AT Parenting Survival Podcast: Parenting | Child Anxiety | Child OCD | Kids & Family

Is your child saying things like:I don't feel real? Is this a dream? Am I dead? Is this really happening?They may be experiencing depersonalization, a common but often misunderstood symptom in children with OCD and anxiety.In this episode, I break down what depersonalization looks like in kids with OCD and anxiety, why it happens, and—most importantly—how you can help. Whether it's tied to panic, existential OCD, or chronic anxiety, understanding this experience is the first step in supporting your child through it.You'll learn:What depersonalization feels like (from a child's perspective)Why kids with OCD and anxiety are more prone to itGrounding tools that actually helpWhat to avoid saying or doing when it happensGrounding resource: https://releasedpdr.com***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?

Confidence can take a major hit when a child is struggling with OCD or anxiety. In this episode, I sit down with teen coach Sharon West to explore how we can nurture self-confidence in our kids—even as they battle intrusive thoughts, worry, and fear.Sharon shares insights from her 15+ years working with teens—as a life coach, foster mom, youth leader, and mom of three. Together, we talk about how to give kids space to build competence, how to model self-compassion and resilience, and why peer connection is a vital part of helping our kids feel a sense of belonging.Sharon also introduces her virtual teen program, Connected & Skilled—a supportive group experience where teens can grow in confidence, practice life skills, and connect with like-minded peers in a warm, judgment-free space.In this episode, you'll learn:How anxiety and OCD impact a child's self-confidencePractical ways parents can build confidence without rescuingThe role of peer acceptance—and how we can't create it, but we can support itHow Sharon's “Connected & Skilled” program helps teens build skills and self-worth in community

Tiffany Jenkins has been the authentic face of mental health struggles on the internet for years. She offers a candid, raw and often humorous view on her struggles of sobriety and mental health, helping normalize these issues for millions of people.I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have Tiffany back on the AT Parenting Survival Podcast to discuss her new book, A Clean Mess, and dive deeper into how her anxiety, OCD and depression showed up after her kids were born.We explored:-Her experience with Postpartum Depression and the apathy it created-How she was diagnosed with Harm OCD after years of thinking she had just anxiety-Coping with a partner who doesn't have the capacity to understand or empathize with mental health struggles-How she talks about her mental health to her 9 and 10 year old children-How she navigates her mental health while millions of people watchCheck out Tiffany's Instagram account here and grab a copy of both her books, High Achiever and her new memoir, A Clean Mess.***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?

Is it autism or OCD? Sometimes the behaviors can look so similar, it's hard to tell. In this episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast, I break down the key differences between autism and child OCD — and why understanding the distinction is crucial for getting the right support.You'll learn:Why repetitive behaviors show up in both autism and OCD (but for very different reasons)How motivation, awareness, and sensory issues help differentiate the twoWhy misdiagnosis can delay effective treatmentWhat to do if your child has both autism and OCDIf you're feeling confused or overwhelmed, you're not alone — and getting clarity is the first step toward helping your child thrive.To learn more about how to support kids with OCD, regardless of an Autism diagnosis, check out my online course, How to Teach Kids to Crush OCD.***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?

When you're trying to support a child with OCD, communication is everything. But sometimes, even with the best intentions, we accidentally shut it down. In this episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast, I'll walk you through four common OCD communication stoppers—like punishing, over-rationalizing, or jumping straight into coaching—and explain why they backfire. Learn how to foster open, supportive conversations about your child's OCD that actually help your child feel heard and empowered.Listen to: Disgust-based OCD episodeRegister here for my free webinar on difficult behavior caused by anxiety or OCD.***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?

