Get to know OCD

Cody Fournier was serving in the military when OCD began to consume his thoughts. The taboo thoughts were intense and confusing, but what scared him just as much was the idea of anyone finding out. In that environment, where strength and reliability matter so much, he worried that admitting what he was going through could change how people saw him — or even threaten the career he had worked hard for. So instead of talking about it, he kept it hidden and tried to push through on his own.In this episode, Cody looks back on that time and shares what it was like carrying OCD in silence while serving. He also talks about what happened when he finally got the right help, and how that experience eventually led him to become a licensed therapist at NOCD, where he now helps others navigate the same disorder he once struggled with himself.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the most effective treatment for OCD—a treatment that can help you live a fulfilling life. If you’re ready to take your first step, book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YTFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author and YouTuber John Green sits down with Dr. Patrick McGrath, NOCD’s Chief Clinical Officer, to answer the internet’s most-asked questions about OCD, including:• How do you ask for help when your intrusive thoughts feel too shameful to talk about?• Why do intrusive thoughts feel so real?• What’s the most important thing someone with OCD should know?...and more.John also shares how OCD treatment helped him, even when he doubted it would, and his advice for getting through hard days.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the most effective treatment for OCD—a treatment that can help you live a fulfilling life. If you’re ready to take your first step, book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know the correct kind of OCD treatment doesn’t just change how you feel, it can actually change how your brain responds to fear. Yes, it's true and in this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains why. This isn’t meant to be a science lesson, but rather a simple explanation of what’s happening in the brain when someone begins effective OCD treatment like exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP). As people learn to face intrusive thoughts and resist compulsions, the brain gradually recalibrates its threat response, helping them react differently to anxiety and regain control over their lives.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the most effective treatment for OCD—a treatment that can help you live a fulfilling life. If you’re ready to take your first step, book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YTFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lauren Rosen’s OCD didn’t always look like the compulsions people expect. Much of it was happening entirely in her mind. For years, she found herself trapped in endless mental loops — replaying conversations, questioning her thoughts, and trying to “figure out” whether something meant she had done something wrong. Because these compulsions were invisible, it took a long time to recognize that the thinking itself had become part of the OCD cycle.She joins the podcast to discuss how mental compulsions and rumination keep the OCD cycle going. Lauren also gets into what's helped her get better. Therapy, yes, but also mindfulness and accepting uncertainty. She uses this not just for herself, but treating others for OCD and anxiety too. At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the most effective treatment for OCD—a treatment that can help you live a fulfilling life. If you’re ready to take your first step, book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YTFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most therapists graduate with little to no formal training in OCD — and almost none in exposure and response prevention (ERP), the gold-standard treatment. That gap matters. People with OCD often spend 14 to 17 years in the wrong kind of therapy before getting effective care.In this episode, we walk through exactly how NOCD trains clinicians to become true OCD specialists. Joining us are NOCD's own Mia Nunez and Taylor Newendorp, who help onboard our therapists and guide them through our training process. If you’re ready to deepen your ERP skills and work somewhere specialized OCD treatment is the focus — not an afterthought — explore joining the team at NOCD: https://learn.nocd.com/therapist_careersFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It started with a simple moment. Lunch. A new romantic relationship. Feeling good about the future. Then a thought slipped in: what if I have an STD and just don’t know it? That’s how OCD entered Will Schultz’s life. What began as one intrusive question quickly spiraled into fears of HIV, contaminated needles, rabies, and eventually a deep distrust of his own memory and senses.On this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, Will shares how that single “what if” thought grew into years of fear, and what finally changed. Even after learning it was OCD and knowing the right treatment, he still struggled to face it. Recovery didn’t begin with more reassurance. It began when he made a decision: staying safe was no longer the priority — confronting OCD was.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the most effective treatment for OCD—a treatment that can help you live a fulfilling life. If you’re ready to take your first step, book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YTFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author John Green couldn’t write. NOCD Co-founder and CEO Stephen Smith could barely leave his house. Both were suffering from OCD without proper treatment. In fact, 95% of Americans with OCD aren’t receiving the most effective treatment.In this interview with Dr. Patrick McGrath, John and Stephen explain how real OCD goes far beyond the stereotypes about neatness or organization, and the consequences of it being overlooked and misunderstood: hours lost to thought spirals, avoidance of loved ones, and fear that kept them from pursuing their passions.They also share what changed when they finally found specialized treatment for OCD. Now, they can measure how much richer life has become by the experiences they’ve regained.