If you are a person with anxiety, then you've definitely heard someone say something like, "Resisting anxiety only strengthens it. You just have to accept your anxiety and then things will get better." But so often, those people don't explain what accepting anxiety actually means!

In this episode, we'll dive into everything you need to know about how to accept anxiety's presence in your life WITHOUT submitting yourself to a bleak, anxiety-filled future. 

In addition, we'll cover:

• What it really means to accept anxiety
• How to be more open and flexible with your emotions
• How to change your relationship with anxiety (and all of your emotions)
• How to let go of fear and resistance to anxiety

For more information, check out this blog post: https://www.abbietabbilos.com/post/what-it-means-to-accept-anxiety

The book mentioned in this episode is "Everyday Mindfulness for OCD" by Jon Hershfield and Shala Nicely.

Connect with me:

Website: https://www.abbietabbilos.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abstabbs/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abstabbs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tothemoonandbacknomatterwhat

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbbieTabbilos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbie-tabbilos-55ab9422a

Download my free 3-step guide, "How to Change Your Relationship With Your Thoughts": https://www.abbietabbilos.com/newsletter-free-resource-landing-page

Headshot photo credit: Mark Daeson Tabbilos from Your Filipino Photographer. Can be found at: https://yourfilipinophotographer.square.site/

Theme music: Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/zoo/our-story
License code: AQFEUYRLNTZVNBD2

Today we're discussing a bit of a harsh truth for those of us who have mental heath difficulties: eventually, we have to take responsibility for what goes on in our minds.

This is especially true for those of us who deal with intrusive thoughts. Although we can't control what thoughts we get, we can control what we do with those thoughts and how those thoughts affect us. 

In this episode, I share an analogy to help you feel empowered to take on your intrusive thoughts in a way that makes you feel empowered, rather than victimized. Other talking points include: 

• How I went from struggling deeply with intrusive thoughts to feeling like life was light again
• How the idea of taking responsibility for my own mental health empowered me
• How sitting with the discomfort of change can lead to your thoughts not having power over you anymore
• How you have a greater choice than you think you do when it comes to interacting with your intrusive thoughts

For more information about what was discussed in this episode, check out this blog post: https://www.abbietabbilos.com/post/managing-ocd-thought-loops-with-responsibility 

Connect with me:

Website: https://www.abbietabbilos.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abstabbs/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abstabbs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tothemoonandbacknomatterwhat

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbbieTabbilos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbie-tabbilos-55ab9422a

Download my free 3-step guide, "How to Change Your Relationship With Your Thoughts": https://www.abbietabbilos.com/newsletter-free-resource-landing-page

Headshot photo credit: Mark Daeson Tabbilos from Your Filipino Photographer. Can be found at: https://yourfilipinophotographer.square.site/

Theme music: Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/zoo/our-story
License code: AQFEUYRLNTZVNBD2

Scrupulosity Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a condition where the individual suffers from persistent, unwanted thoughts, intense anxiety and drives to do compulsive behaviors centered around matters or religion or morality. Like many subtypes of OCD, it is also characterized by excessive doubt and fear of uncertainty.

I have suffered from this condition nearly all my life, but was only accurately diagnosed in late 2023. In my healing journey, one question has been at the forefront of my mind: how do you have faith when you have Scrupulosity OCD?

Although it is difficult, it is not impossible to sort out how to interact with God, religion and morality in a healthy way when you have Scrupulosity OCD. In this podcast, I will discuss what I have learned in the past year to help me do so, including:

- Processing the intense emotions that come up after your diagnosis/when you realize how much OCD was impacting your relationship with God and religion
- Learning to think of faith as a choice, rather than as an absence of uncertainty or doubt
- Aligning your life with your values, rather than what your OCD tells you to do or fear
- How to be comfortable in grey areas

For more information, consider checking out my blog post on this topic: https://www.abbietabbilos.com/post/how-to-have-faith-when-you-have-scrupulosity-ocd 

Connect with me:

Website: https://www.abbietabbilos.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abstabbs/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abstabbs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tothemoonandbacknomatterwhat

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbbieTabbilos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbie-tabbilos-55ab9422a

Download my free 3-step guide, "How to Change Your Relationship With Your Thoughts": https://www.abbietabbilos.com/newsletter-free-resource-landing-page

Headshot photo credit: Mark Daeson Tabbilos from Your Filipino Photographer. Can be found at: https://yourfilipinophotographer.square.site/

Theme music: Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/zoo/our-story
License code: AQFEUYRLNTZVNBD2

Whether you have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), think you might have OCD, or love someone with OCD, this episode is for you. OCD is an incredibly misunderstood disorder, often used as the punch line of jokes or as a way to define "quirks" or personality traits. But it's important to understand OCD for what it is, both so that we can understand what may be going on in our own brains and so that we can extend understanding to those we love who may be suffering from this disorder. That's why I'm breaking the OCD cycle down to the very basics.

Today we'll be covering:

• How I got my OCD diagnosis
• What the four steps to the OCD cycle are and how they operate within different themes, including intrusive thoughts, anxiety, compulsions and a temporary reduction in anxiety
• How you don't have to have OCD to relate to what an OCD sufferer goes through
• The two key differentiators of OCD: doubt and an intolerance of uncertainty
• How to recover from OCD
• Hope for those with OCD

For more information, consider checking out this blog post: https://www.abbietabbilos.com/post/what-is-ocd 

Connect with me:

Website: https://www.abbietabbilos.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abstabbs/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abstabbs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tothemoonandbacknomatterwhat

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbbieTabbilos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbie-tabbilos-55ab9422a

Download my free 3-step guide, "How to Change Your Relationship With Your Thoughts": https://www.abbietabbilos.com/newsletter-free-resource-landing-page

Headshot photo credit: Mark Daeson Tabbilos from Your Filipino Photographer. Can be found at: https://yourfilipinophotographer.square.site/

Theme music: Music from #Uppbeat
https://uppbeat.io/t/zoo/our-story
License code: AQFEUYRLNTZVNBD2