Raising a child with anxiety or OCD can feel incredibly isolating. Parents often find themselves without the support, education, or guidance they desperately need. In this episode, I'm diving into the three key areas where parents struggle most—and how my AT Parenting Community is designed to fill those gaps.Here's what we cover in this episode:The crushing isolation that comes with parenting a child with anxiety or OCD—and how over a thousand parents from around the world are finding connection through our community.The need for trusted education, including access to over $500 worth of self-paced courses, a huge library of recorded classes, and weekly live lessons created specifically for our members.How to get real, evidence-based guidance, from messaging me directly in the app, to engaging with others, or getting support in our live parent and child support groups.You'll also hear why therapists recommend our community as a powerful supplement to treatment, and why families who couldn't access care find it to be a lifeline.Whether you're here for one element—like our live support group calls—or the full experience, this community was built for you.Doors are closing Thursday, May 15th at 10pm PT.

OCD thrives on urgency. The faster your child reacts to an intrusive thought, the more powerful OCD becomes. But what if your child learned to pause—even for a few seconds—before doing an OCD compulsion?In this episode, I'll walk you through how to introduce the concept of “delay” as a gentle, approachable first step in helping your child take back control. You'll learn how to teach it, what to expect, and why it works.Want to learn how to create an effective incentive plan? Listen to this podcast episode.Want more in-depth support?Register for my FREE video series: Survival Tools for Parents Raising Kids with Anxiety or OCD***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?

In this episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Sara Conley, a licensed clinical psychologist and clinical manager at NOCD, to discuss a groundbreaking new study on virtual Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy for children and teens with OCD.We explore the study's powerful findings—including a 37.3% median reduction in OCD symptoms in just 13 sessions—and how virtual ERP therapy is changing the landscape of OCD treatment for families. Dr. Conley shares how NOCD's model brings accessible, evidence-based therapy directly into families' homes, and why parent involvement is a key piece of successful treatment.We also talk about:What makes virtual ERP different from in-person therapy How the NOCD app supports families between sessionsThe importance of integrating therapy into real life without overwhelming familiesHow over 90% of American families with commercial health insurance can access NOCD's treatmentWhat this study means for the future of OCD treatment and the broader mental health crisis in youthWhether your child is newly diagnosed or you're already navigating OCD treatment, this episode offers encouragement, insights, and practical hope.To learn more about NOCD and how to access therapy:Visit www.treatmyocd.com***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?

If your child refuses to shower, melts down over clothing, or avoids homework, you might assume they're being defiant. But what if it's actually OCD driving their behavior? In this episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast for Anxiety and OCD, I break down how OCD-driven avoidance and compulsions can look like oppositional behavior—and why this misunderstanding is so common.You'll learn:

If your child has OCD, you've likely witnessed an OCD-driven meltdown—intense distress triggered by an intrusive thought, fear, or the inability to complete a compulsion. These meltdowns can be overwhelming for both you and your child. And while it's natural to want to soothe their anxiety in the moment, some responses can unintentionally reinforce OCD.In this AT Parenting Survival Podcast episode, we'll cover:-What's happening in your child's brain during a meltdown-What not to do (even if it feels helpful)-Effective strategies to de-escalate the meltdown and support your child's resilience-Tips for preventing future meltdowns

Anxiety and OCD can abruptly put the brakes on our children's education.This is one of the most disruptive and concerning aspects of our children's OCD or anxiety. It is a slippery slope that can gain momentum and get out of control rather quickly.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast, I explore how to identify the core fear around school refusal, how to decipher if it is a school issue versus an anxiety or OCD issue, and how to navigate the issue without making school avoidance worse.To support your child or teen more in-depth have them take my free class:

How do we help our children with OCD have a better quality of life? Our child's OCD is more than just Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. It is more than just their intrusive thoughts and their compulsions.How do we help them with self-esteem? The feeling of guilt and shame? The struggles of navigating school and family relationships? In Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz's new book, Living Well with OCD, he tackles the bigger question - how can people live a fulfilling life with OCD?Jonathan Abramowitz is a psychologist with a private practice in North Carolina. He is also the Professor and Associated Chair of Psychology at the University of North Carolina (UNC). In this week's episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast I invited Dr. Abramowitz to share his insights on how we can help our kids live a fulfilling life, despite OCD.Check out Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz's book, Living Well with OCD here.