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the most effective treatment for OCD—a treatment that can help you live a fulfilling life. If you’re ready to take your first step, book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Sabawi joins the Get to Know OCD podcast to talk about his short film, For All I Know. The film centers on OCD. Its title reflects the kind of intrusive uncertainty that defines the disorder — the constant “for all I know…” spiral that turns ordinary thoughts into imagined catastrophes. While developing the film, Sam consulted with NOCD's Dr. Patrick McGrath, who even makes a cameo in the film.When creating For All I Know, Sam was intentional about portraying the internal experience of OCD — the mental loops, the doubt, and the relentless uncertainty that rarely get shown accurately on big-name TV shows and Hollywood movies. Rather than focusing on stereotypes, the film aims to capture what OCD actually feels like from the inside. Sam is here to tell us about the entire film-making process and what he hopes audiences (with OCD or not) get out of watching it.NOCD specializes in exposure and response prevention therapy, the most effective treatment for OCD. Want to explore your treatment options? Book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YTFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Sonya talks about what shifted when she chose to work in a place where OCD isn’t treated as an afterthought. She reflects on what she wishes she had understood earlier about exposure and response prevention (ERP), supervision, and the subtle ways therapists can accidentally reinforce the very cycle they’re trying to break.If you’re ready to deepen your ERP skills and work somewhere specialized OCD treatment is the focus — not an afterthought — explore joining the team at NOCD: https://learn.nocd.com/therapist_careers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One year, Stephen Smith was the starting quarterback at his college. The next year, he was completely housebound, debilitated by a condition he didn't even have a name for yet.In this powerful episode of the Get to know OCD podcast, NOCD Co-founder and CEO Stephen Smith sits down with Dr. Patrick McGrath to share the story behind NOCD—from its founding through its journey to becoming the world's leading OCD treatment provider—and how Stephen’s own personal struggle with severe OCD fueled the creation of NOCD.You'll hear about...The onset of Stephen's severe OCD at age 20, and how being misdiagnosed by four different healthcare providers nearly destroyed his lifeStephen’s life-changing experience with exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, and how his struggle to access this treatment ultimately sparked the idea for NOCDThe make-or-break moments along NOCD's journey to helping hundreds of thousands of people access life-changing OCD therapyNOCD specializes in exposure and response prevention therapy, the most effective treatment for OCD. Want to explore your treatment options? Book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Green knows how easy it can be to confuse anxiety and OCD—and how that confusion can keep people stuck. His own OCD symptoms were labeled and treated as generalized anxiety disorder for years, preventing him from getting the specialized care that he desperately needed. Now, he’s passionate about helping others understand the difference so they can get the right help sooner.In this video, John joins Dr. Patrick McGrath, Chief Clinical Officer of NOCD, to break down the subtle ways OCD can disguise itself as anxiety—like arguing with your thoughts, trying to mentally prepare for every possible scenario, and “what if?” thought spirals. John opens up about the symptoms he missed, and Dr. McGrath shares how you can get effective treatment that truly helps.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the most effective treatment for OCD—a treatment that can help you live a fulfilling life. If you’re ready to take your first step, book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the 18 years she went without a proper diagnosis, Alison Dotson lived inside a "horror film" of her own mind. She was suffering from Pure O — a form of OCD dominated by mental compulsions rather than visible physical ones. Her mind was filled with graphic, intrusive images and "dark thoughts" that stood in direct opposition to her values. Because her symptoms didn't fit the stereotypical hand-washing or checking behaviors seen on TV, she believed she was simply untreatable or, worse, a danger to those she loved.Living in constant fear of her own mind, Alison reached a breaking point in her 20s where she began welcoming a terminal diagnosis just to escape the thoughts. In this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, she joins Dr. Patrick McGrath to share her story in honest detail and what finally helped her.NOCD specializes in exposure and response prevention therapy, the most effective treatment for OCD. Want to explore your treatment options? Book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YTFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Anele has been creating makeup videos online for more than a decade, building an audience of over a million people along the way. Behind the scenes, her lifelong OCD made almost everything feel unfinished and never quite “right.” Tasks dragged on. Social plans fell away. Even success didn’t bring relief, because OCD kept telling her she wasn’t doing enough — or being enough.Alex joins the Get to Know OCD podcast to talk openly about how that constant sense of wrongness affected her career and daily life, the moment she realized she couldn’t keep pushing through it alone, and what finally helped when she sought the right kind of treatment.NOCD specializes in exposure and response prevention therapy, the most effective treatment for OCD. Want to explore your treatment options? Book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YTFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone has intrusive thoughts. With OCD, the difference is that they tend to escalate from 0 to 100 in an instant. Author John Green compares it to a snowstorm: three flakes, then four—then suddenly you're in a complete whiteout where nothing else exists.In this video, John opens up about how intrusive thoughts feel for him, and how OCD’s fear and dread used to drown out everything—even the people he loved most. He also shares how getting the proper treatment for OCD has taught him to catch thought spirals earlier and respond differently, giving him back time and energy to spend on writing, being with his kids, and actually living his life.