OCD Straight Talk

Chris talks through the assumptions we have to make in order to build and believe the nature of our intrusive thoughts. kentuckyocd.com

Chris identifies three common pitfalls or challenges that face the average patient engaging ERP for OCD symptoms.

Chris discusses another 'etreme' case in which OCD is "running the house."

Chris discusses a case example of an OCDer who has not made progress, despite many opportunities and much patience on the part of his family. The question in this instance becomes not, What should he be doing to get better? It's, What should HIS FAMILY be doing?

Chris discusses the importance not only of the 5 Pillars, but of the grit and resilience required of patients in order to successfully adhere to them. Every anxious person has grit, by virtue of his or her facing it all day long while simultaneously working and contributing to a family. But only some demonstrate that grit in therapy. KentuckyOCD.com

Chris unpacks the history of ERP, and discusses some of the particulars of the 1966 study that marked the founding of what would become the world's Gold Standard treatment for OCD. Also, Feedspot selected the 25 Best OCD Podcasts from thousands of candidates. Thanks to fans, OCD Straight Talk slid comfortably into #5. To check out Feedspots selections, click here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/ocd_podcasts/

Chris answers the question, What makes a good OCD therapist? The answer is multifaceted, and it might surprise you. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to Chris@KentuckyOCD.com. Also, Thank you. Out of thousands of podcasts globally, you've made OCD Straight Talk #5 on Feedspot's Top 25 Podcasts on OCD. Check out those Top 25 here. https://podcast.feedspot.com/ocd_podcasts/

Chris discusses the YBOCS-II Cheat Sheet. The question isn't how do you cheat on the YBOCS-II test; it's how do you cheat the OCD, itself.

Chris sits down with Lindsay and Emily Stetzer from Presently to discuss managing OCD, ajd growing a business while doing it.

Chris describes three interdependent ideas that make up good therapy for OCD.

Chris discusses the idea of ChatGPT's understanding of the evidence-based treatment for OCD, complete with its ability to generate treatment plans and hierarchies. AI is getting woven into the fabric of life and society. How long will it be before we decide that AI can teach patients the clinical skills needed to effectively manage their anxiety better than therapists can?

Chris spitballs about the ongoing problem, albeit now much smaller problem comparative to 10 years ago: that many patients consume services from the local counseling center, just to linger in treatment for 12 to 24 months and make minimal progress. That's disempowering and discouraging to patients - not to mention expensive. Should the graduate training process include enterence into a subspecialty? In other words, should therapists, like physicians, be trained and licensed not merely at mental health professionals, but more specifically as a particular sort of specialist within the broader field?

Chris shares a childhood story that made him feel vulnerable and scared. Beating OCD is about recognizing that you have a tremendous advantage. Your OCD needs you to respond. It, in fact, is weak and vulnerable without you giving it compulsions.

Chris shares a bit about his journey with training Jiu Jitsu and being really bad at it. But growth truly started when he relieved himself of the expectation that he would be good at it and embraced by a perpetual novice.

Chris discusses his past, present and future. And he looks toward the coming year with an eye on living his life on purpose.

Chris discusses a case.

Chris describes OCD as a stray dog and you as a caring citizen. You're a good dude, and so you offee the poor dog some food. and that's nice of you. But what's the stray dog going to do when it's been offered a nice plate of food? Come back again? Move in? There are tough emotions felt perhaps in turning the helpless dog away. But the alternative is to ensure that s/he comes back again and again to exploit your kindness. Don't feed the dog.

Chris takes on the reality that some therapists work to get patients better, not equipping them with tools and strategies needed to maintain their progress over the course of time. While treating anxiety disorders and OCD sounds like enough in and of itself, it is not. That's because there is no cure for OCD. If all we're doing is treating the symptoms, the symptoms will be back and so will the patients. The true gift and purpose of therapy is to teach patients how to get themselves better so that they know how to prevent relapses and stay better over time.

Chris talks through two major challenges to making real and lasting progress with OCD and the anxiety-related disorders. The first challenge is learning how to find compulsions. Many people, including even people who've been to therapy, don't know how to do this. And that's a major problem. Because if they don't know how to find compulsions, then it's only a matter of time before OCD is a step ahead of them again. The second challenge is patience. The truth is getting better in a real way takes time and work. Another way to say that is, it takes patience. And people who want results quickly (and, of course that's all of us to some degree) are in for a rude awakening.

Chris discusses some of the gears and guts of working with Contamination-OCDers. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to Chris@KentuckyOCD.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

Chris discusses Relationship OCD, its faces and presentations, and gives some practical tips on what to do if that's YOU. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to Chris@KentuckyOCD.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

Chris discusses so-called Just-Right OCD and the feeling that task didn't get completed right. He also presents some variations of Just-Right OCD and subtypes that often present with it. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chris@KentuckyOCD.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

Chris discusses Illness Anxiety Disorder, and provides a look at the many ways this condition affects patients. He provides examples and shows how some tools can be applied to relevant worries in different ways. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to Chris@KentuckyOCD.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

Chris presents and explains a question he asks patients in therapy that is intended to help them summarize in short-form what they're learning in the process of better managing symptoms. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chris@KentuckyOCD.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

Chris shares some of his own experiences with OCD, and discusses some common experiences others have with seeing around the OCD-lens. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chris@KentuckyOCD.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

Chris discusses a conversation with a listener seeking reassurance, and explains a tool that he gave her. As he's said before, uncertainty is your friend, not your enemy. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chris@kentuckyocd.com If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

Chris discusses the idea of OCD being an obsession much more with uncertainty than a concern with objective danger. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chris@kentuckyocd.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

Chris explains the concept that exposures are really just opportunities to practice skills that allow you to interact with your anxiety-system in a different way. The biggest hurdle that you will face in trying to "treat yourself" is not having a therapist there to ask you the real questions. Why are you not working harder to get better? Why are you gravitating back to the same old way of interacting with your anxiety when you know that that way doesn't work? Feel free to reach out with any questions to chris@kentuckyocd.com. If you've found OCDST helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

Chris shares several case studies related to clinical anxiety and works to show you what they have in common so that you can better understand how to understand, dissect, and manage your own anxiety system. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chris@kentuckyocd.com. If you've found OCD Straight Talk helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating.

