OCD Straight Talk

Chris discusses trauma symptoms, and their corresponding treatments with a trauma expert, Dr. Joseph Birli. A wonderfully competent, and seasoned therapist, Dr. Birli brings many years of experience to our discussion about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Chris responds to a listener's question about "Association OCD," pointing to the "heart beat" of this symptom-dimension. 

Chris also sets-up Monday's episode: he and a guest will discuss the nature and treatment of PTSD. 

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]

Chris discusses the notion that 'you are not your thoughts," and your anxiety, even when it's really, really bad, can't hurt you - unless you let it. Our compulsions make our thoughts "real." So fight, scratch, and claw to not give into the compulsions. Choose to stop them. 

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]

Chris discloses some of his specific OCD-presentation, and what it looks like in real time. He also responds to a listener's question/email. Thanks for checking out the podcast. 

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have. [email protected]

Chris discusses a common familial scenario: family members of OCDers want to know how to be helpful. This is a frequently asked question in the therapeutic process. That said, his responses are necessarily generalized to a wide array of individualized, familial situations.

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might to [email protected]

Chris responds to a listener's question about meds, supplements. In the process, he discusses other substances that are commonly inquired about in treatment. 

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Chris discusses two kinds of patients: one comes to the game to watch from the sideline while the others fight the battle, the other comes to fight through the stages of adversity to win with his teammates at the end. Which kind of patient are you? I'll let you in on a secret: your therapist can't get you better - at least not all by herself. She needs you to get some skin in the game. You need you to get some skin in the game.  And I'll tell you something else. If your therapist is working harder than you are to get you better, you're likely both wasting your time. Fight hard; get better.

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]

Chris responds to a listener's request for a subtype-description. Like some others, this listener requested that the response be made on the podcast, rather than via email. Thanks to the listener for reaching out; and thanks for checking out OCDST.

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have. [email protected]

Chris responds to a listener who requests clarity as to the difference between thinking "rationally" about obsessions for the purpose of disputing them, and ruminating about them. Great question; thanks for the question. 

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]

Chris explains three important elements that, cumulatively, help to identify a behavior as a compulsion. Not every behavior is a compulsion; but compulsions often seem to be just another behavior. So which one is it? It's not enough to identify compulsions. We have to stop them, too.

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have. [email protected]