There is nothing more disruptive and upsetting than OCD latching on to a loved one. Contamination isn't just about germs - it can be about people, people our kids love. Families get thrown into chaos when OCD decides a parent or sibling is the source of contamination.Out of all themes, this one has the power to upend the entire family. In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore how OCD determines family members are contaminated and what parents can do to counteract the destructive impact it has in the home.

Struggling with Anxiety and OCD can make kids feel hopeless. Hopelessness can lead to depression and a lack of motivation to work on their issues.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore what causes hopelessness in our kids with OCD and anxiety and what we can do to help them navigate those emotions.

As you become more educated about anxiety and OCD, you most likely will start seeing it all around you. It can be hard to stomach seeing a child struggling with anxiety or OCD, especially if their parents aren't aware of what they are truly dealing with.So what do you do in those situations? I actually get asked that question more often than you might think! In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I'll explore the delicate balance of seeing anxiety or OCD in a child and how, and if, to educate the parent on what might be going on.

I quickly fell in love with Mel Robbins' book The Let Them Theory. It is such a simple, and yet powerful approach to living your life. Throughout the book I thought about how the Let Them Theory could be adapted to parents, and in particular, those of us raising kids with anxiety or OCD.I started to implement this approach with my kids in a child friendly way. It made a huge impact on how I showed up for their anxiety and OCD struggles. It also helped me let go of what I cannot control. In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I talk about how to implement elements of the Let Them Theory with our kids with anxiety and OCD.

OCD can convince our kids that they have control over the uncontrollable. That is at the heart of magical thinking OCD compulsions. Magical thinking is when OCD convinces a person that if they do or don't do something - they can prevent something from happening. That something could be literally anything related to their theme. They might be preventing themselves from throwing up. They might be saving your life. They might be preventing a health issue. It is different for each person, but the compulsion is the same - do this (or don't do this) or ELSE.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I'm exploring how magical thinking shows up in OCD and how you can help your kids overcome it.YouTube videos discussed in episode:When OCD Tells You to Do Something or Something Bad Will HappenOffense and Defense for OCD

Not every OCD theme is about a fear, sometimes it is about a feeling. That is the case with Tourettic OCD. Tourettic OCD is not triggered by an intrusive thought, but rather a somatic urge. Compulsions can include sudden, repetitive movements or vocalizations.It can be tricky to figure out what is a tic and what is tourettic OCD. That is why I invited Dr. John Piacentini to the show. Dr. John Piacentini is a Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA School of Medicine and Director of the Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Program at the UCLA Semel Institute. In addition, he is Chief of Child Psychology for the Semel Institute Medical Psychology Program and Chair of the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital. In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast Dr. Piacentini breaks down the difference between Tourette's, tics and OCD - and helps clarify what Tourettic OCD is and how it is treated.To learn more about Dr. Piacentini and The Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Program at the UCLA Semel Institute click here.***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?

Effective communication is one of the most essential aspects of parenting a child with OCD or anxiety. When communication breaks down, our ability to support them directly becomes limited.The way we communicate, the words we choose, and our ability to read our child's cues while respecting their pace all play a crucial role in how effective that communication will be.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast, I'll explore some important strategies for fostering effective communication and share practical tips to help you overcome any barriers that may be hindering your connection with your child.

We don't just leave our childhood in the past. It comes with us, altering our lens of how we view life. This includes how we view and interact with our child's anxiety or OCD.When we learn to identify the “smudges” our childhood is adding to our lens, we are better able to separate out our issues from our child's issues, becoming more present and intentional in the moment.In this episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast, I will help you explore the 5 main categories where our childhood impacts how we parent our kids with anxiety or OCD, as well as what to do about it!⚓️ Want some free in-depth support on this topic? We are talking all about this in my brand new FREE series, How to Be an Effective Anchor for Your Child with Anxiety or OCD. Just register at www.atparentingsurvivalseries.com***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?

