The OCD Whisperer Podcast with Kristina Orlova

By Kristina OrlovaHealth & Fitness Mental Health

Favorites
37
Followers
Typical duration
28 min
per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

The OCD Whisperer Podcast with Kristina Orlova episodes

December 19, 2025163. Relationship OCD, Shame, and Recovery: Learning to Live With Uncertainty
💔Can OCD convince you that you’re incapable of love?

In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Zack Tucker, OCD advocate and creator of OCDestigmatize. Together, they explore relationship OCD, health anxiety, shame, and what real recovery actually looks like when OCD never fully disappears—but stops controlling your life.

Zack opens up about:
• Relationship OCD and the fear of “not really loving” partners
• How intrusive thoughts destroyed past relationships and self-esteem
• Promiscuity, avoidance, and using control to cope with emotional pain
• ERP, exposure, and redefining what recovery truly means
• Living with OCD long-term while still building love, confidence, and meaning

Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers hope, perspective, and reassurance that you can live fully—even with uncertainty.

📲 About Zack Tucker (guest):
• popular mental health Instagram page owner
• OCD survivor
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocdestigmatize/

✂️ TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00] – Meet Zach & Why He Started Speaking Publicly About OCD
[01:22] – Relationship OCD: Believing You’re Incapable of Love
[02:42] – How OCD Destroys Relationships Without Anyone Seeing It
[04:22] – Real Doubt vs OCD Doubt: Why Relationship OCD Feels So Convincing
[05:57] – The First Breakup That Wasn’t Caused by OCD
[08:17] – What Recovery Actually Looks Like (Thoughts Still Exist)
[10:12] – From POCD to Health OCD: When Themes Shift but Fear Stays
[12:12] – Living With Real Risk: Health OCD, Rabies, and Uncertainty
[15:32] – Vietnam as Exposure Therapy: Facing Every Fear at Once
[17:42] – Why Recovery Isn’t Cold Turkey (And Why Self-Compassion Matters)
[20:07] – Ending Shame by Putting OCD on the Internet
[22:02] – What He’d Tell His Younger Self About OCD and Recovery

✅ Resources & Links
🎁 Free OCD Survival Kit & Weekly Newsletter → https://subscribepage.io/korresults
🧥 The "you are more than your thoughts" hoodie → https://ocd-whisperer-shop.fourthwall.com
🎧 The OCD Whisperer Podcast → https://theocdwhisperer.com
📖 OCD CBT Journal → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTTWJDKB
🌐 Website → https://www.korresults.com/

📲 Stay Connected
Facebook: www.facebook.com/korresults
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ocdwhisperer
Twitter (X): www.x.com/korresults
Website: https://www.korresults.com/

📩 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

✅ About OCD Whisperer
Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

🔑 SEO Keywords
relationship OCD OCD recovery intrusive thoughts ERP therapy for OCD health anxiety OCD living with OCD managing OCD long-term OCD and relationships

© OCD Whisperer
27 min
December 12, 2025162. Social Media Is Making Your OCD Worse — Here’s Why
🧠Can social media trigger your OCD without you even realizing it?

In this solo episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova explores how social media interacts with OCD, compulsions, and obsessive thoughts. She shares strategies for scrolling with intention, not on autopilot, and how to reclaim control over your digital habits.

Kristina opens up about:
• How a quick scroll can spark OCD spirals and leave you feeling anxious or empty
• The sneaky ways social media hijacks compulsions and triggers obsessions
• Why intention-focused use is more effective than avoidance
• Simple, actionable steps to reclaim control over your scrolling habits

Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone, this episode offers practical strategies, awareness tools, and encouragement to transform your social media use into a value-driven practice.

💪Listener Challenge: Before bed tonight, pause and screenshot your home screen. Circle the app you reach for first when you feel triggered and post it (or save privately). Then write: “I’m choosing intention — not autopilot.” Let’s show social media who’s really in charge.

📲 About Krista Reed (guest):
• OCD/BDD/BFRB Specialist in KS
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristaruthreed/?hl=en
• Breathe Between Battles: A Daily Reflection Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSL41QCR?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&bestFormat=true

✂️ TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00] – What happens when social media feels like a drug?
[00:28] – Why can a “quick scroll” leave us anxious and empty?
[02:02] – How do endless scrolling and notifications hijack our attention?
[02:37] – Can heavy social media use harm our mental health?
[04:04] – How does OCD interact with compulsions and comparison triggers online?
[05:02] – Why does a quick glance spiral into self-critique and rumination?
[07:16] – How are OCD symptoms evolving with technology?
[08:09] – What’s the difference between intentional use and avoidance?
[09:02] – How can we use social media with awareness and intention?
[09:50] – How can small actions help reclaim control over our mind?
[10:49] – Listener Challenge — you MUST try this
[12:07] – How can community support help in taking back social media?

