Getting treatment—the right treatment—for OCD ranks really high (okay, let’s say it’s number one) on the list of how to take charge of the disorder and live your life according to your values. What’s helped me a lot, too, is simply knowing there are therapists who care about us and go above and beyond to…
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Thriving in Relationships When You Have OCD: Amy Mariaskin
Help me welcome the amazing Amy Mariaskin! When our beagles were both 15.5 years old we introduced them to each other on a Zoom call—they didn’t seem to know what was going on, but the point is that we tried to foster a connection, and that’s what Amy is all about. Whether she’s working with…
Read MoreDirector of For the Safety of Theo: Christopher Macken
When obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) doesn’t manifest as physical compulsions—excessive hand-washing, avoiding cracks in a sidewalk—it can be hard to portray. My guest today has endeavored to make a film that shows some of the anguish of obsessions and mental compulsions. Help me welcome Christopher Macken, director of a short film called For the Safety of…
Read MoreThe ocdopus: Elise Petronzio
We’ve all seen “cute” OCD jokes on things like T-shirts and mugs (and scented candles and hand sanitizers and soaps and…), and many of us with obsessive-compulsive disorder don’t think they’re funny. A lot of us think they’re actually harmful to people with OCD and get in the way of spreading awareness of what OCD…
Read MoreLiving Beyond OCD: Patricia Zurita Ona
I’m honored to welcome back Patricia Zurita Ona—Dr. Z—to the Q&A! Dr. Z has written a workbook for adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) called Living Beyond OCD Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Workbook for Adults and hosts a podcast called Playing It Safe, and we talk a lot about the concepts she explores in…
Read MoreOCD After Trauma: Jillian Halket
Jillian Halket has overcome—and accomplished—a lot in her young life. At just 28 she’s worked through trauma, substance abuse, and undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and now her first book is out! In her memoir Blade in the Shadow, Jillian shares her experiences with harm OCD and how she tried to cope with it before finally…
Read MoreWorking With Parents and Partners: Emily Risinger
If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or a related disorder, you’ve probably heard how helpful it can be to see a therapist trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), particularly exposure and response prevention (ERP). But what about working with a therapist and your partner so you can take your treatment even further at home—and work…
Read MoreDemystifying Postpartum OCD on Instagram: Windsor Flynn
Considering how much Windsor Flynn’s Instagram posts make me laugh, it may be surprising what they’re usually about: obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Windsor shares advice on how to deal with intrusive thoughts and compulsions, drawing on her own experiences with postpartum OCD to make you really believe you can face this too. Thank you, Windsor, for…
Read MoreRelying on Community: Hannah Zidansek
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) itself is serious, but that doesn’t mean spreading awareness and clearing up misconceptions about it has to be. Enter Hannah Zidansek, who manages to explain what OCD is really like with humor and a skill I don’t have myself—making videos people actually want to watch. Hannah is an advocate for the International…
Read MoreVirtual Therapy for OCD: Allison Solomon
This has been the year of virtual everything: happy hours and weddings, work and school, and, of course, therapy. Many therapists had to unexpectedly make a switch to 100 percent virtual sessions, but Allison Solomon has been offering virtual care for several years. Always wondered if virtual therapy was right for you? Read on to…
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Alison Dotson 