In episode 432 I chat with Dr Louise Newson. Louise is a GP and Menopause Specialist, and co-founder of Newson Health Menopause and Wellbeing Centre. She is also author of, ‘The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause’.  We discuss her doctor story, hormones and mental health, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), the different hormones and their role in mental health, some of the perimenopause and menopause symptoms in relation to mental health, hormone replacement therapy...

In episode 431 I chat with Paul Huntingford. Paul is an integrative therapist, and sees clients through the Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy.  We discuss his therapy story, addiction, anxiety, what is acceptance, the many opportunities to practice acceptance in OCD recovery including: acceptance of the feelings, acceptance of the process, acceptance of the presence of thoughts, conditional acceptance, acceptance of the work to be done, acceptance of relapses, and much more.  Show notes:...

In episode 430 I chat with Edith Bell. Edith is a CBT Therapist and Director of Counselling for Familyworks Northern Ireland. We discuss her therapy story, PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), what is PANDAS, working therapeutically with OCD brought on by PANDAS, what to look out for, Sydenham chorea, and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/edith-430  The podcast is made possible by NOCD....

In episode 429 I chat with Dr Michael Greenberg. Michael is a clinical psychologist who specialises in Rumination-Focused ERP (RF-ERP).  We discuss what’s new with him, he then answers listener questions, he explores how RF-ERP has helped people, learning to let go of the questions, some justifications of rumination that people use to justify it, persistent obsessions and urges, and much more.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/michael-429  The podcast is made possible by NOCD....

In episode 428 I chat with Kelly who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.  We discuss health anxiety, postpartum OCD, harm OCD, violent intrusive thoughts, getting help, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), physical sensations alongside intrusive thoughts, words of hope, and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/kelly-428  The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and...

In episode 427 I chat with Erica who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. You may know Erica as a trainer from USA Networks Biggest Loser TV show, or from her Instagram (EricaFitLove).  We discuss her OCD story, suicidal and self harm themed OCD, getting diagnosed, working with NOCD, doing exposure and response prevention therapy, the Whac-A-Mole effect of OCD, the power of tracking progress, doing home practice, hormones, words of hope, and much more. Hope it helps.  Show...

In episode 426 I chat with Josh who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us.  We discuss his story, his early experiences of OCD, intrusive thoughts, sexual intrusive thoughts, religious OCD, self harm, joining the military, perfectionism, getting therapy, and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/josh-426  The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more...

In episode 425 I interviewed licensed clinical psychologist Nicholas Farrell. Nick is the clinical director of programming and development at NOCD.  We discuss Nick’s therapy journey, explaining exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) and its effectiveness, working on hierarchies that target the correct thing, home practice, ERP as a lifestyle change, and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/nicholas-425  The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD...

In episode 424 I interviewed Psychotherapist Emma Roselli.  We discuss her therapy journey, working with Stuart at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy, working with and supporting parents of children and teens with OCD, what parents can do more of to support their child, acknowledging the tough experiences of parenting, boundaries and reducing accommodations, ruptures in the parent child relationship, working with taboo intrusive thoughts with children and teens, how parents can help...

In episode 423 Will Sadler and Ellie Page of the Lively Minds podcast interviewed myself (Stuart), and Matthew Antonelli of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) about tackling the misinformation about OCD. We talk about how misunderstood OCD is, why the media gets it wrong, the letting your intrusive thoughts win social media trend, educating a news outlet on OCD miseducation, educating clinicians, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes:...

In episode 422 I interviewed Psychotherapist Joshua Fletcher (Anxiety Josh) about his new book, ‘And how does that make you feel?’. We talk about his new book, the voices he uses in his book that narrates his inner dialogue, we discuss some of the clients in the book, the writing process being cathartic, we discuss integrative therapists, what he hopes the book achieves, emotional conservatism, and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/josh-422  The...

In episode 421 I chat with Iona who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.  We discuss her earliest OCD memory and it feeling like a premonition, her obsessions and compulsions, worries of harm coming to her family, wanting to normalise embarrassing compulsions, family support, medication, starting CBT as a teenager and having a tough time engaging and then being ready for therapy later on, how her sister helped, words of hope, and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes:...

In episode 420 I chat with Dr Sam Greenblatt. Sam is a licensed clinical psychologist.  We discuss an update on Sam, theories on relationship OCD, the nuances of therapy, the idea of trusting your gut, a review of the therapies that have an evidence base for OCD, the need for more longitudinal research, and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/sam-420  The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and...