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the most effective treatment for OCD—a treatment that can help you live a fulfilling life. If you’re ready to take your first step, book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Radha Bage grew up in India, a culture where mental health wasn’t discussed openly — not at home, not in the community, and not as something you sought help for. When OCD began to take hold in her adult life, especially after becoming a mother, she didn’t recognize it as a disorder. She assumed the fear, checking, and responsibility she felt were personal failures or something she needed to endure quietly. That cultural silence made it easier for OCD to go unnamed, and harder for her to ask for help.In this interview, Radha talks about living with OCD for nearly 18 years without understanding what it was, how stigma shaped her beliefs about mental illness, and how those beliefs followed her even after moving to the United States. She shares how OCD showed up in parenting, driving, and daily life — and why speaking openly now feels necessary, especially for people coming from communities where OCD is still something not talked about.NOCD specializes in exposure and response prevention therapy, the most effective treatment for OCD. Want to explore your treatment options? Book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YTFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Faith Hilmer was terrified of driving — not because of an accident, but because of a thought. What if I have a seizure? What if I lose control? Those questions stemmed from her harm OCD that paralyzed her with fear throughout her life beyond just driving.Faith joins us on the Get to Know OCD podcast to talk about how those fears went unrecognized for years, why they felt so real, and what finally changed once OCD was correctly identified. She also shares how living through that experience influenced her path into becoming a NOCD therapist — and how it shapes the way she now helps others facing the same kind of fears.NOCD specializes in exposure and response prevention therapy, the most effective treatment for OCD. Want to explore your treatment options? Book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YTFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OCD hijacked Rachel's life. Perfectionism and obsessive thinking had always been a part of her life, but a new relationship gave OCD something to latch onto — and it escalated fast. Her thoughts spiraled, her sense of control collapsed, and the disorder began dictating every decision. What followed was a sudden exit from her job on a Netflix set, a stay in a psychiatric facility, and thoughts that scared her enough to realize she couldn’t manage it on her own anymore.In this episode, Rachel Immraj shares her OCD journey. She shares how deep OCD pulled her and how she, finally, got help. Rachel also tells us about her new documentary, An Unquiet Mind, that follows multiple people with OCD. She directed it to show others the dark side of OCD, a side that almost swallowed her whole. NOCD specializes in exposure and response prevention therapy, the most effective treatment for OCD. Want to explore your treatment options? Book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YTFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As 2026 begins, NOCD therapist Tracie Ibrahim offers up a few small but meaningful shifts that can make living with OCD feel more manageable. Instead of chasing quick fixes or “perfect” routines, these four tips are about changing how you respond when OCD shows up — how you relate to uncertainty, urges, and the pressure to do things just right. They’re simple on the surface, but each one reflects lessons learned through real experience and treatment.NOCD specializes in exposure and response prevention therapy, the most effective treatment for OCD. Want to explore your treatment options? Book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YTFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olivia didn’t set out to make a comedy show about her OCD struggles. The idea came from noticing how much power her thoughts still had when they stayed unspoken. In her head, they felt heavy, urgent, and authoritative. Saying the thoughts out loud, in front of an audience, stripped them of the authority they’d long held over her life.Olivia joins us on the Get to know OCD podcast to tell us all about her show and story. Her OCD fixated on intrusive sexual and taboo thoughts, which have become the backbone of Olivia's comedy show. She shares what it was like to put the most shame-filled parts of her experience on stage, what surprised her about the reaction, and how externalizing the thoughts changed her relationship with them in a way silence never did.NOCD specializes in exposure and response prevention therapy, the most effective treatment for OCD. Want to explore your treatment options? Book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YTFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People rarely delay OCD treatment because they don’t want their lives to change — they delay it because the disorder has already been negotiating with them for years. OCD tells you you’re coping well enough, that starting treatment might make things worse, that you’ll lose control if you stop doing the very behaviors that feel like they’re keeping everything together. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains all the tricky ways OCD stops you from helping yourself (plus sings some Rick Astley along the way too).NOCD specializes in exposure and response prevention therapy, the most effective treatment for OCD. Want to explore your treatment options? Book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YTFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/treatmyocd/https://twitter.com/treatmyocdhttps://www.tiktok.com/@treatmyocd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.