Get to know OCD

Many people with OCD believe that the fact that they're disturbed by an intrusive thought proves they don't want it. But what happens when that fear, panic, or disgust starts to fade? In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains why OCD often latches onto your emotional reaction to intrusive thoughts, convincing you that you're not upset enough or that your response must mean something about who you are. He breaks down why intrusive thoughts don't reflect your desires and how learning to live with uncertainty can help break the cycle.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

Reassurance feels helpful in the moment. You ask someone if everything is okay, replay a memory to make sure you didn't do anything wrong, Google the same question for the tenth time, or tell yourself that your fear isn't true. The problem? OCD is never satisfied. The relief lasts for a moment, then the doubt comes back — and the cycle starts all over again. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains the many forms reassurance-seeking can take and doing so often feeds OCD.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

OCD doesn't just create fear — it can also quietly steal your ability to enjoy life. Whether it's replaying conversations, monitoring your feelings, avoiding things you love, or convincing yourself that you don't deserve happiness, OCD has a knack for pulling you out of the present moment. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains how OCD interferes with joy.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

Making the Olympics had been Ginny Fuchs' dream for years. But as she climbed the ranks of amateur boxing and moved to the Olympic Training Center, another battle was quietly getting worse. OCD was consuming more of her time, disrupting her sleep, and pulling her deeper into compulsions she could no longer control. Eventually, the disorder became so overwhelming that she feared it would derail the very goal she had dedicated her life to achieving.As Olympic qualification approached, she reached a breaking point and made the difficult decision to seek inpatient treatment. In this episode, Ginny shares her story in full. She also reflects on why OCD was not a "superpower" for her and what she's learned from facing one of the toughest opponents of her life — her own OCD.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

What does it take to become a great OCD therapist? Our very own NOCD therapists, Barbara Windeknecht and Alexi Pyles, say it's not what you probably think (prior OCD experience). In fact, both came from very different clinical backgrounds with little OCD experience. What mattered more was a willingness to learn, ask questions, stay curious, and keep showing up for members even when the work felt challenging.In this episode, Barbara and Alexi discuss the traits they believe help therapists thrive in OCD treatment. They also share why exposure and response prevention therapy feels different from traditional therapy, and why some of the best therapists aren't the ones who know everything, but rather, they're the ones who never stop learning.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.

Tell Williams thought he was just a worrier. As a child, he believed things had to feel perfectly "even" or something bad would happen to the people he loved. Later came contamination fears, intrusive thoughts, health anxiety, and rituals that slowly began shaping more of his life than he realized. It wasn't until adulthood — after being diagnosed with ADHD, autism, and eventually OCD — that everything started to click.In this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, Tell shares the OCD signs he missed for years, and how finally getting a proper diagnosis changed how he understood himself. He also opens up about talking about his OCD openly to his millions of followers, and why he thinks it's important for others to better understand the disorder.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

Barbara Windeknecht and Alexi Pyles have both worked traditional therapy jobs so they know what the tradeoffs usually look like: commuting, shared offices, rigid schedules, and trying to squeeze the rest of life around the work. At NOCD, they've found something different: a fully remote setup where they can see members from home, build schedules that actually fit their lives, and still feel connected to a larger team of clinicians doing the same work. In this video, they walk you through what that day-to-day looks like and why this setup helps them show up better for the people they treat.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.

A lot of people start ERP expecting immediate relief, so when their anxiety spikes in the beginning, they assume the treatment is failing. But as Dr. Patrick McGrath explains, that discomfort is often a sign that the therapy is actually working. OCD gets used to compulsions, reassurance, avoidance, and safety behaviors keeping fear under control, so when those habits are removed, the disorder tends to “fight back” harder before it starts losing power. In this video, Dr. McGrath explains why this happens so often during recovery. At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

Rumination can feel productive at first. It can feel like problem-solving, self-awareness, or “figuring things out.” But for people with OCD, there's a point where thinking stops being helpful and turns into a trap. The same question gets replayed over and over, every answer creates another “what if,” and no amount of analyzing ever brings real relief. In this short video, Dr. Patrick McGrath breaks down how OCD turns thinking into a compulsion, why rumination feels so convincing in the moment, and the key difference between healthy problem-solving and mentally spiraling. At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

One of the scariest OCD spirals can start with a simple thought: what if this isn't OCD at all? For many people, OCD doesn't just attack fears around harm or contamination — it can also latch onto the fear of “going crazy,” losing touch with reality, or developing something more serious like psychosis or schizophrenia. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath breaks down why OCD targets these fears so aggressively and why trying to prove to yourself that you're okay only keeps the cycle alive. He also explains the key difference between OCD and psychotic disorders, and how therapy helps people stop treating every intrusive thought like an emergency that needs to be solved.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

ERP therapy is different from what most people imagine. Instead of just talking about fears, it helps people with OCD gradually face the thoughts, situations, and sensations they've been avoiding. In this video, NOCD therapists Barbara Windeknecht and Alexi Pyles explain what that looks like in real life — from contamination exposures and “just right” OCD to emetophobia, social anxiety, and phobias.They also share why their work is so rewarding: patients start re-doing things OCD once took away from them, like going back to work, school, relationships, and daily routines. The conversation also covers why virtual ERP can be just as effective as in-person treatment. 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.

