FearCast Podcast

For today’s audio question, I was joined by Bronwyn Shroyer, LCSW, to talk about the EMDR treatment modality. The questioner noticed their OCD was re-activated by some EMDR treatment for trauma and wanted to know why that happened and what she can do about it. Bronwyn was kind enough to join me to share her expertise about EMDR, how and why it works for treating trauma, where it is similar to CBT/ ERP treatment for OCD and anxiety disorders, and where they are different. This was a wonderful conversation that spanned a ton of information and covers a lot of treatment theory, including ICBT. The post #148- EMDR Treatment: Where It Works And Where It Doesn’t With Bronwyn Shroyer, LCSW appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s episode is a mixed audio and emailed question. The first audio question comes from someone who wants to know how to move forward in their long distance relationship (LDR) when their obsession makes them question the future and the very basis of the relationship! The next question is from a listener who wants to know what to do when their OCD recovery suddenly becomes the obsession itself! Both great questions. The post When OCD Recovery Becomes The Obsession, And ROCD Complicated By LTR? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

For today’s episode, I answered two questions from one person! This listener wanted to know two things. First, where can they find good resources for therapy? They’ve tried therapist (too expensive). They’ve tried books (too impersonal). They’ve tried podcasts (still, too impersonal). So, where can they get help for their OCD? Their next question is about whether Christianity can cause OCD. I expand this to consider whether any religion causes OCD to help answer this question. Great questions from this listener! If you have other resources for good information, write them in the comments below! The post #146- Struggling To Find Good Resources And Help, And Does Christianity Cause OCD? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s question is another audio question plus a bonus question from an email! The first question comes from a listener who wants to know what the right ERP method would be to address a situation in which her worst fear actually keeps happening. The next question is about how to deal with an staring obsession where they fear they will look at, stare at, and get caught looking at someone’s various private parts. Both interesting questions and I was happy to get into them. The post #145- Feared Outcome Actually Keeps Happening, And I Can’t Stop Staring At People’s Privates appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

This week’s audio question comes from William. While his question is centered around ROCD, the topics are relevant to anyone with OCD or an anxiety disorder. He struggles with knowing what to do when he has anxiety and panic symptoms but doesn’t have the typical intrusive thought. He wonders what to do with intermittent numbness that shows up every now and then. Lastly, how can he tell his partner about his OCD. The post #144- Anxiety Without Intrusive Thought, Intermittent Numbness, And Telling A Partner About OCD appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

On Today’s episode, I get another audio question about ROCD. The questioner shares that they are starting to think they have ROCD because of their fixation over their partner’s hair and that it is different than their typical attraction patterns. So, is he experiencing ROCD, or does he just have a type and should continue searching for the perfect partner? The post #143- ROCD, Fixating On A Partner’s Specific Body Part, Or Simple Attraction? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

For today’s episode, I interview Rich Gallagher, MFT, about his recent article the IOCDF news letter about Disgust-Based OCD. His article offers an overview of what Disgust-Based obsessions are and how his Mastery focused treatment differs from the traditional Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) based treatment. We additionally discuss the growing body of research for alternative treatment methods beyond CBT, ERP, and ACT. This was a really fun interview and I learned some great tips on better ways to help people struggling with a difficult OCD/ Anxiety theme. More From Rich Gallagher, MFT: When is OCD Treatment “Evidence-Based” Enough? Here’s Your Answer. How OCD Treatment Needs to Change: A View from Both Sides of the Couch https://iocdf.org/blog/2023/04/25/disgust-based-ocd-thoughts-on-a-new-treatment-protocol/ The post #142- Disgust-Based OCD And Evolving Treatment Methods With Rich Gallagher, MFT appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s audio question comes from Roger. He’s having a unique situation where his sensorimotor obsessions are becoming associated with activities he likes, which then trigger his obsession/ compulsion routine when he does those activities. He further asks the question about how he can habituate to his breathing, or any other somatic obsession, and whether there is a right or wrong way to do it, and whether it’s right or wrong to try for habituation in the first place. As you can imagine, I have some thoughts. The post #141-Activities Becoming Triggers and Habituating to Breathing In Sensorimotor OCD appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

This week’s audio question comes in as a complex one. For someone experiencing ROCD, which issues should the listener treat as OCD issues, and which should they treat as relationship issues? Should the listener address the anxiety and uncertainty over potentially “sketchy” behavior as their typical ROCD, or should they address it? If they let it go as an OCD thing, what if they miss something important? If they address it as a relationship issue, will they blow up their relationship and drive their partner away? The post #140- For ROCD, What Should I Treat As OCD And What Should I Treat As Relationship Issues? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

For today’s question, I answer an audio question sent in through Instagram. The listener asks what they can do about their SO-OCD that keeps screaming that she is a lesbian even though she identifies as bi-sexual. She asks about whether she can know her sexuality and whether she’ll get that clarity after therapy as her therapist suggests. Also, she wants to know how to deal with the feeling of uncertainty while struggling with the obsession. The post #139- SO-OCD Has Nothing To Do With Your Sexuality, and Dealing With The Uncertainty appeared first on FearCast Podcast.