In episode 419 I chat with Saraa D. Lee who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us. Saraa is a therapist (LCSW) at Soul Spa Psychotherapy and is an OCD and Trauma specialist. We discuss her story, traumatic experiences in her childhood, her obsessions and compulsions, not getting a diagnosis, her therapy journey, and much more. Hope it helps.   Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/saraa-419  The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy...

In episode 418 I chat with Dr Steven Phillipson. Steven is a licensed clinical psychologist who specialises in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for OCD. Steven is the Clinical Director at the Center for Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy in New York. We discuss OCD in times of crisis, the terms of blood lust and guilt thrill, character indictment OCD, feeling bad because you’re not giving any attention to a crisis, or focusing too much on a crisis because it triggers OCD, and much more. Hope it...

In episode 417 I chat with Jesse Birnbaum and Sandy Robinson who have kindly agreed to share their OCD stories with us.  We discuss their OCD stories, living with OCD and chronic illnesses, going through therapy, self-compassion, setting up their special interest group for OCD and chronic illness, their experience of support groups, words of hope, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jesse-and-sandy-417  The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD...

In episode 416 I chat with Jonny Say. Jonny is a UK based therapist and co-director at The Integrative Centre for OCD Therapy.  We talk about The OCD Camp, positive emotions and experiences as triggers, Jonny’s personal experiences with this, perfectionism of experience, shame around positive emotions and experiences, therapy around this issue, he gives theme examples, self-compassion, and much more. Hope it helps.  Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jonny-416  The podcast is...

Hi all,  The OCD Camp UK is now open for applications. The camp is open to UK residents over 18 years of age (there is no upper age limit). It's 3 days of fun, community and learning OCD skills in nature.  If this sounds interesting to you, you can find out all the info and how to apply here: https://www.integrativecentreforocd.co.uk/the-ocd-camp. Applications close on the 25th January. Thanks for your support. 

In episode 415 I chat with Jack who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us.  We discuss his story, somatic themed OCD, contamination themed OCD, going through grief, ADHD, pure O, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/jack-415  The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the US and outside the US. To find out more about NOCD, their therapy plans and if they currently take your insurance head...

In episode 414 I chat with Duke who has kindly agreed to share his OCD story with us. Duke is a spoken word poet.  We discuss his story, his compulsions, drinking to cope, pOCD, real event themed OCD, a suicide attempt, getting treatment, therapy groups, how OCD targets numbers for him, Duke shares two spoken word pieces, we discuss type one diabetes, and how OCD latches onto his diabetes, the things that have helped him, and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes:...

In episode 413 I chat with Chrissie Hodges. Chrissie is a Peer Support specialist, founder of OCD Gamechangers, and Author of ‘Pure OCD: The Invisible Side of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder’. Chrissie was awarded the hero award at the 24th IOCDF conference in San Fran. We discuss what's new with her, Chrissie’s OCD research, shame and OCD, themes of OCD and their relationship to shame, the question of do themes matter, shame as a barrier to treatment, shame around taboo intrusive thoughts,...

In this midweek special episode I chat with licensed psychologist Dr Katia Moritz of the Neurobehavioral Institute (NBI) in Florida.  We talk about OCD and the holiday season, when excitement becomes a trigger for OCD, making values based choices, therapy homework over the holidays, how family can support their loved ones during the holidays, and much more. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/nbi-11  The midweek special episodes which go out at the end of the month on a Wednesday...

In episode 412 I chat with Laura who has kindly agreed to share her OCD story with us.  We discuss her story, relationship themed OCD, going inpatient, getting misdiagnosed, getting effective therapy for OCD, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the inner critic, compassion focused therapy (CFT), and much more. Hope it helps. Show notes: https://theocdstories.com/episode/laura-412  The podcast is made possible by NOCD. NOCD offers effective, convenient therapy available in the...

In episode 411 I chat with Ben Eckstein (LCSW). Ben is a therapist in Durham, North Carolina, specialising in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders. Ben founded his therapy centre Bull City Anxiety, and recently published a book called, ‘Worrying is optional’.  We discuss what is rumination, building awareness of when ruminating, keeping a log of rumination, working with rumination in therapy, the difference between OCD and generalised anxiety disorder...