Podcasts by FearCast Podcast

#167- Religious Scrupulosity Treatment Triggers Self Harm Thoughts. Help! from 2023-12-11T20:39:08

For today’s episode, I offer some guidance to a listener who is struggling with their treatment for their Religious Scrupulosity (Religious OCD). They find that whenever they try to do treatment...

#166- ROCD: Do I Really Find Them Attractive? Did I Ever? from 2023-12-04T03:58:49

On today’s adventures through obsession, I answer a listener question about Relationship OCD and the obsession toward a partner’s level of attractiveness. Do they find their partner attractive? ...

#165- Afraid Of Heart Attack If My Heart Rate Goes Too High! from 2023-11-20T05:05:43

Today’s audio question comes from Raymond who wants to know how to deal with his fear that he may have a heart attack or other medical event even though his heart has been checked out and cleare...

#164- Trauma-Informed Treatment For OCD With Dr. Caitlin Pinciotti from 2023-11-13T04:04:39

Today’s audio question is from a listener who has questions about approaching an issue that overlaps their OCD and trauma histories. How do you treat an obsession when it is also a trigger to a ...

#163- Potential Radiation Exposure And Dealing With The Fallout from 2023-10-31T21:39:14

Today’s question comes from a listener who’s afraid that they’ve been exposed to radioactive material at some point and struggles to deal with the anxiety that he might develop cancer or otherwi...

#161- Balancing Mental Health With Fear Of Missing Potential Medical Emergency (Health Anxiety)…Again from 2023-10-31T17:47:41

My uploading system is off! So sorry for the delay of this episode! Today’s listener question comes from a man who wants to know how to balance their awareness that their health anxiety is drivi...

#162- Settling Into ‘Bisexuality’, And Blaming Myself For Eye-Floaters and Anxiety from 2023-10-23T03:46:55

Today I answer two listener questions. The first is from a woman who’s SO-OCD is quieted by believing she is bisexual, and she wants to know whether this is compulsive. The second question comes...

#155:Remix- Coping, And Doing ERP, With Contamination Obsessions That Can’t Be Disproved from 2023-10-17T19:20:56

I made a goof! I accidentally uploaded the wrong audio file for this episode. Blerg. So, I’m updating the original episode page and uploading the correct file for this episode! Check it out! Tod...

#161- Balancing Mental Health With Fear Of Missing Potential Medical Emergency (Health Anxiety) from 2023-10-16T03:42:35

Today’s listener question comes from a man who wants to know how to balance their awareness that their health anxiety is driving them to compulsively call doctors or check in on minor physical a...

#160- Moral Scrupulosity With Jon Hershfield, MFT from 2023-10-09T18:48

Today’s episode covers the ins and outs of the OCD subtype focused on moral and ethical issues, more commonly known as Moral Scrupulosity. This is a very special episode as not only do we go ove...

#159- Yes Or No To Start Dating With SO-OCD, And To Give Money Or To Hoard Money? from 2023-10-02T03:21:46

Two questions from two different listeners. One, should they start dating knowing they have SO-OCD, or should they hold off until they sort it all out? Question two, OCD has them in a bind to gi...

#158- Is This Feeling My ROCD Or Picking Up On Bad Vibes, And DPDR, Hyperawareness OCD, and ERP from 2023-09-26T04:16:34

Today I answer two, but really kinda three, questions from listeners. The first is from a woman on her way to a date and she’s wondering if her ROCD is acting up and trying to sabotage the date ...

#157- Neurodivergent Treatment For OCD and Anxiety Spectrum Disorders With Dr. Jeremy Shuman, PsyD from 2023-09-18T04:53:24

Today’s guest is Dr. Jeremy Shuman, PsyD, who joins me to talk about his urgency for consider neurodivergent traits when treating OCD and anxiety spectrum disorders. Dr. Shuman discusses a broad...

#156- What If Gory Thoughts Leads To Passing Out Behind The Wheel And ERP Won’t Help!? from 2023-09-11T03:55:15

Today’s question is an audio question from a listener who struggles to get help with her obsession. She worries that thinking gory thoughts will make her pass out while she’s driving. Oh, and sh...

#155- Coping, And Doing ERP, With Contamination Obsessions That Can’t Be Disproved from 2023-09-04T04:59:15

Today’s episode is a contamination focused question about how to deal with an obsession that can’t reasonably be disproved, or proved! This is relevant to a lot of people as well who struggle wi...