Chris discusses cracking the OCD code in this latest episode, and further applies the cognitive model to understanding, and gaining control over anxiety related disorders. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chris@kentuckyocd.com or DM me on IG @ocdstraighttalk. If you've found OCD Straight Talk helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating.

Chris continues the series on striving to equip you to treat yourself by discussing the Cognitive Model. It's true that it's a basic concept ... and that OCDST has presented long presented the idea. BUT, that doesn't mean that you have worked to apply the model in real-time to your symptoms. Gotta do it! Map it out. Dissect your symptoms. You can't directly stop your thoughts; neither can you snap your fingers and change your feelings. But you CAN choose to not engage certain behaviors. That's your choice. But you need to find them first. Go get 'em. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chris@kentuckyOCD.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating.

Chris talk about the future of the podcast, and the use of OCDST as a means of learning and practicing skills to get yourself better. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chris@KentuckyOCD.com If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating.

Chris begins a new series with Dr. B and encourages listeners to begin the process of becoming their own behavior therapists.

Chris opines about the future of mental healthcare in general and OCD treatment in particular. Given the slow but steady, technological development of healthcare delivery in the past 20 to 30 years, it's only a matter of time. Soon AI human-like robots (like Max Headroom from the 80s) will serve as treatment experts, and patients will get themselves better with the use of highly developed and widely accessible, therapeutic applications. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chris@KentuckyOCD.com. If you've found OCD Straight Talk helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating/review and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety or OCD symptoms.

Chris discusses a unique form of OCD that is, at the same time, common to the population: Perfectionism. In this case, it's not as straight forward as working to stop compulsions. The endeavor of behavior change is more about adding an ingredient than omitting one. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chris@kentuckyocd.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating or subscribing to podcast for more structured help with your OCD or anxiety symptoms.

Chris shares a recent episode he had with OCD and anxiety and works to discuss, frame by frame: what should you do when OCD sets a trap for you and it works? Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to Chris@kentuckyOCD.com If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to OCD Straight Talk for more structured help with you anxiety or OCD symptoms.

Chris discloses his own ongoing struggle with OCD, and talks about a recent conversation with a patient during which he realized an off-the-beaten-trail, just-an-innocent-part-of-who-he-is (not his OCD) has actually been his OCD all along. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, feel free to consider giving it a 5-star rating, and subscribing to OCD Straight Talk for more structured help with you anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.

Chris discusses a menagerie of concepts in this episode, and works to bring them together for OCD-sufferers everywhere. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.

Chris discusses a phenomenon evident in the population nowadays that some people prefer to cut corners and find a quick fix for their anxiety. The trouble is a precious few "easy" fixes actually work for most people over the long haul. Nothing generally replaces doing the work of learning the ERP model and skill-set, and sharpening it into ready use to help yourself manage your anxiety system. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com If you've found OCD Straight Talk helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.

Chris discusses using the basic and core concepts of OCD and anxiety treatment for the purpose of increasing self-esteem. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com or @ocdstraighttalk. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.

Chris discusses two ways, one motor and one metal with examples, as to how you might work to spoil compulsions that you've just engaged. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com or DM @ocdstraighttalk.

Chris discusses some specifics of how to build a working hierarchy. But nothing will replace your grit and resilience.

Chris discusses a few cliches that inform his work in therapy in order to orient and empower patients and listeners as to the "active ingredient" in the therapeutic process. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to @ocdstraighttalk on IG or chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating, and subscribing to the podcast for additional help with your anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.

Chris discusses the correct way to do exposure therapy and continues the discussion on why many people don't get what they want from the process: they're not doing it the right way. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.

Chris discusses the reality that people fall back on the habits that they know when the anxiety-related "shit hits the fan." They're going to use the so-called "coping behaviors" with which they're familiar to try and feel better, even though it is often these very responses that keep their thoughts and anxiety strong and coming back again and again. The great trouble is that they can't stop these responses because they don't see them. Feel free to reach out with any question you might to chrisleins04@gmail.com. Or visit the our practice at KentuckyOCD.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.

Chris encourages listeners with the idea that they don't "have to" do compulsions, explaining that often people confuse intrusive thoughts and anxiety with compulsions. They in turn think they "can't" stop the compulsions. The clarity between them and the choice to stop compulsions makes a big difference, especially over time. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety or OCD symptoms.

Chris discusses the OCD and anxiety disorders hack: that thoughts and feelings following the leadership of behavioral patterns. There are a few pitfalls to keep in mind... Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety-related symptoms.

Chris discusses some personal experiences that led to the launching of OCDST in March of 2020. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.

Chris recaps several concepts that raise the question: How do you tell the difference between OCD and objective danger? While a number of answers could be presented to the question, Chris offers two. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to Chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.

Chris responds to an oft' repeated phrase, "Well, I have anxiety, but I don't have OCD. And for fun, he also addresses several myths and misunderstands relative to the diagnosis and treatment of the anxiety-related disorders. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found OCDST helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.

Chris discusses several ideas and studies, and works through conversations he typically has with patients at various points of the clinical process. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found OCD Straight Talk helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety-symptoms.