When parents disagree on how to approach their child's anxiety or OCD, they do more than irritate each other, it impacts their child's progress with anxiety or OCD.In this week's episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast I dive into the top 5 topics parents often disagree on when it comes to their child's OCD or anxiety. We'll also dive into why these are such common topics for disagreement as well as ways parents can mitigate the impact it has on their child's anxiety or OCD.

Trying to help a child with OCD or anxiety is not an easy task. One reason for that is because we are not steering the ship. This is not our battle. This is not our struggle. Although trust me, I know we have our own struggles on this journey raising a child with OCD or anxiety.But, we don't get to override our child's autonomy to smooth things out. I wish we could.The single hardest part about raising children with OCD or anxiety is we have to follow their pace. We have to follow their level of engagement. If we overstep, over push or over cheerlead, we risk shutting them down.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I talk about how to know when to step back and how to support your child while their foot is firmly on the brake.

We all want our kids with anxiety or OCD to believe in themselves. We want them to try hard things. We want them to push through their fears. But we only have so much control on how motivated they are to do those things to help themselves.We do, however, have control over how we show up to our child's battle with anxiety or OCD. When we over accommodate, over enable and cocoon our kids from all discomfort and failure, we rob them of the opportunity to develop resilience.It is a balancing act and it looks different for each child.In this week's episode of the AT Parenting Survival Podcast I talk about how to find the sweet spot of empowering our kids to face their anxiety or OCD, while not pushing them over the edge.

How we reframe anxious thoughts vs OCD thoughts are vastly different. Understanding the nuances of how we talk to these two disorders differently is crucial for any parent trying to help their child.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore the differences between anxiety and OCD and how we would coach our kids through anxious thoughts versus OCD thoughts.

Does it really matter if you understand the core fear related to your child's anxiety or OCD. The short answer - yes. Of course we will treat anxiety with anxiety tools regardless of theme or core fear. And we will treat OCD as OCD regardless of theme or core fear. But understanding the core fear in anxiety or OCD is like the difference between using a compass to get where you are going versus a GPS. Core fears help us identify and pinpoint exactly what fuels all the anxiety and OCD themes; what fuels all the compulsions. What fuels all the discomfort. When we know the core fear we have the upper hand against anxiety or OCD.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I outline why it is helpful to know the core fear of our child's anxiety or OCD and what steps to take to discover them!

Just because it is the holiday season doesn't mean our child's anxiety and OCD take a break. The holidays can stir up a variety of issues for our kids depending on their particular anxiety and OCD themes. Down time can cause more anxious or intrusive thoughts. The whirlwind of parties, overstimulation and no routine can make emotions run high. It can be tricky to deal with contamination, restrictive eating, panic attacks and upsetting thoughts around relatives and friends. In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I'm exploring some common struggles kids with anxiety or OCD have over Christmas and winter break and what you can do to reduce these issues.

As parents we can be hard on ourselves. The parenting journey raising kids with anxiety and OCD can come with many ups and downs. Many of us blame ourselves when our child's anxiety or OCD doesn't get better.But the truth is you can do absolutely everything to help your child with anxiety or OCD and they still don't improve.We are only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to our child's anxiety or OCD.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore the narrative that we often tell ourselves that says we are a failure when our kids are struggling.

Often it is hard to get our kids into OCD therapy, and when we do, it can be an uphill battle to get them to practice those skills in between sessions.That is why I'm so excited to offer another tool to your at-home toolbox! In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I'm sharing with you my latest resource, the OCD Card Deck. We'll explore how you can use this card deck at home and how it can sharpen your child's self-esteem, motivation and ERP (Exposure Response Prevention) skills!