#154- Shame And Toxic Shame In OCD With Mike Heady, LCPC from 2023-08-28T03:33:07

Today I was joined by Mike Heady, LCPC, to talk about shame. This conversation really broadened by understanding of the emotional experience of shame, and how the weaponized Toxic Shame can dest...

#153- New Hyperawareness Theme? Old Theme? Or Same Old Theme? from 2023-08-21T02:43:39

Today’s audio question comes from Sarah. She wants to know how to deal with the returning hyperawareness theme focusing on the items on her desk while she studies. It is really getting in the wa...

#152- Anxiety In The Arts With Guest Brian Killeen from 2023-08-15T05:15:07

Today, bass player Brian Killeen joined me to talk about his experience as a working musician and his journey through anxiety and OCD recovery. The Anxiety In The Arts series is focused on ampli...

#151- Out-Patient, IOP, PHP, or Residential ? Levels Of Care With Michelle Massi, MFT from 2023-08-07T03:55:37

Today I speak with Michelle Massi, MFT, about the differences between different types of treatment programs, what sets them apart from one another, and why you might be interested in one level o...

#150- Maladaptive Daydreaming- What Is It, And How Can I Deal With It? from 2023-07-31T04:36:26

Today’s audio question comes in from a listener who has been working hard on their obsessions and has made a bunch of progress toward recovery, but is noticing that she’s experiencing Maladaptiv...

#149- Returning Obsessions: Never Going Back To Who I Was, And How To Stop Monitoring Anxiety? from 2023-07-18T03:45:06

Today’s audio question comes from Max. He went a long time without his obsessive thoughts, but now they are back! He wants to know how to stop all his efforts to monitor his obsessions and anxie...

#148- EMDR Treatment: Where It Works And Where It Doesn’t With Bronwyn Shroyer, LCSW from 2023-07-03T04:13:40

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 ...

When OCD Recovery Becomes The Obsession, And ROCD Complicated By LTR? from 2023-06-26T05:14:27

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 obse...

#146- Struggling To Find Good Resources And Help, And Does Christianity Cause OCD? from 2023-06-12T04:04:45

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 expens...

#145- Feared Outcome Actually Keeps Happening, And I Can’t Stop Staring At People’s Privates from 2023-06-05T04:37:38

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 situati...

#144- Anxiety Without Intrusive Thought, Intermittent Numbness, And Telling A Partner About OCD from 2023-05-29T17:36:21

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...

#143- ROCD, Fixating On A Partner’s Specific Body Part, Or Simple Attraction? from 2023-05-22T04:39:01

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 ...

#142- Disgust-Based OCD And Evolving Treatment Methods With Rich Gallagher, MFT from 2023-05-08T04:08:50

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 ...

#141-Activities Becoming Triggers and Habituating to Breathing In Sensorimotor OCD from 2023-05-01T04:21:50

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/ comp...

#140- For ROCD, What Should I Treat As OCD And What Should I Treat As Relationship Issues? from 2023-04-24T04:16:59

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? Sho...

#139- SO-OCD Has Nothing To Do With Your Sexuality, and Dealing With The Uncertainty from 2023-04-17T03:39:10

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 ident...

#138- How To Help Your Family Member Who Has OCD from 2023-04-03T03:31:05

Today I answer a question from a listener who has a question about how they can help their wife deal with their ROCD. Along with answering their question, I expand out a little to discuss how so...

#137- Avoidant/ Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) with Dr. Megan Faye, PsyD from 2023-03-27T06:00

For today’s episode, I was joined by Dr. Megan Faye, PsyD, to discuss Avoidant/ Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. This is a disorder that falls in the Venn diagram between disordered eating, sen...

#136- Doing Exposures While Being‘Master Of Your Domain’Within Orthodox Judaism with Meshulem Epstein, LCSW from 2023-03-13T23:00

On today’s episode, I spoke with Meshulem Epstein, a leading voice for OCD treatment within Orthodox Judaism and Religious Scrupulosity. He joined me to help me tackle a listener question about ...

#135- What Do I Do If SO-OCD Is Fake, and Convincing Your Partner They Have ROCD from 2023-03-07T04:45:01

On today’s episode, I answer two listener questions and share a success story! The first is from a listener who heard that SO-OCD (they refer to it as HOCD) could be fake, so they want to know w...

