Episodes

Today’s audio question comes in from “C” who wants to know whether her SO-OCD is decreasing her sense of attraction to her partner, or if she is actually experiencing a change, transition, or awakening to the realization that she’s actually, truly, gay. I go through the question and discuss several other issues that could be contributing to her experience, including her medication, overall anxiety, and ruminative patterns. We also discuss a, new to me, reassurance resource called the “Lesbian Ma...

Today’s episode is a special discussion of Illness Anxiety Disorder, Health Anxiety, Hypochondriasis,Health OCD, or whatever else you wanna call it. What ever name works for you, today I discuss the common obsessions, common compulsions, and treatment of health anxiety! In addition to all the general information about this disorder and treatment, I share several health related exposures throughout the episode, so it’s a great opportunity to practice uncertainty, acceptance, and resiliency! If y...

Today’s audio question comes from a listener who wants to know how to deal with an obsession that comes back. Do they handle it on their own, or do they go back to therapy? Their obsession, new or old, is not always tainted with anxiety. Sometimes it is neutral or enjoyable, and sometimes it’s anxiety provoking. How should he handle this situation? The post #172- Handing An Obsession Resurgence; Return To Therapy, Or Deal On My Own? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

This audio question comes from a listener who lays out a lot of background, lots of evidence, and lots of experience. After careful consideration all signs point to… uncertainty. The post #171- Inconsistent Arousal, Childhood Experimentation, Lots of Checking… I’m Gay, Right? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s questions come from listeners both struggling with ROCD. One is struggling with the dreaded combo of ROCD and SO-OCD, and the other is struggling with news from their psychic (and later astrological charts) that her and her to-be husband are NOT meant to be. No evidence? Hearsay? Unfounded confidence? Mysticism? Yup, OCD’s gonna be all over that… The post #170- Staying Present Amidst My SO-OCD and ROCD Obsessions, and Psychics Ruining My Marriage! appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s audio question comes from a listener who has a question about how to get support from others when she is in the middle of high anxiety or panic. Is this the right time to get support? But is that reassurance? Should she confess her thoughts? Should she tell people she’s gay even though she doesn’t identify that way? I offer some ideas on how to reach out effectively and manage her uncertainty without feeling alone. The post #169- Confessing, Sharing, Or Getting Support With SO-OCD appea...

Today’s question comes from someone who is struggling with family members who are overwhelmed by the idea of COVID and continue to be enveloped by rituals and routines focused on preventing or avoiding COVID despite being vaccinated and boosted. These precautions are now infringing on the questioner’s family. So, how do you deal with family who has too much precaution? Is too much precaution a good thing, or when does it become a bad thing? The post #168- My Family Is Stuck And Overwhelmed By C...

For today’s episode, I offer some guidance to a listener who is struggling with their treatment for their Religious Scrupulosity (Religious OCD). They find that whenever they try to do treatment they notice an uptick in self-harm related thoughts, which has been a deterrent to trying to do treatment in earnest. I offer some things to consider in treatment, discuss the importance of seeking a therapist when experiencing self-harm thoughts, and encourage the listener that there is still hope for r...

On today’s adventures through obsession, I answer a listener question about Relationship OCD and the obsession toward a partner’s level of attractiveness. Do they find their partner attractive? How attractive? Does that one flaw or unattractive part of them negate the other attractive parts? I talk about how some realities of being human are important to keep in mind while living with ROCD, and offer some suggestions on how to engage the relationship despite the urge to pull away. The post #166...

Today’s audio question comes from Raymond who wants to know how to deal with his fear that he may have a heart attack or other medical event even though his heart has been checked out and cleared by doctors. He’s looking for some tips on how to deal with this obsession. The post #165- Afraid Of Heart Attack If My Heart Rate Goes Too High! appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s audio question is from a listener who has questions about approaching an issue that overlaps their OCD and trauma histories. How do you treat an obsession when it is also a trigger to a past trauma? Luckily, I was able to have clinical psychologist Dr. Caitlin Pinciotti join me to discuss her expertise in the OCD, trauma, and PTSD landscape. To learn more about her research: The National OCD Survey is a brief, 10-minute anonymous survey available to any adult in the U.S. with OCD. We a...

Today’s question comes from a listener who’s afraid that they’ve been exposed to radioactive material at some point and struggles to deal with the anxiety that he might develop cancer or otherwise harm his family. This is a struggle for a lot of people who are concerned with environmental contaminants too. Hypochondria (Health Anxiety) The post #163- Potential Radiation Exposure And Dealing With The Fallout appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

My uploading system is off! So sorry for the delay of this episode! Today’s listener question comes from a man who wants to know how to balance their awareness that their health anxiety is driving them to compulsively call doctors or check in on minor physical ailments with the fear that they could potentially miss catching a life threatening illness early! It’s a real conundrum for those suffering with health anxiety, and a reality for every person living. I discuss the question and give a lon...