We all want our kids to have strong sibling relationships, but often anxiety and OCD can get in the way. Siblings might feel targeted by the child with anxiety or OCD. They might be on the receiving end of aggression or they might just feel sidelined by how much attention their sibling requires.Just like with anxiety and OCD, we have our role to play when it comes to facilitating strong sibling bonds. Learning what our role and what it isn't, is so important!In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I talked to Corinna Jenkins Tucker, PhD, CFLE. She is the Director of the Sibling Aggression and Abuse Research and Advocacy Initiative (SAARA) at the Crimes against Children Research Center and Professor Emerita, Human Development and Family Studies, at the University of New Hampshire. Her primary research interests include sibling relationships, parenting, and mental health. She has a particular interest in sibling aggression and abuse experiences across the lifespan. Dr. Tucker has conducted research and published extensively on sibling relationships for over 25 years.Learn more about Dr. Tucker's work here at SAARA. Check out her Psychology Today blog on siblings and follow her on Instagram***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?

Are you able to experience happiness while your child is struggling with anxiety or OCD? Do you feel guilty or tell yourself stories about your ability to be “happy” while your child is suffering?Many of us tell ourselves things like, “we can't be happy if our child is struggling with anxiety or OCD.” But is that actually true? And more importantly, is that belief even helpful?In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore the idea of happiness, especially when the ones we care about the most are struggling.

It can be hard enough to help a child with OCD, but what if they are autistic as well? It can be confusing to figure out where autistic traits end and OCD compulsions begin. It can also be a struggle to navigate two worlds that don't always intersect.That is why I was thrilled to invite Jan Stewart to the AT Parenting Survival Podcast. Jan is a highly regarded mental health and neurodiversity advocate and mom to two, now grown children with multiple diagnoses. She is the author of Hold on Tight: A Parent's Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness. In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I sat down with Jan to discuss how parents can decipher autistic traits from OCD compulsions, how ERP is adapted for autistic children and how to take care of ourselves and our other relationships while trying to stay afloat.Resources:Check out Jan Stewart's book Hold on Tight: A Parent's Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness. Jan Stewart's column in Today's ParentIOCDF Special Interest Group OCD and Autism

We may not have full control over our child's recovery around anxiety or OCD, but we can control how we show up to their struggles. This can be tricky when our mind is bogged down with what-if scenarios. That is why it is so important to pay attention to the narratives we are spinning around our child's anxiety or OCD and tap into what emotions are showing up for us, as we show up for them.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore the stories that so many of us raising kids with anxiety or OCD tell ourselves, and how to develop a daily practice to reframe the narrative.

The number one struggle I hear from parents is, “My child won't accept help for their anxiety or OCD.” What are we supposed to do when anxiety or OCD has hijacked the house and everyone who inhabits it?Dr. Alec Pollard has dedicated his career and research to this very question. He is the co-developer of the Family Well-Being Approach (FWBA) and is the founding director of the Center for OCD & Anxiety-Related Disorders at Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute, and professor emeritus of family and community medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He also happens to be one of my favorite researchers, as he has a down-to-earth way about explaining and helping families in need. He's also quite funny.In Dr. Pollard's new book, When a Loved One Won't Seek Mental Health Treatment, he offers family members a roadmap on how to get their life back while promoting their loved one's recovery.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I had the joy of sitting down with Dr. Pollard and exploring some of the key points in his approach outlined in his book. I know every parent will get some important takeaways from our discussion!

Anxiety and OCD can take a TON of resilience. So when we have kids who generally give up easily, this can impact how they handle their mental health struggles. Some kids have this go get'em attitude and get up every time they are knocked down, while other kids give up before they even begin. In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast we'll discuss why some kids give up so easily and what concrete things we can do to help them shift this behavior.Resources:People Who Failed Before They Succeeded29 Famous People Who Failed Before Succeeding50 People Who Experienced Failure Before SucceedingBooks:Mistakes that Worked: 40 Familiar Inventions & How They Came to BeThe Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ckFREE series:

Many of our kids thrive in non-traditional learning environments. And some of our kids are not able to go to an in-person school due to the acuity of their anxiety or OCD.One of the cons of at-home learning is the isolation it can bring. Isolation can increase anxiety and OCD and make our kids feel disconnected. It is helpful to have a proactive plan on how to connect our kids with others so we reduce the impact of isolation.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I discuss the risk of isolation with our children who are homeschooling or doing online learning and what concrete steps we can take to minimize disconnection.***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?