📚 Research Sources Mentioned in This Episode:
• Primack et al. (2017). Social media use across multiple platforms linked to higher depressive symptoms. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4853817/
• Keles et al. (2020). Social media associated with anxiety, depression, loneliness, and lower well-being. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7785056/
• Giraldo-Luque et al. (2023). Excessive social media use connected to stress, poor sleep, and emotional distress. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10129173/
• Lin et al. (2017). Using more social media platforms predicts higher anxiety/depression. https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2017.1b16
• Hunt et al. (UPenn). Cutting social media to 30 min/day reduces anxiety, depression, loneliness. (summary) https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/cutting-back-social-media-reduces-anxiety-depression-loneliness
• Dalvi-Esfahani et al. (2022). Compulsive social media use positively correlated with OCD symptoms. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9407245/
• Garcia & Thibedeau (2018). OCD symptoms increasingly include digital compulsions. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6120640/
• Frontiers Review (2022). Problematic social media use linked to OCD, ADHD, anxiety. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1106004/full

✅ Resources & Links
🎁 Free OCD Survival Kit & Weekly Newsletter → https://subscribepage.io/korresults
🧥 The "you are more than your thoughts" hoodie → https://ocd-whisperer-shop.fourthwall.com
🎧 The OCD Whisperer Podcast → https://theocdwhisperer.com
📖 OCD CBT Journal → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTTWJDKB
🌐 Website → https://www.korresults.com/

📲 Stay Connected
Facebook: www.facebook.com/korresults
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ocdwhisperer
Twitter (X): www.x.com/korresults
Website: https://www.korresults.com/

📩 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

✅ About OCD Whisperer
Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

🔑 SEO Keywords
social media and OCD living with OCD managing compulsions mindful social media use OCD awareness strategies intentional scrolling OCD recovery tips

© OCD Whisperer
14 min
December 05, 2025161. How Sex and Intimacy Can Help You Move Through Grief
🧠 Can grief and OCD completely change your sex drive, intimacy, and connection with your partner?

In this powerful episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Krista Reed, licensed therapist and trauma specialist, about how grief, trauma, cortisol, and the nervous system directly affect sexuality, desire, and emotional intimacy in people with OCD.

❤️This episode explores:
• Why grief and OCD can shut down desire — or make it feel overwhelming
• How cortisol and chronic stress disrupt arousal and connection
• The role of sex, intimacy, and orgasm in nervous system regulation
• Why shame around desire is so common in OCD
• How trauma stored in the body blocks emotional and sexual safety

This is one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about OCD, grief, and sex — and how to begin healing at the nervous system level.

📲 About Krista Reed (guest):
• OCD/BDD/BFRB Specialist in KS
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristaruthreed/?hl=en
• Breathe Between Battles: A Daily Reflection Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSL41QCR?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&bestFormat=true

✂️ TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00] – Why Grief and OCD Can Completely Disrupt Desire
[00:42] – Lowering Cortisol: The Foundation of Emotional and Sexual Regulation
[01:53] – What Chronic Stress Does to Libido and Arousal
[02:39] – Journaling the Thoughts You’re Too Ashamed to Say Out Loud
[03:28] – When Your Mind Is Loud but Your Body Feels Numb
[05:02] – Creativity, Fantasy, and Sexual Energy as Emotional Escape
[06:08] – Discipline vs Avoidance in Mental and Sexual Health
[07:41] – Showing Up for Your Body Even When You Don’t Want To
[08:36] – Mood Swings, Hormones, and Emotional Intimacy
[09:24] – Burnout, Attraction, and Feeling Disconnected From Pleasure
[10:34] – The Body’s Natural Drive for Physical Release
[11:28] – Sex as Stress Relief: When It Helps and When It Becomes Escape
[11:57] – The Nervous System, Orgasms, and Temporary Calm
[12:32] – Shame, Desire, and Wanting Comfort at the Same Time
[13:20] – Using Sex for Safety After Emotional Loss
[14:43] – Physical Connection as a Shortcut to Feeling Alive
[15:36] – When Pleasure Becomes Regulation, Not Destruction
[16:12] – Emotional Regulation Through Touch, Not Self-Punishment
[17:37] – There Is No “Wrong” Way to Feel Arousal During Grief
[18:49] – Alcohol, Hookups, and Numbing Emotional Pain
[19:56] – Dopamine, Sex, and the Trap of Chasing Relief
[20:44] – Cultural Shame Around Grief, Desire, and Coping
[22:08] – When Sex Feels Like Healing but Turns Into Avoidance
[24:12] – The Line Between Connection and Self-Destruction
[26:12] – OCD’s Role in Sexual Intrusive Thoughts and Guilt
[26:54] – Letting Arousal Exist Without Turning It Into Compulsion
[27:40] – Harm Reduction in Sex, Dating, and Emotional Coping
[29:16] – Why Control Feels Safer Than Surrender
[30:33] – Writing About Sex, Loss, and Shame Without Censoring Yourself
[31:43] – What Sexual Self-Compassion Actually Means
[32:56] – Forgiveness, Healing, and Reclaiming Desire
[33:45] – Boundaries in Intimacy and Emotional Safety
[34:38] – You’re Not Broken for Wanting Relief Through Your Body
[35:42] – Final Reflections on Grief, OCD, Sex, and the Nervous System