Today I answer two listener questions. The first is from a woman who’s SO-OCD is quieted by believing she is bisexual, and she wants to know whether this is compulsive. The second question comes from someone who went through a number of health issues, including eating disorder, and they fear that their health issues have caused eye-floaters. They are obsessing about their responsibility in it and whether hey did in fact cause their obsession and eye-floaters because of their past behaviors. The...

I made a goof! I accidentally uploaded the wrong audio file for this episode. Blerg. So, I’m updating the original episode page and uploading the correct file for this episode! Check it out! Today’s episode is a contamination focused question about how to deal with an obsession that can’t reasonably be disproved, or proved! This is relevant to a lot of people as well who struggle with existential obsessions because we may never be able to see the outcome of an obsession in life, so how do you d...

Today’s listener question comes from a man who wants to know how to balance their awareness that their health anxiety is driving them to compulsively call doctors or check in on minor physical ailments with the fear that they could potentially miss catching a life threatening illness early! It’s a real conundrum for those suffering with health anxiety, and a reality for every person living. I discuss the question and give a longer explanation of my health anxiety rule of thumb to help manage anx...

Today’s episode covers the ins and outs of the OCD subtype focused on moral and ethical issues, more commonly known as Moral Scrupulosity. This is a very special episode as not only do we go over the subtype and answer a question related to Moral Scrupulosity, but I get to have Jon Hershfield, MFT, join me to go over it all with us! This is a good start to OCD week 2023! The post #160- Moral Scrupulosity With Jon Hershfield, MFT appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Two questions from two different listeners. One, should they start dating knowing they have SO-OCD, or should they hold off until they sort it all out? Question two, OCD has them in a bind to give money to charity to save people, or to hoard money to save her own family. Either way, they are responsible for harming someone (so says OCD). To learn more about Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD), please check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center: Sexual Orientation OC...

Today I answer two, but really kinda three, questions from listeners. The first is from a woman on her way to a date and she’s wondering if her ROCD is acting up and trying to sabotage the date from the start, or if she’s genuinely picking up on some red flags. The next question is about Depersonalization and Derealization (DPDR) and whether its a symptom or a form of Hyperawareness OCD. Furthermore, this listener wants to know whether ERP can help with it. The post #158- Is This Feeling My ROC...

Today’s guest is Dr. Jeremy Shuman, PsyD, who joins me to talk about his urgency for consider neurodivergent traits when treating OCD and anxiety spectrum disorders. Dr. Shuman discusses a broadened yet refined view of neurodiverse traits and how including a neurodivergent lens in our treatment of OCD and anxiety spectrum sufferers will make treatment more specific, compassionate, and successful. The post #157- Neurodivergent Treatment For OCD and Anxiety Spectrum Disorders With Dr. Jeremy Shum...

Today’s question is an audio question from a listener who struggles to get help with her obsession. She worries that thinking gory thoughts will make her pass out while she’s driving. Oh, and she’s passed out before from seeing gory images! She’s seen a therapist who recommends ERP, but she’s still driving. What can she do? I offer some guidance on where she can look to get some help and some other ways to think about her obsession. I also discuss Vasovagal Syncope as part of the answer. Buckle ...

Today’s episode is a contamination focused question about how to deal with an obsession that can’t reasonably be disproved, or proved! This is relevant to a lot of people as well who struggle with existential obsessions because we may never be able to see the outcome of an obsession in life, so how do you do ERP when you can’t see the feared outcome happen or not happen?! The post #155- Coping, And Doing ERP, With Contamination Obsessions That Can’t Be Disproved appeared first on FearCast Podca...

Today I was joined by Mike Heady, LCPC, to talk about shame. This conversation really broadened by understanding of the emotional experience of shame, and how the weaponized Toxic Shame can destroy someone from within. Mike is a wonderfully clear communicator and dives deep into a subject that we all know one way or another, whether we want to or not. The post #154- Shame And Toxic Shame In OCD With Mike Heady, LCPC appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s audio question comes from Sarah. She wants to know how to deal with the returning hyperawareness theme focusing on the items on her desk while she studies. It is really getting in the way of her ability to study. She made some progress before, but with a big upcoming test the theme is back! What can she do? The post #153- New Hyperawareness Theme? Old Theme? Or Same Old Theme? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.