It is hard enough supporting our kids with anxiety or OCD, but what happens when they go away to college? We still need to support our kids, but our relationship and physical proximity has changed. In this week's AT Parenting Survival podcast I explore the many ways in which our mindset and role shifts when our kids go off to college. We'll discuss effective ways to support them and foster independence.

It is not uncommon for kids with anxiety or OCD to also have issues with picking their skin or pulling their hair. These behaviors are classified as BFRBs, body-focused, repetitive behaviors. Although BFRBs are a common comorbid condition to anxiety and OCD, it is a separate disorder with its own set of therapy approaches. In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast, we celebrate BFRB week by having one of my favorite people on, Aneela Idnani from Habitaware. Aneela has struggled with trichotillomania her whole life. She took her pain and turned it into purpose; helping other people with BFRBs. She created a bracelet that helps people with BFRBs become more aware of when they are doing those behaviors. She also built a beautiful community filled with free support groups for kids and teens as well as services to support parents.Resources:HabitawareFree BFRB kid support group Free BFRB teen support groupParent Huddle SeriesThe BFRB Change CollectiveBFRB ChangemakersPickingme.orgThe TLC Foundation***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go to: https://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

Often parents who are raising kids with both PDA and OCD get conflicting advice. This can push a parent who is already stressed, over the edge. Are accommodations good or are they bad? One set of advice talks about leaning into accommodations, while the other set says accommodations are something to eventually stop. The reality is PDA accommodations and OCD accommodations aren't the same. OCD accommodations are specifically talking about participating in a child's OCD compulsions. Those are called accommodations. When we participate in our child's OCD compulsions we are inadvertently growing their OCD and the OCD behavior will worsen. That is different from the PDA accommodations needed to give them a sense of autonomy while fostering a low-demand environment. That doesn't mean PDA doesn't bring another layer of struggle when it comes to addressing OCD symptoms - it does! But the use of the word accommodations have different meanings.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore the world of PDA and OCD and try to dispel any misunderstandings that exist when straddling both worlds.PDA Resources:PDA SocietyChild Mind Institute: PDANational Autistic Society: PDAPDA North America***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Stuart Ralph, from the podcast The OCD Stories to talk about his journey from OCD sufferer, OCD podcaster to therapist.We explore how treating kids and teens with OCD requires a different, more flexible approach. Stuart also offers some helpful tips on how to navigate the UK mental health system.Stuart Ralph's practice, Integrative Centre for OCD offers therapy to kids, teens and young adults regardless of where in the world they are located. To learn more go to his practice website here.Resources:Integrative Centre for OCDNICE guidelines OCD UKOCD ActionThe OCD Stories***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?

OCD doesn't live in a bubble; it lives in our home. It lives in our families. It is not an isolated disorder. It involves the whole family system.That is why family involvement is key to a child's OCD long term success. Often this is the missing component, even when a child is being treated for OCD.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore how OCD involves the family and what parents can do to leverage their support.

Anxiety and OCD can create hopelessness. It can feel like such an overwhelming task to overcome these struggles. Often we focus on the end goal.Get them to school. Get them to eat. Get them to be fully functioning.But there are a million smaller goals that get them to that bigger goal. It is easy to focus on the big picture instead of looking at the minute day-to-day goals. But it is in those small steps that progress is really made.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I talk about how crucial it is to celebrate the small wins our kids make on their journey to crush anxiety and OCD.

OCD doesn't just involve our kids, it involves us. OCD reassurance seeking is a sneaky compulsion. It gets us to do OCD's dirty work. We often don't even know we are talking to OCD.It can feel bad to pull back our reassurance, even if we know it is OCD. It can also be tough on our kids. In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I talk about a tool I created to help kids reduce their OCD reassurance seeking.Youtube video for kids on how reassurance can be a compulsion: https://www.anxioustoddlers.com/a-compulsion/

It can be so hard to see our kids tumble and fall. No one wants to see their kids fail. But we rob our kids the ability to learn when we protect them from failure.This can impact how we show up for their anxiety or OCD. It can impact how much freedom we give them. It can also decipher how much we micromanage what they eat, how much they sleep and how long they are on electronics.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore the idea that we have to let our kids fail in order to succeed. We also discuss how we have to give our kids some level of freedom in order to teach them to regulate themselves.

