This week we’re chatting with Julie Burnfield, who runs a podcast called Living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with her husband, Andy. I kept seeing Julie and Andy at the conference in July 2014, but I never met them—it wasn’t until after I was back home in Minneapolis that we connected and Julie invited me for an…
Read MoreAll articles filed in Alison Dotson
I am the author of Being Me with OCD: How I Learned to Obsess Less and Live My Life, a nonfiction book for teens and young adults with OCD. Part memoir, part self-help guide, Being Me with OCD lets readers know they're not alone in their struggle to get better--and that there is hope.
Harm OCD: Shannon Shy
Welcome to Tuesday Q&A! Last week I began this new series with Jessica Bishop, a young woman with OCD who’s working to create awareness of OCD and reduce stigma. This week we’re hearing from Shannon Shy, author, attorney, former marine, obsession slayer, and all-around awesome guy. I met Shannon in July 2014 at the OCD Conference…
Read MoreLife After Residential Treatment: Jessica Bishop
Welcome to the first of a new series I’m launching today, Tuesday Q&A! The “Tue” in “Tuesday” kinda, sorta rhymes with “Q,” doesn’t it? (Humor me.) Over the past few years, I’ve met some pretty amazing and inspirational people in the OCD community, and I want to share some of their stories with you. Let’s kick it off with…
Read MoreCan You Laugh About Your OCD?
Have you seen this clip of Maria Bamford and Lena Dunham talking about their OCD symptoms? Maybe it’s because I follow a lot of pages related to OCD, but I feel like I keep running across it. At any rate, as uncomfortable as it can be to watch something like this, I’m glad these two women…
Read MoreTrigger Warnings and OCD
Trigger warnings–those notices you may see before an article with upsetting information–can serve a helpful purpose in some situations. Abuse victims or people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be triggered by graphic sexual or violent content or imagery, and with “trigger warning” they can choose to stop reading. I see trigger warnings on a…
Read MoreYes, I Still Obsess
Let this sink in: Recovery from OCD is a journey, not a destination. Since I’ve written a book about “how I learned to obsess less and live my life,” people sometimes ask me if I have overcome OCD or if I still obsess. The answer is that I don’t obsess like I used to, which…
Read MoreLena Dunham, NBC News, and Me
So I’ve waited a while to post this NBCnews.com article I was interviewed for, and I’ll tell you why: I have OCD. Hold on, you already knew that. I have OCD, and I’m a proofreader, and there are mistakes in my section of the article! I haven’t been able to let it go. I can’t tell you…
Read MoreWhat Is Reassurance, and What Exactly Is Wrong With It?
Reassurance. It has such a nice ring to it. And in many ways it is nice. If you feel lonely, your best friend might reassure you that she’ll always be there for you. If you think you’re doing poorly in a class, your teacher might reassure you that you’re doing well and that trying your hardest matters,…
Read MoreDealing with Misconceptions on the Internet
I can be really outspoken on divisive issues. I often find myself way too caught up in the comments section of some article about a politician or sparring with someone on Facebook over sexual inequality (and my husband always says, “Why do you do this to yourself? You’re never going to change this person’s mind.”).…
Read MoreAnother Interview with a Former HOCD Sufferer
Originally posted on JACKIE LEA SOMMERS:
One year ago (exactly!), I posted an interview with “Hannah,” a former HOCD sufferer who had found freedom from her obsessions and compulsions through ERP therapy. It’s gotten over 6300 views in the last year and is my second-most viewed post after “A Closer Look at HOCD.” Last summer, I…
Alison Dotson 