✅ Resources & Links
🎁 Free OCD Survival Kit & Weekly Newsletter → https://subscribepage.io/korresults
🧥 The "you are more than your thoughts" hoodie → https://ocd-whisperer-shop.fourthwall.com
🎧 The OCD Whisperer Podcast → https://theocdwhisperer.com
📖 OCD CBT Journal → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTTWJDKB
🌐 Website → https://www.korresults.com/

📲 Stay Connected
Facebook: www.facebook.com/korresults
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ocdwhisperer
Twitter (X): www.x.com/korresults
Website: https://www.korresults.com/

📩 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

✅ About OCD Whisperer
Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

🔑 SEO Keywords
OCD and sex intimacy and OCD grief and sex drive trauma and desire nervous system and arousal OCD relationships sexual shame and OCD

© OCD Whisperer
35 min
November 29, 2025160. OCD & Grief: How Trauma Hijacks Your Mind | Real Stories & Coping Tips
🧠 Can you grieve “correctly” when you have OCD?

In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Krista Reed, clinical social worker and specialist in OCD, BFRBs, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Together, they explore how grief, loss, and real-life emotional pain interact with OCD — and how deeply the experience can impact identity, relationships, and recovery.

❤️Krista opens up about:
• The childhood loss that first ignited her OCD
• How witnessing traumatic events shaped her fears
• The return of old compulsions — and the arrival of new ones — after recent family deaths
• The struggle of balancing caregiving, parenting, and severe OCD during her father’s hospitalization

Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers compassion, insight, and the reminder that there is no right or wrong way to grieve.

📲 About Krista Reed (guest):
• OCD/BDD/BFRB Specialist in KS
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristaruthreed/?hl=en
• Breathe Between Battles: A Daily Reflection Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSL41QCR?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_SKM3AA2QVVQ5B5MHYS9Q&bestFormat=true

✂️ TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00] – Krista’s Story: Becoming an OCD Specialist Because She Had No Choice
[00:40] – Why We’re Talking: Real-Life Grief Colliding With OCD
[02:19] – The Moment It All Started: A Childhood Death That Changed Everything
[04:42] – Misunderstood Trauma: When a Small-Town Tragedy Sparks Lifelong OCD
[07:48] – The Hospital Nightmare: Krista’s Dad Nearly Dies and OCD Explodes
[08:17] – “What If I Want Him to Die?” The Darkest OCD Thoughts No One Talks About
[10:39] – The Heartbreaking Moment: Her Dad Wakes Up and Doesn’t Know Who She Is
[13:15] – Masking While Falling Apart: Parenting Through an OCD Spiral
[14:25] – Pre-Grief, Fear, and the Reality of Being in the Unknown
[15:55] – When OCD Comes Back After New Losses: Two Deaths in Two Weeks
[18:22] – “Your Food Is Contaminated”: New Compulsions That Come Out of Nowhere
[20:19] – Grieving Wrong? How OCD Makes You Doubt Your Own Emotions
[21:30] – Conflicting Feelings: Relief, Sadness, Gratitude, and Guilt All at Once
[24:20] – When Two Family Members Die but the Pain Feels Different Each Time
[28:09] – Kristina’s Story: Losing Her Mom and Feeling Everything at Once
[31:36] – Being Told You’re “Too Much”: The Hidden Shame of Deep Feelers
[34:18] – Why People With OCD Often Feel Grief More Deeply Than Others
[37:21] – The Empathy Factor: Why Some People Cry for Strangers and Feel Everything
[37:39] – What Grief Really Triggers in People With OCD
[39:23] – What to Do When OCD Hijacks Your Grief
[39:45] – When Old Traumas Return Out of Nowhere: OCD Has No Timeline
[42:01] – The 2020 Spiral: OCD Convinces Krista Her Dad Will Die Again
[43:00] – Planning a Funeral That Isn’t Happening: OCD’s Wildest Curveball
[43:13] – Breaking the Spell: How Krista Finally Called OCD’s Bluff
[44:01] – Even Clinicians Get Stuck: Why This Disorder Is So Relentless
[44:20] – Final Thoughts: Normalizing Your Grief, Your Feelings, and Your Journey

