45 years of combined experience to this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, where they get into the state of OCD treatment today.

You’ll discover why failure can pave the way for progress, how feeding compulsions derails recovery, and why leaning into discomfort is key to reclaiming your life. Packed with practical wisdom and candid insights, this conversation is a must-hear for anyone affected by OCD — whether you’re struggling yourself or supporting a loved one.

Has your OCD recovery journey hit a wall recently? Visit https://learn.nocd.com/podcast to get perspective from our experts on how to treat yourself.

Show notes:
0:00 Intro

4:55 How failure led Michelle and Patrick to becoming therapists

7:37 Differences between residential, PHP and IOP treatments

12:17 Why someone might need higher level of care

15:35 Encouraging OCD patients to be accountable to treatment

19:23 OCD is never satisfied

20:38 Common questions Michelle gets

21:43 Family treatment can be complicated

28:50 ERP principles are life principles 

36:05 What’s the “right” thing to do?

38:40 The role families play in OCD accommodation 

41:53 The importance of evidence-based care

45:00 Learned helplessness 

48:85 We’re allowed to be imperfect 

49:48 Michelle’s future 

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OCD in children isn’t always easy to spot — it can appear as perfectionism, relentless checking rituals, or overwhelming fears about safety. Without the right support, it can quietly take over not only the child’s life but the entire household.

In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath dives into the subtle yet disruptive ways OCD manifests in kids. He breaks down the telltale signs and offers advice for parents, including the benefits of exposure and response prevention therapy.

If you think your child might have OCD, know this: treatment is available. Visit learn.nocd.com/podcast to connect with a licensed OCD therapist and explore treatment options.

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Dating in the modern age feels hard enough — add anxiety and OCD, and it can feel overwhelming. Dating coach Sabrina Zohar knows the struggle firsthand, living with anxiety. In this episode of Get to Know OCD, Sabrina shares her insights on navigating the dating world with these unique challenges.

With her signature candor, Sabrina unpacks the reality of dating apps, the art of bringing up mental health in relationships without fear, and even the empowering side of rejection. She also reminds us that, sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is just show up as we are.

Is OCD getting in the way of your dating life? Visit learn.nocd.com/YT to explore treatment options that can help.

Show notes:
0:00 Intro 

1:59 Sabrina’s background

4:12 Mental health issues and dating 

8:31 Working through relationship OCD 

11:50 Five safety behaviors to look out for

16:58 Everyone has “baggage” 

22:01 “Off” days when dating  

23:06 Dating app anxiety 

26:37 Need you vs. want you 

28:14 Dealing with the loss of a significant relationship 

30:06 Risk vs. reward 

32:11 Managing OCD-fueled doubt in a relationship 

36:35 Top tips for dating for those with chronic conditions 

40:16 How to keep a relationship thriving 

43:37 Being able to be honest in a relationship 

44:08 Sabrina’s final takeaway 

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Ever feel like health worries are taking over? Like every ache or pain needs immediate attention? If so, this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast is for you. Today, we’re joined by Josh Spitalnick and Michael Stier, co-authors of The Complete Guide To Overcoming Health Anxiety.

Josh and Michael break down the difference between real medical symptoms and the “what if” thoughts that health anxiety loves to create. From that “urgent” need to call a doctor to the constant dread of something being wrong, they’re here to show why facing those fears — rather than panicking at them — might just bring the relief you need.

Treating health-related anxieties and OCD often overlap. Check out https://learn.nocd.com/podcast to see if you could use help from our experts in evidence-based treatment. 

Show notes: 
0:00 Intro

1:44 Josh and Michael’s background

2:59 Writing a book together

6:40 What is health anxiety?

10:01 Difference between health anxiety and OCD with health themes 

12:10 Ways to treat health anxiety

26:36 Cold and flu season anxiety 

31:55 Unknown callers are like thoughts

35:17 Cognitive tools to treat health anxiety 

43:49 Forming a relationship with physical symptoms 

49:48 Using humor to treat anxieties 

54:03 Where to get Josh and Michael’s book

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We get OCD-related questions all the time — in our comment section, emails, webinars, in-person therapy, and more. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath answers real questions he most often gets. He covers everything from ERP to dream states, and everything inbetween.

Have more OCD-related questions? Check out our content library for more answers to our most-frequently-asked questions: https://learn.nocd.com/ocd-library

 Show notes: 
0:36 Question one

2:50 Question two

4:25 Question three

8:50 Question four

10:02 Question five

11:31 Question six

14:06 Question seven 

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OCD representation in movies, shows, and media often misses the mark, pairing misinformation with laugh tracks and stereotypes. These portrayals often stick, leading to widespread misunderstandings and even misdiagnoses of this complex disorder.

In this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, Patrick sits down with therapist Nathan Peterson, who has over a decade of experience treating OCD and anxiety. Together, they break down popular clips from Friends, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and HBO's Girls to reveal what the media gets wrong about OCD — and the rare moments it gets right.

Want to better understand OCD? Not only your symptoms, but how to treat them? Visit https://learn.nocd.com/podcast to learn more about our evidence-based treatment.

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You do NOT have to beat yourself up for having OCD. In fact, according to therapist and anxiety expert Kimberly Quinlan, self-compassion — not self-punishment — is the real path to healing. Kim, who has literally written the book on compassion, knows firsthand how powerful kindness can be in breaking the relentless cycle of compulsions, fear, and doubt. In this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, Kim draws on her personal journey through eating disorder recovery and her work with OCD clients to show why you don’t have to be your own worst critic. If you’ve ever struggled with self-blame, Kim’s message of compassion is sure to resonate.

Show notes:
0:00 Intro

1:42 Kim’s background

4:46 Overlap between anxiety and eating disorders

7:42 Self-compassion for OCD recovery

10:14 The power of compassion when dealing with other disorders

13:53 Kim’s definition of self compassion

16:39 The biggest roadblock to self-compassion

22:43 Can self-compassion become a compulsion? 

25:51 The role mindfulness plays in treatment 

29:50 Why Kim bought herself a van

33:19 Letting loved ones suffer

38:15 Advice for parents

41:54 Did DSM get the definition of OCD wrong?

44:11 How Kim practices what she preaches 

46:06 Taking the first step to get help 

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In a world overflowing with uncertainty, OCD wants to convince us we can somehow control it all. From political unrest to personal worries, the mind relentlessly searches for answers —sometimes convincing us that just one small compulsion can fix everything. But as we know, the lies OCD feeds us don’t lead to absolute answers. Ever.

In this episode, we explore our relationship with uncertainty. We' explain why compulsions never create certainty and how embracing this uncertainty might just be the better solution you're looking for.

If you or a loved one is struggling with OCD, know there is help. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://learn.nocd.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠ to learn more.

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