#134- Religious Scrupulosity OCD with Rev. Katie O’Dunn from 2023-02-27T05:14:01

Today, I was joined by Rev. Katie O’Dunn to discuss issues relating to treating Religious Scrupulosity. Rev. O’Dunn is an interfaith chaplain, OCD advocate, Disney fan, and marathon runner, and ...

#133- Eating and Contamination, Getting Family Support, and PPOCD When It’s Only Obsessions from 2023-02-20T05:28:08

On this episode, I answered three listener questions. The first question is about how to deal with contamination obsessions that are effecting the listener’s eating routines. How can they stop c...

#132- OCD, Dating, And Relationships with Lauren Rosen, MFT from 2023-02-09T06:15:23

For today’s episode, I was joined by Lauren Rosen, MFT, to discuss dating and relationships while dealing with OCD. This is in response to last week’s episode where I discussed dating and some l...

#131- Partner Focused ROCD, and Exposures For, and Dating Despite, SO-OCD from 2023-01-30T05:35:46

Another audio question for this week! For this week, I answer two questions, one from an audio submitter, and another from Instagram. The first question is about Partner Focused ROCD and being o...

#130- Is Recovery Possible, Giving Back After Recovery,“Am I Moral,”and Life After Miscarriage from 2023-01-23T04:11

Today is a full episode! I answer four, that’s right, FOUR listener questions. Out of order, I answer a question about what recovery looks like and if recovery is even possible. Next, I give som...

#129- Can OCD Stop You From Feeling Love, and Dealing With Rapidly Changing Obsessions from 2023-01-16T05:04:42

Today’s episode features two listener questions with the first being an audio question. The first questioner asks whether OCD can stop you from feeling or experiencing love. I have plenty to say...

#128- What if the obsession isn’t“What If”, and Real-Event OCD from past porn/ sexting addiction? from 2023-01-09T04:47:18

Welcome to 2023! For today’s podcast I received another audio question from Jenn asking a GREAT question about what to do when the typical OCD “what if” obsession question isn’t a what if at all...

#127- How Community Needs To Be Part Of Treatment, with Justin Hughes, MA from 2022-12-27T04:18:28

For today’s podcast, I was joined by Justin Hughes, MA, who discusses his passion for reconnecting to, or building new, community as part of his treatment for people with OCD and anxiety disorde...

#126- Rumination Focused CBT For OCD with Dr. Michael Greenberg, pt II from 2022-12-19T04:45:26

Dr. Michael Greenberg joins me again to continue our discussion of his Rumination Focused CBT treatment method for OCD! Additionally, he was kind enough to answer a few listener questions about ...

#125- I Lost Weight, Now I obsess That I Don’t Know What I Look Like from 2022-12-06T04:47:04

On today’s episode, I answer Jessica’s questions about what to do with a new obsession after losing weight. She now wonders whether she really knows what she looks like and checks herself in the...

#124- SO-OCD On LGBTQ+ Spectrum and What To Do With Terrible Anxiety During Relapse from 2022-11-22T04:25:47

For this episode, I answered an audio question sent in through Instagram. The questioner asks about what they can do with their SO-OCD when it suggests they are not Bi-curious, but are actually ...

#123- Casadastraphobia Story, Getting Mom’s Support, and Feeling Like I’m Back At Square One from 2022-11-14T04:32:37

For today’s episode, someone shared their awareness of Casadastraphobia story after listening to the Phobia Phriday episode on that phobia. After that, I answer a question from someone wondering...

#122- Isn’t Knowing If It’s True Important, and Struggling To Believe In God from 2022-10-31T04:59:47

On this episode, I discuss two listener questions. The first is from a listener wondering whether it is important and necessary to decide whether their obsession is true before pursuing treatmen...

#121- Anxiety In The Arts With Erica from 2022-10-25T06:56:01

Today is another installment in the Anxiety in the Arts series. For this episode, I was joined by Erica who shares her story about music, performance, teaching, OCD, reconnecting with music, and...

#120- Struggling With SO-OCD, and Using Thought Stopping and Logic from 2022-10-20T17:48:40

On this episode, I answer an audio question from someone struggling to deal with SO-OCD and he wants to know how he can deal with the thoughts returning now that he’s effectively practiced disen...

#119- Justice Based Treatment For SO-OCD with Dr. Lauren Wadsworth from 2022-10-10T04:23:14

Today I was joined by Dr. Lauren Wadsworth who shared her thoughts and recommendations for changes in treatment for Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD). In addition to our discussion about Justice O...