✅ Resources & Links
🎁 Free OCD Survival Kit & Weekly Newsletter → https://subscribepage.io/korresults
🧥 The "you are more than your thoughts" hoodie → https://ocd-whisperer-shop.fourthwall.com
🎧 The OCD Whisperer Podcast → https://theocdwhisperer.com
📖 OCD CBT Journal → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTTWJDKB
🌐 Website → https://www.korresults.com/

📲 Stay Connected
Facebook: www.facebook.com/korresults
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ocdwhisperer
Twitter (X): www.x.com/korresults
Website: https://www.korresults.com/

📩 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

✅ About OCD Whisperer
Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

🔑 SEO Keywords
OCD and grief intrusive thoughts during grief managing OCD during loss anticipatory grief OCD emotional intensity and OCD grief processing with OCD OCD recovery stories

© OCD Whisperer
48 min
November 19, 2025159. How One Man Turned OCD Pain Into 60,000 Followers
🧠 *Can self-compassion really help you recover from OCD?*

In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Lukasz, known online as Intrusive OCD Memes. Together, they explore how humor, community, and self-awareness play a role in managing OCD, and how sharing personal experiences can help both yourself and others.

Lucas opens up about:
• First symptoms of OCD as a child and struggles with contamination fears
• How intrusive thoughts and mental compulsions impacted his relationships
• His journey toward seeking therapy after years of coping alone
• Using humor and memes as a form of self-therapy and community support

Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone else, this episode offers hope, insight, and tools to show that connection, humor, and community can make a real difference.

📲 About Lukasz Czajkowski (guest):
• IOCDF Advocate with OCD/ROCD
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intrusiveocdmemes?igsh=dDFyOGl6eXNyNmVz
• YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@intrusiveocdmemes

✂️ TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00] – Meet Lucas: The Man Behind Intrusive OCD Memes
[00:40] – How a Meme Account Became a Lifeline for OCD
[02:11] – Why He Waited YEARS to Get an OCD Diagnosis
[04:38] – The Dark Side of Air OCD and Pandemic Struggles
[06:56] – OCD Almost Destroyed His Relationship… Here’s What Happened
[08:55] – Shocking OCD Symptoms From His Childhood
[10:01] – Living With OCD in Poland: The Cultural Reality
[12:45] – Stigma, Misunderstandings, and Why Most People Don’t Get OCD
[15:34] – How Memes Are Actually Helping People With OCD
[17:13] – Bringing OCD Awareness to Thousands at Work
[19:33] – Mental Health Is Not Linear: Prepare for Setbacks
[21:05] – Reading the Recipe vs. Making the Apple Pie: OCD Therapy Explained
[22:37] – Panic in a New City: Why Environment Matters
[23:53] – Self-Compassion and Patience: The Secret Weapons for OCD
[25:15] – Hidden Cultural Pressures You Didn’t Know About
[26:04] – You’re Not Alone: Finding Community When Struggling
[27:47] – Follow Lucas Online for Memes and OCD Resources

✅ Resources & Links
🎁 Free OCD Survival Kit & Weekly Newsletter → https://subscribepage.io/korresults
🧥 The "you are more than your thoughts" hoodie → https://ocd-whisperer-shop.fourthwall.com
🎧 The OCD Whisperer Podcast → https://theocdwhisperer.com
📖 OCD CBT Journal → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTTWJDKB
🌐 Website → https://www.korresults.com/

📲 Stay Connected
Facebook: www.facebook.com/korresults
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ocdwhisperer
Twitter (X): www.x.com/korresults
Website: https://www.korresults.com/

📩 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

✅ About OCD Whisperer
Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

🔑 SEO Keywords
self-compassion and OCD OCD recovery tools mindfulness for OCD CBT for OCD intrusive thoughts and self-kindness reducing OCD suffering Kimberley Quinlan OCD OCD Whisperer Podcast

© OCD Whisperer
29 min
November 12, 2025158. Self-Compassion & OCD: The Secret Habit Making Your Anxiety Worse
🧠 Can self-compassion really help you recover from OCD?

In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, host Kristina Orlova speaks with Kimberley Quinlan, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, creator of CBT School, and author of The Self-Compassion Workbook for OCD. Together, they explore how learning to treat yourself with kindness can transform your relationship with OCD and emotional suffering.

Kimberley opens up about:
• Why self-compassion is not weakness or self-indulgence
• How criticizing yourself actually increases stress hormones
• What it means to “be a safe place” for your own emotions
• Simple ways to start practicing compassion without triggering compulsions

Whether you’re living with OCD or supporting someone who is, this episode offers real strategies to reduce suffering, calm your nervous system, and heal with compassion.

