Claim OwnershipFearCast Podcast
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The Podcast answering your questions about anxiety and OCD recovery
274 Episodes
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To answer today’s audio question, I had on TWO experts on child development and OCD. The questioner who is in the middle of the delicate balance of supporting her daughter’s best moral development while not feeding the Moral Scrupulosity OCD beast. To answer the question I have on Elena Fasan, LCSW, an expert on child and adolescent OCD treatment, and Jenny Foss, MA, child development professor. We talk about how parents can support kids going through the trials of adolescence and how to help raise good, thoughtful, and honest kids while taking into account the ways OCD wants to take over development and the parent/ child relationship.
For more on Moral and Religious Scrupulosity OCD, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center
The post #268- Supporting Good Kids With Moral Scrup, With Elena Fasan, LCSW, and Jenny Foss, MA appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
Anthony sent in an audio question where he shared that he’s having trouble with some thoughts about his girlfriend. He keeps wondering whether or not she’s unattractive, like really unattractive, and not his type. What’s worse is that they are planning on moving in together soon! Is he wasting her time by pretending to be into her? Sure, he has some moments of clarity when he thinks she really is attractive, maybe even MORE attractive than he ever thought, but those thoughts are fleeting. What is he to do?
The post #267- Is Anthony’s Girlfriend A Gargoyle, Or Is ROCD At It Again? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
Lauren Rosen, MFT, joined me today to help answer Lemon’s question. Lemon wanted to know how she can move forward with her life, pursuing her values, etc., but what if her thoughts and values aren’t really her own? Lauren, the author of The Mental Compulsions Workbook for OCD was the perfect guest to help address this existential question. We discuss ways to identify her mental compulsions, the feared story the compulsions serve, and some ways she can find meaning (whether they are her own or not).
For more on Existential OCD, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center
The post #265- What If My Values Aren’t Mine, Featuring Lauren Rosen, MFT appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
Sophi sent in her audio question and had a question about how to best deal with this really unhelpful, bad-for-the-relationship, unwelcomed obstacle of ROCD and Paranoid Personality Disorder. This isn’t a common combination that we’ve talked about on the show but she reached out. She asked about what she can do to get a better handle on these two so it isn’t to ruin her relationships or any other relationships!
The post #264- Paranoid Personality Disorder And ROCD Is Not Sophi’s Friend appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
This is a jam packed episode. I answer four questions from listeners across a wide range of topics. We discuss the differences between an obsession and an intrusive thought. Are they different, and if so, how, and is it important? Another listener wants to know whether someone identifying as gay/ lesbian can still have Sexual Orientation OCD, or is that just a straight people thing? One listener wants to know whether ERP is a good idea to help treat their disordered eating and/ or eating disorder. Finally, someone kinda shares a success story that ends up being a question about how to deal with Casadastraphobia.
The post #263- ERP For Disordered Eating, What’s An Intrusive Thought, And More appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
Toblerone Girl messaged me with an audio question recently. Unfortunately, she’s struggling with the dreaded overlap of ROCD and SO-OCD that seem to be made for one another. She notices some genuine feelings, but OCD jumps in and demands the all or nothing of it, and doesn’t take “I’m must be bisexual” as a reasonable label. I discuss some ways she can consider the situation and offer some exercises that may help her develop a new relationship with her thoughts.
To learn more about Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD), check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center
The post #262- When “I’m Bisexual” Is Not Enough To Quiet ROCD/ SOOCD appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
Today I answer a twofer from Katie; both of them Religious Scrupulosity related. The first question is about how can someone “cast their cares on the Lord” and ask God for healing from OCD in a non-compulsive way. She also wants to know how she can “do all things through Christ who strengthens me” while also exerting her own will on her OCD recovery. Is using her own willpower subverting God’s impact on her recovery, and is a true believer supposed to rely only on God and nothing else for recovery? I do my best to address this from a faith and mental health perspective in order to build her confidence that OCD treatment for Religious Scrup is an act of faith.
For more on Religious Scrupulosity, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center
The post #261- Can I Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
Today we are holding off on the questions to dedicate our time to talking about all things medication for OCD and anxiety disorders. Lucky for us, Dr. Sanjaya Saxena, MD, graciously gave his time and expertise to go over an exhaustive amount of information. We talk about what medications are most effective, first line treatments, supplemental medication, how to best communicate with your doctor, and much more. He offered a wealth of information and I am so thankful for this new resource for listeners.
The post #260- Medication For OCD And Anxiety With Dr. Sanjaya Saxena, MD appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
John sent in an audio question. He wants to know whether his attempts to control, and even mentally play with, his Sensorimotor OCD obsession is helpful because he was able to do it once and it felt so empowering! Tied in, he wants to know whether he has to resign himself to never feeling fully “OK.” Emma also sent in a message about how to deal with the idea of death and the impossibility of getting a conclusive, definitive answer to her questions.
The post #259- Chasing Sensorimotor Relief, And It’s Impossible To Deal With Death appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
I’m answering two questions today. Why not. The first is a follow up audio question from Spiritual Overthinker. She shares how her struggles have deepened as she has started to explore the world of Twin Flames and how her anxiety is preventing her from having an enjoyable relationship with boyfriend, or whatever OCD wants her to call him. Next I answer Ella’s question about what she can do with her SO-OCD. She fears, well maybe believes, that she is actually in denial of her sexuality, and she’s pretty certain ERP therapy won’t work. These are two really difficult questions that I do my best to help offer some alternative perspectives and encouragement, albeit snarky at times.
