Podcast/Blog

Does Stress Make OCD Worse? (Managing OCD and stressful life events)

“Does stress make OCD worse?” is a common question among our OCD clients.

The simple answer here is, yes, stress can make OCD symptoms worse.

If you struggle with OCD and you notice that your obsessions and compulsions have intensified during a particularly stressful time, then please know that this is very common.

While stress does give OCD new fears to latch onto (thanks, OCD!), there are highly effective ways of managing and reducing stress which in turn will alleviate OCD symptoms.

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23 of the Best Books for OCD Recovery

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or OCD is a common and debilitating disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Those who struggle with OCD experience unwanted and repetitive thoughts, leading to compulsions that can take over their lives. 

While professional treatment is crucial, there are several great books on OCD that can provide valuable insights, coping strategies, and a sense of support.

Without further delay, let’s take a look at 23 of the best books for OCD on the market. (more…)

When social media causes anxiety and depression

When Social Media Causes Anxiety (and Depression) | Ep. 353

[00:00:00] If social media causes anxiety, you will find this incredibly validated. Today, we are covering the nine reasons why social media causes anxiety and depression, and we will get specific about how you can overcome social media anxiety and depression. In a way that feels right to you, so let’s go.

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Will My OCD get worse over time?

“Will my OCD get worse over time?” is a common question asked by those with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

In this article, we’re going to explore what may increase the severity of OCD symptoms, and the many options that are available to you to combat those symptoms.

It’s important to understand that we cannot predict when or how OCD will worsen, only that certain components can play a significant role. Stress, comorbidities, life circumstances, and – you guessed it – engaging in compulsions can all increase the severity and intensity of OCD symptoms.

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AM I doing ERP CORRECTLY

Am I doing ERP correctly? 3 Common OCD Traps | Ep. 352

Am I doing ERP correctly? This is a common roadblock I see every week in my private practice. I think it is a common struggle for people with anxiety and OCD. Today, we will talk about the three common OCD traps people fall into and how you can actually outsmart your OCD and overcome it.

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CBT therapy for OCD: Techniques, Examples, and Effectiveness

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) describes a group of science-backed methodologies proven to treat a multitude of mental health conditions.

ERP (exposure and response prevention) is a type of CBT that is considered the gold standard treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

There are many different therapies available and it can overwhelm sufferers when trying to figure out which would be most helpful in their recovery.

It is important to understand that certain therapies work better for certain disorders.

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351 Stopping Compulsions using Attention Control (with Max Maisel)

Stopping Compulsions using Attention Control (with Max Maisel) | Ep. 351

If you are interested in stopping compulsions using attention control, this is the episode for you.  I am really excited for this episode. This was a deep dive into really how to fine-tune your mindfulness practice for anxiety and OCD. Today we have the amazing Max Maisel, who is an OCD and anxiety specialist here in California. He came on to talk about these really nuanced differences of mindfulness, where we might go wrong with mindfulness, how we can get a deeper understanding of mindfulness, and this idea of attentional control. The real thing that I took away from this is how beneficial it can be at reducing mental compulsions, putting our attention on the things that we value, putting our attention on what we want to put attention on, not in a compulsive way at all. In fact, we addressed that throughout the episode, and it’s just so, so good. I’m so grateful to you, Max, for coming on, and I just know you guys are going to love this episode.

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Does CBD Help With OCD Intrusive Thoughts?

Understandably, many OCD sufferers who are plagued with relentless intrusive thoughts day in and day out look for any possible treatment that may help alleviate symptoms.

Recently, those with OCD have turned their attention toward ‘alternative treatments’ such as CBD (Cannabidiol).

In the last few years, CBD has gained global praise from users for its ability to help with anxiety and stress relief. 

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Ep 350 14 Things You Should Say to a Loved One with Anxiety

14 Things You Should Say to a Loved One with Anxiety | Ep. 350

Welcome back, everybody. This is a last-minute episode. I usually am really on schedule with my plan for the podcast and what I want to do, but I have recently got back from vacation and I have been summoned to jury duty.  For my own self-care, the idea of going to this master plan that I created for all of the other episodes that I do a lot of planning and a lot of prep and really think it through today, I was like, “I deeply need this episode to land on my own heart.” This is as much for me as it is for you, and it is a community effort, which also was very helpful for me. 

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What happens if OCD is left untreated? (A guide to getting unstuck!)

The simple answer to what happens when OCD is left untreated is that OCD symptoms often get worse.

Often when people experience the onset of OCD it interferes with a small area of their life, but when left untreated, OCD tends to spread across other areas of life. Taking away time from their hobbies, family, friends, and pleasurable moments.

Leaving OCD untreated can cause devastation and tremendous pain in one’s life with obsessions and compulsions stealing every moment of our attention and limiting our experiences.

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