📲 About Kimberley Quinlan (guest):
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youranxietytoolkit/
• YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@youranxietytoolkit
• CBT school: https://www.cbtschool.com/

✂️ TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00] Meet Kimberley Quinlan — Therapist, Author, and OCD Expert
[01:18] What “Self-Compassion for OCD” Really Means (and Why People Get It Wrong)
[03:00] Why Being Kind to Yourself Isn’t Weak — It’s Actually Science
[04:40] The Stress Hormone Secret: How Self-Criticism Fuels OCD Suffering
[07:25] Real Compassion vs. Compulsions — The Long-Term You Strategy
[08:55] Becoming a Safe Place for Yourself: Handling Guilt, Shame & Emotions
[11:05] The Surprising Power of Doing Nothing With Your Emotions
[13:10] Why People Struggle to Accept Themselves (Even When They “Know” How)
[16:25] When OCD Tricks You Into Thinking Self-Kindness Is Dangerous
[19:00] Step-by-Step: The Self-Compassion Break That Calms Intense Feelings
[21:30] “You’re Not Alone” — The Humanity Behind Anxiety & Intrusive Thoughts
[23:10] Gentle Self-Kindness vs. “Screw You, Anxiety!” — Finding Your Style
[25:30] The Fear of Feeling Itself — Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Avoidance
[28:10] The Real Goal: Becoming a Safe Space for Every Emotion
[30:05] Where to Find Kimberley — “Your Anxiety Toolkit” Resources

✅ Resources & Links
🎁 Free OCD Survival Kit & Weekly Newsletter → https://subscribepage.io/korresults
🧥 The "you are more than your thoughts" hoodie → https://ocd-whisperer-shop.fourthwall.com
🎧 The OCD Whisperer Podcast → https://theocdwhisperer.com
📖 OCD CBT Journal → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTTWJDKB
🌐 Website → https://www.korresults.com/

📲 Stay Connected
Facebook: www.facebook.com/korresults
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ocdwhisperer
Twitter (X): www.x.com/korresults
Website: https://www.korresults.com/

📩 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

✅ About OCD Whisperer
Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

🔑 SEO Keywords
self-compassion and OCD OCD recovery tools mindfulness for OCD CBT for OCD intrusive thoughts and self-kindness reducing OCD suffering Kimberley Quinlan OCD OCD Whisperer Podcast

© OCD Whisperer
32 min
November 05, 2025157. Just-Right OCD & Somatic Intrusive Feelings: Learning to Recognize OCD Signals
🧠 Do you ever feel like something is wrong — even when nothing happened?

In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Heather Brown, LCSW, OCD and trauma specialist. Together, they explore Just Right OCD, magical thinking, somatic anxiety, and how OCD can sometimes feel like trauma.

Heather opens up about:
• Her personal experience living with Just Right OCD
• Sensations-based OCD: when the fear isn’t a thought, but a feeling
• Magical thinking OCD & “what if something bad happens?” spirals
• ERP, ACT, Brainspotting & CPT for trauma-related OCD symptoms

Whether you're navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone, this episode offers powerful insight, tools, and hope for healing and self-trust.

📲 About Heather Brown (guest):
• OCD, anxiety, trauma, & perfectionism therapy
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evoluercounseling/
• Evoluer Counseling: https://www.evoluercounseling.com/

✂️ TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00] Meet Heather — The Therapist Who Actually Has OCD
[00:22] “Just-Right OCD” — The Invisible OCD Nobody Talks About
[01:30] When Everyday Tasks Feel Wrong — The Hidden Somatic OCD Signs
[02:28] Shower Shock — When OCD Strikes Out of Nowhere
[03:25] The Symptom Everyone Misses: “Nothing Happened… So WHY Do I Feel This Way?”
[03:44] The OCD You Don’t See — Why So Many Cases Get Missed
[04:25] It’s NOT Just Anxiety — The Quiet OCD That Hides in Your Body
[04:53] When Thoughts Loop Forever — The Difference Between Worry & OCD
[06:05] “If I Don’t Do This, Something Terrible Happens” — OCD’s Magic-Thinking Trap
[07:00] Real Story — The Carpool Lane OCD Panic Moment
[07:47] What Is Magical Thinking OCD? Explained Simply
[08:52] “My Thoughts Could Cause Disaster” — Why It Feels So Real
[09:21] Can OCD Cause Trauma? Shocking Truth Explained
[10:10] When Trauma and OCD Join Forces — And What Actually Helps
[11:04] The Brain Under Fire — How OCD Shakes Your Identity
[12:20] How OCD Rewrites Your Beliefs About Yourself
[13:15] Trauma Treatment + OCD Treatment — When You Need Both
[14:20] ERP, ACT, Brainspotting — What REALLY Works?
[15:07] The Surprising Therapy That Helps Trauma + OCD
[16:35] “Is My OCD Trauma?” — How Clinicians Decide
[18:27] Obsession vs Worry — How to Tell the Difference FAST
[19:33] Can Treatment Work? Heather’s Recovery & Honest Answer
[20:25] When OCD Comes Back — Expert Shares What She Does
[21:40] OCD Explained in Kid-Language — The Monster Analogy
[23:00] The Cookie Monster OCD Trick — Why Compulsions Backfire
[24:06] “How Do I Even Start?” — First Step for Anyone Struggling
[25:17] Where to Find Heather — Therapist Who Gets It

