For today’s questions, I give a short answer to a long question, and a long answer to a short question. The first one has to do with the listener’s curiosity about their current and last hanging-on obsession. They want to know if it’s weird, and if other people deal with it. The next question is a great one and gets a fundamental question about how we build exposures. Can they do good exposures to the idea of dishonesty without actually having to tell white lies? The post 274- Is This Last Trigger Weird, And Dishonesty ERP Without White Lies? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Frank reached out recently with a follow up audio question. This time he wanted to know how you know whether it’s OCD thinking, or his rational and reasonable thinking. Simple enough question, right? But, how do you know? Can you know for sure? How much is you and how much is OCD? And is it a compulsion to figure it out? I try to help give Frank, and all you other listeners, some other ways to consider this as you move forward. The post #273- If I Know It’s An OCD Thought, Then I Know I’m Not Trans, Right? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

For today’s episode, I was joined by the one and only Jenna Overbaugh, LPC, to talk about what it means to get better from OCD and anxiety disorders, and how to stay better. We discuss the mindset and perspective shift necessary to meaningfully engage in CBT and ERP treatment, face your fears, and build a new relationship with anxiety that lasts! This was a really fun conversation and Jenna has such a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. The post #272- Getting Better and Staying Better, with Jenna Overbaugh, LPC appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s question was a bit of a tricky one, and deserves a tricky answer. There seems to be a mix of responses across the internet about whether you are what you fear. Some people saying, “No, you are not your fear and your fear is evidence of it not being you because obsessions are ego-dystonic.” Whereas some people say, “Yes, the obsession could be you,” and even fewer saying “Yes, you are what your fear says you are.” But what if the content of the obsession did not even matter, and trying to answer the question conclusively was a waste of time, and was actually the problem in the first place? The post #271- Am I, Or Am I Not, What My Obsession Says I am? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

For today’s episode, Claire Breedlove, LCSW, joined me to talk about her work treating Religious Scrupulosity among the Latter Day Saints (LDS) population. Claire joined me on episode #189 where she discussed her work in general, but on this episode we do a deeper dive into her use of Inference Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT). This was a fun conversation to look at the differences between ICBT and the traditional ERP/ CBT treatment methods for Religious Scrupulosity and why Claire has shifted her practice to primarily ICBT. Even if you aren’t LDS, but still struggling with Religious Scrupulosity OCD, this episode is definitely worth a listen. For more on Religious Scrupulosity OCD, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center The post #270- Treating Religious Scrupulosity With ICBT, feat. Claire Breedlove, LCSW appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Cheesecake Destroyer, no that is not their real name (probably), messaged me a question that is more complicated than it seems. They want to know whether their use of porn is causing them to be creepy toward women. They acknowledge they have had this obsession for while, but does that mean they need to quit porn? Is this really a question, or are they looking for permission? Are they hoping I’ll say, “It’s all OK, and you’re OK”? Can exposures help with this? How can someone work toward being a better person while also recognizing their OCD is wrapped up with the concern about being better (or being creepy)? Learn more about Moral Scrupulosity! Check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center The post #269- Is My Porn Use Causing Me Become A Creepy Person? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

To answer today’s audio question, I had on TWO experts on child development and OCD. The questioner who is in the middle of the delicate balance of supporting her daughter’s best moral development while not feeding the Moral Scrupulosity OCD beast. To answer the question I have on Elena Fasan, LCSW, an expert on child and adolescent OCD treatment, and Jenny Foss, MA, child development professor. We talk about how parents can support kids going through the trials of adolescence and how to help raise good, thoughtful, and honest kids while taking into account the ways OCD wants to take over development and the parent/ child relationship. For more on Moral and Religious Scrupulosity OCD, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center The post #268- Supporting Good Kids With Moral Scrup, With Elena Fasan, LCSW, and Jenny Foss, MA appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Anthony sent in an audio question where he shared that he’s having trouble with some thoughts about his girlfriend. He keeps wondering whether or not she’s unattractive, like really unattractive, and not his type. What’s worse is that they are planning on moving in together soon! Is he wasting her time by pretending to be into her? Sure, he has some moments of clarity when he thinks she really is attractive, maybe even MORE attractive than he ever thought, but those thoughts are fleeting. What is he to do? The post #267- Is Anthony’s Girlfriend A Gargoyle, Or Is ROCD At It Again? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Lauren Rosen, MFT, joined me today to help answer Lemon’s question. Lemon wanted to know how she can move forward with her life, pursuing her values, etc., but what if her thoughts and values aren’t really her own? Lauren, the author of The Mental Compulsions Workbook for OCD was the perfect guest to help address this existential question. We discuss ways to identify her mental compulsions, the feared story the compulsions serve, and some ways she can find meaning (whether they are her own or not). For more on Existential OCD, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center The post #265- What If My Values Aren’t Mine, Featuring Lauren Rosen, MFT appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Sophi sent in her audio question and had a question about how to best deal with this really unhelpful, bad-for-the-relationship, unwelcomed obstacle of ROCD and Paranoid Personality Disorder. This isn’t a common combination that we’ve talked about on the show but she reached out. She asked about what she can do to get a better handle on these two so it isn’t to ruin her relationships or any other relationships! The post #264- Paranoid Personality Disorder And ROCD Is Not Sophi’s Friend appeared first on FearCast Podcast.