#118- So, What’s All This Mindfulness Stuff About With Jon Hershfield, MFT from 2022-10-03T04:53:58

Today I was joined by Jon Hershfield, MFT (The Peaceful One), to talk about mindfulness, meditation, and how to use them in OCD and anxiety recovery. I always like talk with Jon (TPO) and today ...

#117- Turning Shame Into Guilt and Obligated To Pray? from 2022-09-19T05:37

This will be a short episode thanks to a scratchy and painful throat, but still a good one nonetheless. I answer two questions today. The first is from a woman struggling to remember whether she...

#116- Anxiety in the Arts with Noel Dumont from 2022-09-13T05:17:13

On this episode of the FearCast, I finish out the Anxiety in the Arts series with my friend Noel Dumont. She is a talented, multinational singer who was kind enough to share her story about her ...

#115- How To Deal With Fear of Mishandling Money As A Bank Teller? from 2022-09-06T23:55:54

We have another audio question! This question comes from Markus who asked about how he can deal with his job better. Markus is a bank teller who is working with a therapist, but struggles with c...

#114- De-Associating Music and Memories, Getting Started With HO-OCD, and“Not Wanting Us” from 2022-08-30T04:35:40

On this episode, I answer a listener’s question about how he can de-associate songs and memories he has about a past relationship. I also talk about how he can fight against his ruminations abou...

#113- Nausea Panic,“Loud”Surroundings, and Starting College With Pure O from 2022-08-22T05:16:10

On this episode, I answer a question from someone struggling with panic attacks while feeling nauseous for several hours! The next question is about someone struggling with “loud” environments a...

#112- Mental Rumination with Kristina Orlova from 2022-08-16T04:05:11

For this episode, I was joined by Kristina Orlova, the host of the OCD Whisperer Podcast and the author of the new eBook, Your Guide to Compulsive Rumination +30 Day Journal. She spent some time...

#111- Asymmetry Just Right Obsessions, and Exposures For Just Right OCD? from 2022-08-09T04:07:43

On this episode, I answer Alex’s questions about symmetry obsessions. Specifically, Alex asks about whether symmetry and asymmetry can both be obsessions, and what exposures can be done to deal ...

#110- Real Event and/ or False Memory OCD and Trusting Your Compulsion’s Conclusion from 2022-08-01T03:37:29

On today’s episode, I discuss an audio question about Real Event OCD and False Memory OCD. I go over what these two subtypes are, how they are similar, and how they interact and influence one an...

#109- Anxiety in the Arts with Rick Fitzwater from 2022-07-26T06:02:02

WARNING: This episode has A LOT of profanity and I am not editing it out. If I did, the episode would probably 2 minutes long. 3 minutes tops. So, you’ve been warned. On this episode, I was join...

SO-OCD:“Late Bloomers,”Anxiety During Imaginals, and Genetics from 2022-07-18T04:31:44

On this episode, I answer a listener’s question about the idea of “late bloomers,” or people who discover their sexuality later in life, and how the idea serves as a tremendous trigger and rocke...

Anxiety in the Arts with Lefty Lucy from 2022-07-04T08:00

For today’s episode and edition of Anxiety in the Arts, I was joined by Lefty-Lucy, a professional actor, performer, podcaster, producer, and educator for theater and burlesque. She was kind eno...

What If Love Isn’t A Choice, Partners Who Don’t Understand OCD, and Convincing Compulsions from 2022-06-28T05:39:56

On this week’s episode, I answer three questions! The first is from someone who’s partner says that love isn’t a choice, and that their partner with ROCD should leave unless they have constant s...

Anxiety in the Arts with JSalvador from 2022-06-22T04:59:17

For today’s episode, I was joined by artist, graphic designer, and cartoonist JSalvador who discusses his journey through his career as an artist and his experiences with mental health along the...

Checking About Past Partners, Swallowing Obsessions, and Feeling“Saved” from 2022-06-13T05:04:46

On this week’s episode, I decided to pack a relatively short episode with three questions and a feedback email. I discuss a wide range of topics, including how to deal with obsessions about past...

Inference Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Carl Robbins from 2022-06-06T04:40:51

On this episode, I was joined by Carl Robbins, LCPC, to discuss Inference Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or IBT. Mr Robbins was kind enough to share his expertise and passion about this fas...