✅ Resources & Links
🎁 Free OCD Survival Kit & Weekly Newsletter → https://subscribepage.io/korresults
🧥 The "you are more than your thoughts" hoodie → https://ocd-whisperer-shop.fourthwall.com
🎧 The OCD Whisperer Podcast → https://theocdwhisperer.com
📖 OCD CBT Journal → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTTWJDKB
🌐 Website → https://www.korresults.com/

📲 Stay Connected
Facebook: www.facebook.com/korresults
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ocdwhisperer
Twitter (X): www.x.com/korresults
Website: https://www.korresults.com/

📩 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

✅ About OCD Whisperer
Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

🔑 SEO Keywords
Just Right OCD Magical Thinking OCD Somatic OCD OCD and trauma OCD in children Feeling-based OCD OCD without intrusive thoughts OCD sensations ERP therapy Brainspotting OCD ACT for OCD How to treat Just Right OCD OCD parenting support OCD recovery stories

© OCD Whisperer
26 min
October 28, 2025156. PANS/PANDAS: The Autoimmune Cause of Sudden OCD in Children
🧠 Could Your Child’s Sudden OCD Be Something Else? Understanding PANS & PANDAS

In this powerful episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Angela Henry, therapist and PANS/PANDAS specialist, and Lindsay Forsyth, a mother and advocate who has navigated this journey with her own child. Together, they shed light on how sudden-onset OCD, tics, and anxiety in children may sometimes point to something deeper — an autoimmune or inflammatory disorder known as PANS or PANDAS.

Angela and Lindsay open up about:
• How PANS/PANDAS can mimic OCD and anxiety — and why it’s often misdiagnosed
• The emotional toll families face when doctors can’t find answers
• How infection-triggered inflammation can alter behavior overnight
• What every parent should know about early warning signs of PANS/PANDAS

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or clinician, this episode offers clarity, validation, and practical tools to navigate the confusing intersection of OCD, PANS, and PANDAS.

📲 About Angela Henry (guest):
• Certified EMDR Therapist
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctr_for_collaborative_healing/
• Webpage: https://angelahenrylcsw.com/
📲 About Lindsey Forsyth (guest):
• Mom of 2 kids with PANS/PANDAS.
• Pandas network: https://pandasnetwork.org/
• PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire
• Neuro Immune: https://neuroimmune.org/

✂️ TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00] Welcome — Meet Lindsay, Angela, and Kristina
[01:05] PANS & PANDAS Revealed — How Your Child’s Brain Can Turn Against Them Overnight
[01:50] The Infection Trigger — Strep, Viruses, and Environmental Factors That Can Hijack a Child’s Mind
[02:57] Recognizing Abrupt Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Kids
[03:24] PANS vs PANDAS — The Shocking Differences You Need to Know
[03:42] “Something’s Not Right” — How Parents Can Spot the Early Warning Signs
[05:05] Lindsey’s Story — From Meltdowns to Mystery Illness
[07:48] The Specialists Who Saved Our Child
[09:12] Lifelines for Parents
[10:02] Why Your Child Can Suddenly Regress Without Warning
[10:45] Tracking the Chaos — Growth Charts, OCD Scores, and Why Labs Don’t Always Show the Truth
[11:06] The Hidden Diagnosis — Blood Work Says “Normal” but Your Child Isn’t
[12:27] Advocacy 101 — How to Get Answers When Doctors Don’t Have Them
[14:13] How to Make Sure Your Pediatrician Takes You Seriously
[15:53] Therapy That Helps — How to Support Children
[17:54] Not Just Bad Behavior — Why Your Child Isn’t Misbehaving
[20:09] Supporting the Whole Family
[22:00] Covert OCD Revealed — When Your Child’s Obsessions Don’t Look Like OCD
[23:47] Why ERP Can Backfire During a Flare
[25:12] Pediatric OCD Exposed — Obsessions, Separation Anxiety, and the Hidden Signs
[27:44] Heavy-Hitter Symptoms — Emotional Outbursts, Bedwetting, ADHD...
[29:03] Are Some Kids Genetically Predisposed?
[30:26] Could Family History Play a Role?
[31:17] Step-by-Step Guidance — Therapy
[32:24] Get Help Now —How to Contact Lindsay and Access Real-World Resources
[33:32] Therapist Support & Networks — Angela’s Consultation Groups for Families and Professionals
[35:09] Closing Words — Hope, Awareness, and Why You’re Not Alone