When Molly was a teenager, a single intrusive thought sent her into years of fear, panic, and silence. What started as one terrifying “what if?” quickly spiraled into constant doubts about who she was, what her thoughts meant, and whether she was secretly a horrible person. In this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, Molly opens up about living with pedophilia OCD — a taboo thought she hid for years and years because she genuinely believed it meant something terrible about her. She also shares what it was like spending her teenage years trapped in nonstop fear and mental checking, why the thoughts felt so painfully real, and how finally learning what OCD actually was changed the course of her life.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

One of the hardest parts of OCD is that compulsions rarely feel irrational in the moment — they feel responsible. Checking the stove again, replaying a conversation, researching symptoms, repeating a ritual “just in case.” Over time, OCD convinces you that these behaviors are the reason nothing bad has happened yet, which makes stopping them feel reckless, selfish, or even dangerous. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath breaks down the false sense of responsibility at the center of OCD and why resisting them is ultimately the thing that gives you your freedom back.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

Ciara Parsons thought she was just anxious, overly cautious, or a little superstitious. But underneath all of it was OCD — constantly forcing her to imagine every possible thing that could go wrong and making her feel responsible for preventing it. Whether it was flying on planes, going on tour, becoming a mother, or simply leaving the house, her brain treated every situation like a potential disaster waiting to happen.In this interview, Ciara opens up about what it was like living inside that constant loop of fear, rituals, and “what if” thinking, and how OCD slowly took over more and more of her life. She also shares how the right kind of therapy helped her stop treating every intrusive thought like an emergency and finally start enjoying moments she used to spend surviving.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

For a long time, OCD made life feel overwhelming and exhausting until Cody Fournier finally found a type of treatment that actually worked. What started as his own search for relief turned into something much bigger. After experiencing firsthand what it's like to come out the other side, he realized he wanted to help other people do the same. In this video, Cody shares how his journey with OCD led him to become a therapist for NOCD, what surprised him most about treating others, and why seeing real change in his clients has been the most rewarding part of the work. At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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/YTWatch full interview: https://youtu.be/Tw5FfJyl0xwFollow 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.

Kerry Osborn believed her OCD was helping her — giving her a sense of control in situations that felt uncertain and overwhelming. What started after a traumatic experience slowly turned into a system of rules, rituals, and “if I do this, then nothing bad will happen” thinking that took over more and more of her life. It didn't feel irrational at the time. It felt necessary.In this episode, Kerry shares how OCD convinced her she had control, why that belief was so hard to let go of, and what changed when she finally started confronting it in therapy. It's an honest look at how convincing OCD can be — and what it takes to break out of it.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

OCD flare-ups can feel random, like something just flipped overnight, but when you look closer, there's usually a build-up. A stressful week, bad sleep, a life change, even something small that threw off your routine. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath walks through the patterns behind those spikes and why OCD tends to show up strongest when your system is already under pressure. At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

Alyssa Lentz had enough of OCD interfering with her life personally so she never imagined treating it professionally. Like many therapists, her early training barely scratched the surface of what it actually takes to treat OCD effectively. But after pursuing specialized training and surrounding herself with others doing the same work, everything started to click.In this episode, Alyssa shares what it's like to go from living with OCD to treating it every day — how her understanding of the disorder evolved, what makes exposure and response prevention (ERP) so effective, and why having the right support and community can completely change how you show up as a therapist. It's a full-circle story that highlights both the challenges and the impact of doing treatment the right way.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.

You might think OCD compulsions are easy to spot — things like checking, washing, or repeating actions. But many compulsions happen entirely in your head, making them much harder to recognize. From mentally reviewing conversations to trying to “cancel out” bad thoughts or reassure yourself that everything is okay, these invisible habits can quietly keep OCD going without you even realizing it. In this short video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains how mental compulsions can go unnoticed and end up fueling the OCD cycle. He walks through common examples and shows how recognizing these patterns is a critical step toward breaking free.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

OCD doesn't just affect how you think, it can take over how you spend your time. What starts as a few minutes of checking, cleaning, or mental reassurance can quickly turn into hours lost every single day. Add that up every day for years, and you start to realize — OCD isn't just taking your time, it's taking your life. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath breaks down why OCD's time-consuming patterns are so hard to break and what it's actually costing you in your life.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

