Have I mentioned how excited I am about the new website IntrusiveThoughts.org? Well, I am! Excited, that is. Ten years ago when I was diagnosed there wasn’t a ton of information out there about taboo intrusive thoughts, which is what I was struggling mightily with. Lee Baer’s book The Imp of the Mind was a tremendous help,…
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From Adversity to Advocacy: Interview With Jeff Bell
I’ve been volunteering with OCD advocate Jeff Bell’s great organization, A2A Alliance, and earlier this week he interviewed me for their new series, A2A 1-on-1. It was so much fun!
Read MoreSelf-Harm and OCD: Tim Blue
Tim Blue and I met the way I’ve met so many of my incredible “OCD friends”—at the national conference the International OCD Foundation puts on every summer. (Seriously, you should go!) He’s such a nice guy, and we have a lot in common, which is always refreshing. In fact, that’s kind of the idea behind…
Read MoreAn OCD Treatment Pioneer: Michael Jenike
In 2014 I attended my first OCD Conference, and I kept hearing snippets of conversation about this man, Dr. Michael Jenike. It was “Jenike this” and “Jenike that.” I finally asked my hotel roommate who Jenike was. “You haven’t met Jenike?!” In 2013 Dr. Jenike had granted me permission to use his very helpful checklist for finding an…
Read MoreIdentifying and Supporting Students With OCD
I’ve had OCD since I was a kid, but I didn’t actually know that until I was in my late twenties. That’s why I’m glad my publisher, Free Spirit, asked me to write a post about how to spot signs of OCD and support any students who might have it. It’s not easy! Anything you might…
Read MoreOCD Support in a Small Town: Kevin Putman
Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday! Welcome Kevin Putman, one of last year’s recipients of the IOCDF Hero Award—and with good reason. He’s done a tremendous amount of awareness building in his small community in Michigan and has shared his unique idea for OCD advocacy with the larger community as well: Ping Pong 4 OCD. Maybe you’ve played ping…
Read MoreLeading the International OCD Foundation: Jeff Szymanski
I know what you’re thinking: How do you pronounce that name? As far as I can tell, it’s something like Shhhhhmanski. But here’s the thing: You can probably* just call him Jeff! He certainly deserves the respect and honor of being called Dr. Szymanski, but he’s friendly and open enough that you’ll find yourself on a first-name basis. *For…
Read MoreOCD Treatment: One Size Does Not Fit All
I always love writing for the International OCD Foundation blog because it makes me feel connected to the wider OCD community. Last week they posted my latest about following your own path to recovery and not relying on just one piece of advice or person to guide you. What do you think? Have you found…
Read MoreOCD, Kids, and Medication: Gail Bernstein
It’s Tuesday already! Welcome back. This week I’m hosting Dr. Gail Bernstein, who specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Parents, this Q&A is for you—especially so if you live in the Twin Cities. Your children are not alone, and there is hope for them! Dr. Bernstein is brilliant and…
Read MoreLosing a Child With BDD: Denis Asselin
Welcome back to Tuesday Q&A! I admit the hiatus wasn’t exactly planned; life and the holidays conspired to throw me off schedule. I couldn’t be happier to kick off the New Year with this post from Denis Asselin, an amazing advocate who’s been working tirelessly and with compassion to spread awareness about body dysmorphic disorder…
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Alison Dotson 