✅ Resources & Links
🎁 Free OCD Survival Kit & Weekly Newsletter → https://subscribepage.io/korresults
🧥 The "you are more than your thoughts" hoodie → https://ocd-whisperer-shop.fourthwall.com
🎧 The OCD Whisperer Podcast → https://theocdwhisperer.com
📖 OCD CBT Journal → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTTWJDKB
🌐 Website → https://www.korresults.com/

📲 Stay Connected
Facebook: www.facebook.com/korresults
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ocdwhisperer
Twitter (X): www.x.com/korresults
Website: https://www.korresults.com/

📩 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

✅ About OCD Whisperer
Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

🔑 SEO Keywords
• PANS and PANDAS OCD
• sudden onset OCD in children
• pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders
• OCD vs PANS
• children’s mental health
• autoimmune inflammation and OCD
• OCD parenting support
• anxiety in kids

© OCD Whisperer
37 min
October 21, 2025155. OCD Exposed: 10 Myths and Misconceptions about OCD (and what people get wrong)
Is everything you’ve been told about OCD wrong?

In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova sits down with Elysse Lescarbeau, writer, advocate, and author of OCD Exposed: 10 Myths and Misconceptions About Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Together, they uncover the hidden sides of OCD—from misunderstood symptoms to the powerful truth about recovery.

Elysse opens up about:
• Being misdiagnosed and discovering OCD later in life
• Living with mental compulsions and invisible obsessions
• The breaking point that led to her diagnosis and healing
• How ERP, ACT, and ICBT changed her life and mindset
This honest conversation dives into:
• The biggest myths and misconceptions about OCD
• The hidden forms of OCD most people never see
• How OCD recovery rewires your brain and restores hope
• Real stories of survival, recovery, and empowerment

Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone you love, this episode offers hope, clarity, and practical tools for real recovery.

📲 About Elysse Lescarbaugh (guest):
Certified life coach + future therapist
OCD & Anxiety Survivor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocd.or.just.me
Webpage: https://www.ocdorjustme.com/

✂️ TIMESTAMPS
[00:00] “I Thought My Brain Was Broken” — Meet Elysse, Who Discovered OCD at 29
[00:57] The Childhood Moment That Changed Everything: Protecting Her Little Brother Became an Obsession
[01:45] Silent Struggles: Living Decades with OCD No One Could See
[02:30] The Breaking Point: When Compulsions Suddenly Stopped Working in Europe
[03:15] “I Don’t Want to Live Anymore” — The Night She Finally Asked for Help
[03:45] The Doctor Who Changed Her Life With One Sentence: “Have You Ever Considered OCD?”
[04:30] The Power of Honesty: How One Conversation Opened the Door to Recovery
[05:15] From Despair to Diagnosis — The Moment Everything Made Sense
[05:50] Why OCD Isn’t About Cleaning or Order — The Biggest Myth Everyone Believes
[06:45] How the Media Got OCD All Wrong (and Why It Still Hurts Real People)
[07:30] The Hidden Type of OCD No One Talks About: Mental Compulsions & Rumination
[08:40] The Book That’s Changing the Conversation — OCD Exposed: 10 Myths & Misconceptions
[09:35] Why OCD Doesn’t Define Who You Are — And How to See It Clearly
[10:14] The Human Side of OCD: Real Survivor Stories from Around the World
[11:00] The Truth About OCD Recovery: It’s Not Easy, But It’s Possible
[11:50] What OCD Really Feels Like — Beyond the Stereotypes and Statistics
[12:40] The Science of Recovery: How ERP, ACT & ICBT Rewire the Brain
[13:30] “I Still Get Intrusive Thoughts… But They Don’t Control Me Anymore.”
[14:40] OCD and the Brain: Why It’s Not a Personality Flaw, But a Biological Cycle
[15:55] Breaking the Cycle: What Actually Helps the Brain Heal from OCD
[17:00] Freedom Over Fear: How to Live Fully Even When OCD Shows Up
[18:15] Why Recovery Isn’t About Getting Rid of OCD — It’s About Taking Your Life Back
[19:20] Applying OCD Tools to Everyday Life — From Therapy to Surfing in Hawaii
[20:25] How OCD Recovery Teaches You to Live Stronger, Freer, and More Present
[21:15] How ERP Helped Kristina Heal Her Own Grief After Losing Her Mom
[22:45] The Real Secret: Empowerment Through Discomfort and Acceptance
[23:30] “I’ve Never Felt More Empowered Than in My OCD Recovery.” — Elysse’s Message of Hope
[24:20] Where to Find Elysse, Her Book OCD Exposed, and Why This Story Matters