The post #258- Struggling With Her Twin Flame, and SO-OCD Or Denial? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
For this first episode of 2026, I am answering a Sensorimotor OCD question from Dave. However, as many FearCast questions go, this one also applies to a great many other people struggling with OCD. In addition to wanting to how he can manage his obsessions, he wants to know whether or not he should avoid others out of fear that he may take on their Sensorimotor obsession, or should he wait until he is more resilient. I offer him some suggestions on how to approach building his resiliency as he continues fighting his symptoms and discuss ways he can practice acceptance, redirection, and confidence building that applies to all struggling with anxiety.
For more about Sensorimotor OCD, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center.
The post #257- Should We Avoid Others Or Face Taking On Their Obsessions? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
For the last episode of the year, I’m going to answer two, that’s right TWO, listener questions. These two questions from Rubi and Emily. They both share very personal obsessions that don’t get talked about a lot, so I’m really honored to have a chance to speak with them. First, Rubi shares her struggle with Self Harm OCD and whats to know some practical ways she can deal with them. After that, I address Emily’s question. She has noticed a rise of Limerence that has directed itself toward her therapist. How can she continue working with her therapist and making progress while battling this growing obsession?
The post #256- Rubi’s Self Harm OCD and Emily’s Therapist Directed Limerence appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
Ed recently sent in an audio question where he expressed a fear of being socially humiliated. This fear was triggered during a conversation with a group of friends where he feared that he would be humiliated later on. So, Ed did the most reasonable thing; ruminate, and later send me this question. I discuss this fear broadly as a worry that straddles the line between OCD and Social Anxiety while focusing on using CBT, Exposure and Response Prevention, and some mindfulness to help him deal with this fear.
The post #255- Ed’s Fear Of Being Socially Humiliated appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
Today’s episode is an exciting one! Kimberley Quinlan and Chris Trondsen joined me to talk about their new program focused on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). These two experts on BDD, eating disorders, and OCD (and pretty much everything else, too) discuss the differences between treating OCD and BDD, and why specialized treatment for BDD is necessary in a way that is encouraging, positive, light, and direct. Together they share stories of people struggling with BDD and offer ideas on what treatment can look like for others struggling with their BDD. This was a fun conversation and I always come away learning so much myself.
The post #254- BDD Treatment With Kimbely Quinlan, MFT, and Chris Trondsen, MFT appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
Nathan Peterson, therapist, youtuber, educator, and now author, joined me on this episode to talk about his upcoming book and upcoming video program on Tics and Tourettes Syndrome. He was such a delightful guest who was kind enough to come on to share his thoughts on OCD treatment, making recovery feel achievable, and helping people looking for easy to use and understand resources. Nathan’s videos have helped untold amounts of people with his straightforward and encouraging messaging about how to face OCD and anxiety without feeling overwhelmed and pressured.
The post #253- Your OCD And Tics Will Hate This Episode With Nathan Peterson appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
Tina recently reached out to ask a question about what she thinks is Partner Focused ROCD. She struggles with obsessions about her partner and is looking for approval from her friends and others about the relationship. She also finds herself ruminating about her partner and various minutia of their appearance and mannerisms. I talk about a little about what Partner Focused ROCD is and offer her some guidance on what she could consider moving forward.
The post #252- Tina’s Question About Partner Focused ROCD appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
Melody sent me an audio question recently. She wants to know what she can do to best help her boyfriend who is struggling with health anxiety. He is just starting therapy, but she wants to know some best practices on what she can do to be a helpful partner. How great is that?! To answer this, I try to highlight the importance of communication between her and her boyfriend and working together to establish clear boundaries of what she can do and what she’s not willing to do to be supportive. I also discuss the importance of knowing about health anxiety so she isn’t surprised when anxiety tries to weasel its way into the relationship.
For more on Hypochondria and Health Anxiety, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center.
The post #251- How Can Melody Help Her Hypochondriac Boyfriend? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
I got an audio question from Burrito John who wanted to know he can deal with a situation. He’s obsessing about whether he actually liked someone, or whether he was just obsessing and didn’t. He is worried he made it awkward with his co-worker and now wonders whether he and trust his intuition about whether he genuinely likes someone or whether OCD is just clouding his judgment. This question comes up in a lot of different ways so I’m glad John asked it.
The post #250- How Do I Trust My Intuition Again After Awkwardness? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
Jeffrey messaged me and wanted to know how to forgive himself for his obsessions and past choices so he can finally move on with his life past the grip of SO-OCD. His question has a lot going on, and includes elements of shame and guilt from his past behaviors, doubt and confusion about motivations for said actions, confusion about titles and identity, and a struggle with a sticky comment made by someone when young that served as the basis for his obsession. I do my best to address some of these issues and help him see how his obsession was created, how it persists, and how he can try to let himself off the hook and move on with his life.
For more about Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD), check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center
The post #249- How Choices When Young Help SO-OCD Haunt You Later appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
Dan reached out with an audio question to ask about what he can do when his interests and values happen to also be the focus of his obsession. Hijacking your values, hobbies, and interests is a really common tactic of OCD, but does that mean you have to give it all up to get better? What happens then if you value intimacy in a relationship? Is Dan doomed? I discuss what people can do to grow their awareness about their obsessions and how to short circuit the obsession/ compulsion cycle when it hits. However, I also discuss some other, broader, relationship considerations that may be at play.
The post #248- When Obsessions Are Also Your Interests And Values- ROCD Edition appeared first on FearCast Podcast.
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