Contamination OCD is NOT just about germs. It can also show up as something far less obvious — like “bad energy,” negative emotions, or even traits you don't want being transferred from one person or place to another. It's what we call emotional contamination. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains how this form of OCD works, why it can make everyday situations feel unsafe, and how that sense of contamination can spread so easily. At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

When Alessandra Rizzotti first started her therapy career, OCD was barely covered in her training — just a brief mention, without much depth or real guidance on how to treat it. Like many therapists, she had experience with approaches like CBT and DBT, but didn't truly understand how OCD works or how often it gets missed, misdiagnosed, or treated the wrong way.In this episode, Alessandra shares how that changed 180 degrees after joining NOCD. She talks about what surprised her most, how her understanding of OCD completely shifted, and what it actually takes to feel confident treating a condition that's often far more complex than people realize.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

William Schultz knew what he was supposed to do to treat his OCD — and still couldn't do it. He understood ERP, understood the logic behind it, and understood that avoiding his fears was keeping the cycle going. But... every time it came down to actually facing those fears, William would back down. For years. Until he realized OCD wasn't going anywhere on its own.In this episode, William walks through the moment that finally shifted things for him — when he stopped trying to feel ready and made a decision anyway. He shares what it's like to choose uncertainty on purpose, what “taking a calculated risk” actually means in OCD treatment, and why that moment of commitment is often the difference between staying stuck and finally moving forward.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

Washing your hands, cleaning your home, and being mindful about germs — all of that can be good hygiene. But at what point does it cross the line into being OCD? It's not always clear, and OCD feeds off that thin line. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath breaks down how to tell the difference between normal hygiene and compulsive behaviors driven by fear. He explains why OCD often pushes people to go “above and beyond,” turning reasonable habits into rigid routines that are hard to stop.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

Hair pulling, skin picking, nail biting — these aren't just “bad habits.” They're known as body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and for many people, they feel nearly impossible to stop. But it is possible, and there's actually research to prove it. Dr. Jamie Feusner and Clare Beatty have studied BFRB, and they're here to break down what the science shows. They explain why these behaviors develop, why they can feel automatic and hard to control, and how evidence-based treatment like habit reversal training (HRT) has been proven to be so effective at minimizing the behaviors.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

Have you ever had a fear that felt completely real, even when you knew it most likely wasn't? John Green has. In this video, John shares how OCD fears can blur the line between thoughts and reality, and why no amount of reassurance ever feels like enough. He opens up about the constant checking and excessive googling that once consumed hours of his day, and why trying to “logic away” his fear never worked.John also talks about what changed after he started exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, and how gradually facing his fears, in a safe environment with a specialty-trained professional, gave him a greater ability to exist in the world.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.

Most people think OCD treatment is just about exposure, but... that's only part of the story. The real change happens when you stop doing the compulsions and safety behaviors that keep you stuck. In this episode, Dr. Patrick McGrath shares practical ways to approach therapy differently — fromwhat it means to sit with discomfort without trying to fix it to how your response in those moments is what actually drives progress.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, 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.

OCD doesn't just affect one person, it can quietly take over an entire household. What starts as small accommodations to reduce anxiety can turn into daily routines shaped around OCD, pulling parents and family members into cycles of reassurance, avoidance, and accommodation that keep the disorder in full control.In this episode, Marni Jacob, a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating OCD in children and families, explains how this dynamic develops and what it takes to break it. She shares how families can begin stepping out of the cycle, reduce accommodations, and support their child in a way that builds confidence instead of reinforcing OCD.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.

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.

When Sonya Keith first started seeing clients with OCD, she thought she was prepared. She had training, experience, and the usual tools most clinicians rely on. But the longer she worked with OCD, the clearer it became that something was missing. The cases felt heavier. The reassurance traps were easier to fall into than she expected. And the confidence she thought she'd feel as a therapist didn't always show up.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.

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.

Eight to ten hours, every single day. That's how much time OCD used to take from John Green.In this video, John opens up about what life was like when intrusive thoughts demanded his attention, when fear felt too real to detach from, and when OCD controlled his schedule and crowded out joy.But OCD's grip on John's life wasn't permanent. He shares how seeking help changed everything—leading him to a correct diagnosis and the right treatment. Through exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, John learned how to respond differently to intrusive thoughts and reclaim the parts of his life that OCD had once taken over.If OCD is stealing your time, your peace, or your ability to enjoy the things that matter to you, John's story is a reminder that change is possible, and reaching out for help can set it in motion.At NOCD, we specialize in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the most effective treatment for OCD. 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.

Happy holidays from NOCD! In this special video, Dr. Patrick McGrath offers some expert tips to get through the holidays if you have OCD. He talks about why this time of year tends to spike symptoms, how holiday stress can quietly turn into compulsions, and what it looks like to show up without trying to make everything feel “just right.” The goal isn't to make the holidays as perfect as the movies, but to help you stay engaged with what matters while OCD is in the background.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.