✅ Resources & Links
🎁 Free OCD Survival Kit & Weekly Newsletter → https://subscribepage.io/korresults
🧥 The "you are more than your thoughts" hoodie → https://ocd-whisperer-shop.fourthwall.com
🎧 The OCD Whisperer Podcast → https://theocdwhisperer.com
📖 OCD CBT Journal → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTTWJDKB
🌐 Website → https://www.korresults.com/

📲 Stay Connected
Facebook: www.facebook.com/korresults
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ocdwhisperer
Twitter (X): www.x.com/korresults
Website: https://www.korresults.com/

📩 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

✅ About OCD Whisperer
Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

🔑 SEO Keywords
• OCD myths and misconceptions
• OCD recovery stories
• Intrusive thoughts and mental compulsions
• ERP and ACT therapy
• ICBT for OCD
• Living with OCD
• How to recover from OCD
• OCD Awareness Week

© OCD Whisperer
26 min
October 14, 2025154. Life With Harm OCD - “I Thought I Was Danger to the People I Love”
What happens when your mind turns against you — and fills you with thoughts you can’t control?

In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Maurice, creator of the Obsessless app — a powerful new tool designed to support people living with OCD. Maurice opens up about his terrifying first intrusive thoughts, years of misdiagnosis, and how ERP therapy and mindset work helped him turn pain into purpose.

Together, we explore:
• The hidden side of OCD most people never see
• How intrusive thoughts can completely take over your life
• What it really takes to heal when therapy isn’t immediately available
• The creation of Obsessless — and why tech could change OCD recovery forever

Whether you’re currently navigating OCD or supporting someone who is, this episode offers raw truth, hope, and tools for reclaiming your mind.

📲 About Mourice Schuurmans (guest):
Co-founder of ObsessLess
OCD Survivor & Advocate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obsessless_mourice/
ObsessLess App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/obsessless-ocd-treatment-app/id6742539895

✂️ TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00] From Suffering to Solution: Meet Maurice, Creator of Obsessless
[00:57] “Something’s Not Right…” — The Childhood Clues Everyone Missed
[01:45] 21 Years of Misdiagnosis: When OCD Hides Behind “General Anxiety”
[02:30] The Date That Changed Everything: When Intrusive Thoughts Strike Out of Nowhere
[03:20] “I Thought I’d Hurt Someone” — Living Through the Scariest OCD Theme
[04:15] Waiting 8 Months for Help: What Happens When the System Fails You
[06:45] Rock Bottom: Trapped on a Chair, Fighting Thoughts You Can’t Escape
[07:30] How His Dad Accidentally Did Exposure Therapy in the Backyard
[08:20] The Turning Point: Finding Mark Freeman & Discovering He Wasn’t Alone
[09:00] “I Wouldn’t Wish This on My Worst Enemy” — The Real Pain of OCD
[10:15] ERP Therapy Explained: What Actually Helped Him Heal
[11:06] Why EMDR Isn’t for OCD (and What Is)
[11:48] The Harsh Truth: Why OCD Recovery Takes Time (and Why That’s Okay)
[13:30] How to Stop Being Afraid of Your Own Thoughts
[15:42] The Secret to Living Peacefully With Intrusive Thoughts
[16:40] “I Still Get the Thoughts… I Just Don’t Care Anymore.”
[18:10] From Patient to Creator: How Obsessless Was Born
[19:22] Inside the App: The SOS Feature That Saves People in Crisis
[20:43] Meet OLLIE — The AI OCD Companion That Won’t Reassure You
[22:22] “We’re Lowering the Barrier to OCD Treatment.” — Maurice’s Mission
[22:55] Where to Find Maurice & The Obsessless App

✅ Resources & Links
🎁 Free OCD Survival Kit & Weekly Newsletter → https://subscribepage.io/korresults
🧥 The "you are more than your thoughts" hoodie → https://ocd-whisperer-shop.fourthwall.com
🎧 The OCD Whisperer Podcast → https://theocdwhisperer.com
📖 OCD CBT Journal → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTTWJDKB
🌐 Website → https://www.korresults.com/

📲 Stay Connected
Facebook: www.facebook.com/korresults
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ocdwhisperer
Twitter (X): www.x.com/korresults
Website: https://www.korresults.com/

📩 Business Inquiries: [email protected]

✅ About OCD Whisperer
Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

🔑 SEO Keywords
• OCD intrusive thoughts
• ERP therapy for OCD
• OCD recovery story
• Obsessless app
• overcoming harm OCD
• mindfulness for OCD
• Kristina Orlova OCD Whisperer

© OCD Whisperer
24 min