Sometimes we have to do something really scary in order to be our true selves. I started working on a memoir about social anxiety about five years ago. I finally finished the memoir but then six days later my husband passed away. The memoir collected dust as I tried to piece myself and my family back together. A year and a half after he passed, I revisited the project. I wrote an epilogue detailing my grief journey and how it got even more complicated by my fear of being alone.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I talk about why I wrote my social anxiety memoir and reveal some of my biggest fears about it being released.Want to get my $127 social anxiety course for FREE? Pre-order my new memoir, Out of My Shell: Overcoming Social Anxiety from Childhood to Adulthood and send us the receipt and you'll get the course for free! Just go to socialanxietyreality.com to learn more. This offer ends Oct 19, 2024.***This podcast episode is sponsored by NOCD. NOCD provides online OCD therapy in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. To schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if NOCD is a right fit for you and your child, go tohttps://go.treatmyocd.com/at_parentingThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.Parents, do you need more support?

If we are openly discussing our child's anxiety or OCD with them, we might assume that we aren't missing anything. But it is important to note that just because we see the tip of the iceberg, doesn't mean we see everything.I am constantly missing, and then discovering, yet another thing that is actually my child's anxiety or OCD in disguise. In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast, I explore why kids will continue to hide anxiety and OCD struggles and some concrete tips on how to address this.

She was visibly shaking. Her hands were trembling and she was asking me to help. Her face was so pale that my own panic started to set in. This was the start of an anxiety attack.Anxiety and panic attacks can overwhelm both the person having them and the person trying to support them.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I'll explore how anxiety and panic attacks grow and what we can do to support our kids who have them.

Anxiety and OCD are hard enough to deal with, but when you sprinkle ADHD into the mix everything can be magnified. As parents raising kids with comorbid conditions, this adds another layer of struggle. You might find things that work for other kids with anxiety or OCD doesn't work as easily for your child. It can require a different way to approach anxiety or OCD.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore five areas where ADHD complicates anxiety and OCD progress. I'll break down ways you can tweak your approaches to address the extra layer of ADHD.

It is already tough trying to help our kids with anxiety or OCD, but it is even harder stomaching unhelpful comments and advice.Sometimes people are trying to be helpful and don't mean to be upsetting. Some people are uneducated. And some people are judgemental and critical.Some people deserve education. Some people deserve boundaries. And some people should just be ignored.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore the different reasons why people give us unhelpful comments and advice and I break down my 4 different response types.Want to dive deeper into this topic?

It has been so nice to see all these films addressing our children's mental health issues. The more these struggles can be normalized, the less stigma they'll be for our kids!A couple of week's ago I discussed whether you should show your child with OCD the film Turtles All the Way Down. If you missed that one, you can check it out here. (Link to PSP 373 when it is live)In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I explore how parents can use the movie Inside Out 2 to discuss and motivate their kids to work on anxiety and even OCD.

Raising a child with anxiety or OCD can bring with it so many struggles, including our own grief and overwhelm. It is easy, and tempting, to bury our own raw emotions around our child's anxiety or OCD struggles. But honoring and processing our feelings is equally important.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I have an honest conversation about the thoughts many of us struggle with but hate to admit. I talk about having compassion for your own journey while developing insight into what lens you are seeing your child through.We'll dive deeper into this in my upcoming FREE series:

John Green's new movie Turtles All the Way Down goes a long way in helping the OCD community educate the world about OCD. But should your child or teen with OCD see the movie?Well, I have mixed thoughts on that.In this week's AT Parenting Survival Podcast I dive into the pros and cons of the movie Turtles All the Way Down and which kids would benefit from watching it.