Story – Izzy Mather (#241)

In episode 241 I chat with Izzy Mather who has kindly agreed to share her story with us. 

In this episode I chat with Izzy about her story, intrusive thoughts around abuse, false memory OCD, getting therapy through the NHS, her compulsions, relapse, her first panic attack, getting ineffective therapy for OCD privately, starting medication, seeing a psychiatrist, getting therapy again on the NHS, changing medications with the doctor during pregnancy, understanding how her brain was working to better understand OCD, starting exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), how family members can help those with OCD, words of hope and much much more. Hope it helps.

The podcast is sponsored by NOCD. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

John Tessitore – Leading With Love (JCK Foundation) (#240)

In episode 240 I chat with John Tessitore from the JCK foundation who has kindly agreed to share his and his foundation’s story with us. 

In this episode I chat with John about his OCD story, depression, religious, sexual and suicidal themed intrusive thoughts, meeting someone else with OCD, dealing with the suicide of a close friend, going through CBT therapy, starting the JCK foundation and the work he does with the foundation, leading with love, helping de-stigmatise mental health in schools, starting the JCK clinic in Uganda, words of hope for people with OCD, and much much more. Hope it helps.

The podcast is sponsored by NOCD. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Margaret & Patrick – OCD & Substance Use

In episode 239 I have Dr Patrick McGrath head of clinical services at NOCD, and Margaret Sisson founder of the not-for-profit Riley’s Wish, which she started to honour the memory of her son Riley, who was a passionate advocate for people with OCD and addiction. 

In this episode I chat with Margaret and Patrick about who they are, why they are passionate about helping people with OCD and substance use, how common OCD and substance use is, stigma of substance use, symptoms of addiction, treating addiction along with OCD, what inpatient treatment may look like for OCD and substance use, ideas for when you are afraid to tell your therapist about substance use, harm reduction or abstinence, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics anonymous, SMART recovery, things to consider with medication, words of hope, words of hope of advice family members of people and much much more. Hope it helps.

The podcast is sponsored by NOCD. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Kimberley Quinlan – OCD and Sex

In episode 238 I have Kimberley Quinlan. Kimberley is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who treats people with OCD and related disorders, Eating Disorders and Body Focused Repetitive Disorders. She runs her own podcast called Your Anxiety Toolkit. She also runs CBTschool.com. 

In this episode I chat with Kim about sex and OCD. I asked her many questions I got from some of the listeners of the show. We talk about when OCD impacts your ability to connect with your partner, sexual  intrusive thoughts and anxiety’s impacts on sexual expression, why it may be difficult to enjoy sex, working through intrusive thoughts that interfere with sex, avoidance of sexual intercourse because of obsessions, cognitive distortions around sex, influence of porn, worrying about pregnancy during sex, contamination worries, sexually transmitted disease worries, when sex can be a compulsion, medications possibly affecting sex, letting go of extra expectations of what sex should be like, how to relate and create a better relationship to sexuality, how partners can help, words of hope and much much more. Hope it helps.

The podcast is sponsored by NOCD. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Dr Emily O’Leary – Thoughts That Seem Mad, Bad and Dangerous

In episode 237 I chat with Dr Emily O’Leary. Emily is a Clinical Psychologist and the founder of four psychology clinics, including The OCD Clinic Brisbane and Anxiety House. 

In this episode we chat about her therapy story, her research, bringing humour and authenticity into the treatment of OCD, metacognitive therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), ERP sticking points/challenges, OCD content vs OCD process, avoiding pitfalls of circular arguments, when you and your child has OCD, living with uncertainty, words of hope and much much more. Hope it helps.

The podcast is sponsored by NOCD. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Story: Tori Chavira

In episode 236 I chat with Tori Chavira who has kindly agreed to share her story with us.

In this episode Tori shares her OCD story, opening up about her sexuality, contamination and harm worries, obsessions about driving, avoidance of driving, resistance to therapy, getting therapy, group therapy, her first session, mindset towards recovery, and much much more. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/story-tori-chavira-236/

The podcast is sponsored by NOCD. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Story: Molly and Cali Gambrel (#235)

In episode 235 I chat with Molly and Cali Gambrel. Who have kindly agreed to share their OCD story from the point of view of mother and daughter. And to talk about their book “Practice being brave”. 

In this episode I chat with Molly and Cali about Cali’s story, getting therapy, Cali’s first therapy session, Molly’s parental worries, naming her OCD, what Cali liked about therapy, what Molly learned about OCD and parenting, what Molly does that helps Cali, their book, words of hope, and much much more. 

Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/story-molly-cali-235/

The podcast is sponsored by NOCD. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Story: Thomas Smalley (#234)

In episode 234 I chat with Thomas Smalley. Thomas won the IOCDF’s hero award in 2019 for his OCD advocacy. He has kindly agreed to share his OCD story.

In this episode I chat with Thomas about his OCD story, his advocacy, getting therapy, dealing with shame, tracking progress in therapy, his experience of teletherapy, how physical exercise and faith were helpful outlets for him, finding his identity after he got his time back from compulsions, dealing with stigma, words of hope and much much more. Hope it helps.

The podcast is sponsored by NOCD. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head over to https://go.treatmyocd.com/theocdstories

Introduction to Blink, Blink, Clop, Clop: An OCD Storybook

This is an introduction to the audiobook of the children’s OCD storybook called “Blink, Blink, Clop, Clop” by Dr Katia Moritz released on The OCD Stories podcast.

This audiobook was produced by and for The OCD Stories podcast with kind permission from Dr Katia Moritz.

You can listen to the audiobook on the podcast, or on our website: https://theocdstories.com/episode/blink-blink-clop-clop

Special thanks to the voice over artists:

  • Henrietta the chicken  = Dr Elizabeth McIngvale
  • Daisy the cow and Maybelle the cow = Natalie Rubenstein
  • Snort the pig, other pigs, and Farmer Brown = Ethan Smith
  • Biscuit the horse and Trotter the horse = Dr Steven Poskar
  • O.C.Flea and Hoot the owl = Dr Jonathan Hoffman
  • Nervous little chick = Nami Ralph
  • Tips for fighting O.C.Flea = Dr Fugen Neziroglu
  • Narration = Stuart Ralph

If you want to buy a print copy of “Blink, Blink, Clop, Clop” you can do so here: https://amzn.to/2Oc052Z

For more OCD resources please visit: https://theocdstories.com/resources/

Hope it helps

Stu