Episodes
Chris discusses the correct way to do exposure therapy and continues the discussion on why many people don't get what they want from the process: they're not doing it the right way. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.
Published 05/17/24
Chris discusses the reality that people fall back on the habits that they know when the anxiety-related "shit hits the fan." They're going to use the so-called "coping behaviors" with which they're familiar to try and feel better, even though it is often these very responses that keep their thoughts and anxiety strong and coming back again and again. The great trouble is that they can't stop these responses because they don't see them. Feel free to reach out with any question you might to...
Published 05/10/24
Chris encourages listeners with the idea that they don't "have to" do compulsions, explaining that often people confuse intrusive thoughts and anxiety with compulsions. They in turn think they "can't" stop the compulsions. The clarity between them and the choice to stop compulsions makes a big difference, especially over time. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and...
Published 05/03/24
Chris discusses the OCD and anxiety disorders hack: that thoughts and feelings following the leadership of behavioral patterns. There are a few pitfalls to keep in mind... Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety-related symptoms.
Published 04/26/24
Chris discusses some personal experiences that led to the launching of OCDST in March of 2020. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.
Published 04/19/24
Chris recaps several concepts that raise the question: How do you tell the difference between OCD and objective danger? While a number of answers could be presented to the question, Chris offers two. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.
Published 04/12/24
Chris responds to an oft' repeated phrase, "Well, I have anxiety, but I don't have OCD. And for fun, he also addresses several myths and misunderstands relative to the diagnosis and treatment of the anxiety-related disorders. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found OCDST helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.
Published 04/05/24
Chris discusses several ideas and studies, and works through conversations he typically has with patients at various points of the clinical process. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found OCD Straight Talk helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety-symptoms.
Published 03/15/24
Chris responds to a listener's question regarding how obsessions or intrusive thoughts might be experienced differently across the OCD-population. He lists kinds and categories of intrusive thoughts and provides several cases examples from his own experience. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating/review and subscribing to OCD Straight Talk for more structured help with your...
Published 03/04/24
Chris discusses the difference between the style and persona of a good OCD-therapist and the supportive way of a truly helpful family member. It's about balancing two opposing ideas. But many family members fall too far to one side or the other. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've OCD Straight Talk helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating/review, and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety or...
Published 02/23/24
Chris presents the idea that there's always some evidence, some reason to perceive intrusive thoughts as reality. This coupled with the reasonable possibility of feared outcomes heightens anxiety for OCDers. Evidence makes the thoughts feel real ... even if the evidence can point to several conclusions. So the question isn't, Can I dismantle or disprove the evidence; it's, Can I tolerate the uncertainty. It's, Can I act as if my intrusive thoughts aren't happening? Feel free to reach out with...
Published 02/16/24
Chris presents a conversation he often has with patients at the beginning of treatment. Expectations are powerful things, including if they're unrealistic. So having healthy and reasonable expectations is important, especially when it what we should expect to get out of therapy. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to OCD Straight Talk for more structured...
Published 02/09/24
Chris presents a definition for OCD that extends outside of the diagnostic criteria. "Why?," you might wonder. The answer is because the diagnostic criteria is so inclusive that it doesn't actually exclude very much at all. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving OCD Straight Talk a 5-star rating and subscribing for more structured help with your anxiety- or OCD symptoms.
Published 02/02/24
Chris discusses an attentional principle that is readily observable for most people. You can't both ruminate and engage the goings-on of the here-and-now at the same time. You're either doing one or the other, even if that means that you're quickly switching back and forth between the two. Chris builds on this concept and provides a practical strategy to harness the principle in order to make gains on rumination.
Published 01/27/24
Chris discusses a personal journey with interpersonal boundaries, confrontation, and self-esteem. He chronicles a time he confronted a person in his life who historically treated him badly; and described how he felt about himself after having done that. He then ties this into OCD-treatment, and works to show the power of behavior-change, no matter the situation you're in.
Published 01/22/24
Chris presents by starting with a question that lingers in the air at this point: What am I supposed to do about my intrusive thoughts? The answer may not be what you want to hear. But it is echoed by the literature, and has been for nearly six decades. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected] If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing for more structured help with you anxiety and OCD symptoms.
Published 01/09/24
A listener responds to Pillar 3 with a question. Chris responds. There's ALWAYS risk; but there's only sometimes danger. Listen to find out more. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found OCD Straight Talk helpful, feel free to give it a 5-star rating, and subscribe to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.
Published 01/02/24
Chris explains a logical dynamic that goes two ways: the more we have a felt need for certainty, the harder we pursue it. And we pursue it, of course, by doing compulsions. But the harder we pursue it, the more elusive it proves to be. And then, we're back to the beginning. We have a deep and urgent need for certainty. But that street travels two ways. This is where and how Pillars 3, 4, and 5 are connected. Check out this episode to learn more. Feel free to reach out with any questions you...
Published 12/20/23
Chris recaps Pillar 1 with a few subtype-examples, and moves to Pillar 2. This is the idea of "reps," or repetitions. Doing something over and over again increases both our competence in executing a task, and sharpens our understanding of it - big picture. The same is true of exposure therapy. Reps are the backbone of getting better.
Published 12/14/23
Chris tackles the first of the Five Pillars, showing that generally OCDers generally don't make a lot of progress without structured, expert help. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. If you've found OCDST helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.
Published 12/08/23
Chris launches a new series on the role of the patient or the listener in the process of getting better. He reviews a document, forged from clinical experience, and written for his patients that explains their specific responsibilities in the act of getting as much out of their therapeutic journey as possible.
Published 11/28/23
Chris discusses a couple of cases that illustrate that idea that sometimes OCD and anxiety disorders flip the script on you, and completely change the behaviors that feed them. All of the sudden, the behaviors that previously were healthy are now compulsive; and the behaviors that were compulsive are now healthy.
Published 11/20/23
"Life's a fight!" Chris discusses a personal slogan and explains what that means in the context of OCD. Fighting means both the will to win and a strategy to succeed. In the fight against OCD, you need both. Why? Because OCD has both, too.
Published 11/07/23
Chris responds to a listener's question about the ever-popular topic, Pure-O. He highlights the concept of identifying compulsions; as Pure-Oers do compulsions, they just don't properly identify them. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected] If you've OCD Straight Talk helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.
Published 10/27/23
Building off of the last two episodes, Chris discusses common errors made in exposure-work. These concepts aren't new to the podcast; but they are ... common mistakes. What that means is that you're probably doing them. And the reality is that exposure therapy generally doesn't work very well if we're committing one or both of these mistakes. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to [email protected]. Or if you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a...
Published 10/17/23