Anxiety in the Arts with Sarah Winchester from 2022-06-01T06:08:02

Today’s episode kicks off a short series I’m doing to highlight the anxiety and mental health struggles of people in the arts. Sarah Winchester is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, musician, ...

How Do I“Just Be”With My Thoughts, And How Do I Get Certainty About My Feelings For My Boyfriend? from 2022-05-23T03:27:23

On this week’s episode, I answer two questions from listeners about their struggles with OCD. The first question deals with how someone can practice being with their thoughts and disengaging fro...

How Do I Deal With Ruminations, and Discussing HOCD With My Partner? from 2022-05-11T06:20:47

On this episode, I answer two listeners questions. The first one is about how someone can deal with reducing and managing rumination compulsions. She also wants to know whether medication will r...

Understanding and Navigating Mental Compulsions with Lauren Rosen, MFT, Kelley Franke, MFT, Elena Fasan, LCSW, and Kevin Foss, MFT from 2022-05-02T04:03:39

This past weekend, I spoke with the Lauren Rosen, MFT, Kelley Franke, MFT, and Elena Fasan, LCSW, at the OCD SoCal 6th annual conference on the topic of mental compulsions. As usual, I had a gre...

What Is OCD (Because Steven Crowder Doesn’t Know)? from 2022-04-24T05:36:53

This episode of the FearCast is an answer to a question that, unfortunately, was not asked by Steven Crowder (@scrowder) when he tweeted a comment about POCD. Therefore, I had to throw together ...

Coming to terms with your diagnosis, and should OCD stop me from being a therapist? from 2022-04-11T04:36:21

On today’s episode, I answer a question from someone wondering how they can come to terms and start accepting their OCD diagnosis. I think this question is particularly relevant to anyone receiv...

Orthorexia with Chris Trondsen, MFT from 2022-04-05T23:06:38

Orthorexia straddles the line between an eating disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. For today’s episode, I was joined by Chris Trondsen to discuss Orthorexia, his experience with it, and...

March Madness Question Jumble from 2022-03-29T06:23:24

No, this has nothing to do with sports. This episode is a mix of four quick questions. Topics range from how one can identify whether a therapy tool is being used compulsively, whether dreams ca...

ROCD about my partner’s real“condition,”and Do my anxieties mean I’m not in the right relationship? from 2022-03-22T03:11:44

For today’s episode, I discuss two listener questions on the ROCD spectrum. The first one (3:31) deals with someone obsessing about their partner’s physical condition, an actual physical/ medica...

What to do in the latter parts of therapy? from 2022-03-15T06:06:56

Today’s question comes in audio form from Mike. He asks a simple question; what are you supposed to do in the latter half of treatment? I get this question a lot, and it’s not always a straight ...

What To Do With“Flavor of the Week OCD?” from 2022-03-08T05:39:39

Today’s episode comes from an audio question. The questioner asks what she can do about obsessions that switch themes rapidly. Should she keep doing scripts? Keep doing what her therapist says? ...

Treatment Pet Peeves: Reassurance, Support, Feedback, and Overdoing Exposures with Dr. Claggett-Woods from 2022-02-21T20:49:53

On today’s episode, I was joined by Dr. Claggett-Woods to talk about reassurances, support, feedback, and coping statements. She discusses the differences between these terms, how they are used ...

Chronic porn use leading to POCD, and what’s up with‘Toddlers&Tiaras’? from 2022-02-14T07:06:54

Can my history of porn usage lead me down a slippery slope to pedophilia related porn use, and eventually reveal me to be a pedophile? (7:40) What happens if I “relieve myself” and the idea of a...

How Can I Tell If It’s HOCD or Suppressed Attraction? from 2022-01-31T07:14:22

On today’s episode, I answer a question about how someone can tell the difference between suppressed attraction or whether the feelings they have are the result of HOCD? Along with this question...

Panic Disorder or OCD, or Will I Eventually Just Go Insane? from 2022-01-24T05:40:55

On this episode I answer a listener’s multifaceted question about OCD, Panic Disorder, and the fear of going insane. The listener expresses concern that they were misdiagnosed with Panic Disorde...

Fear of Seeing a Dome In The Sky and Cozy-Comfy Hyperawareness from 2022-01-16T07:39:56

On today’s episode, I answer two listener questions. The first is from someone experiencing panic-like symptoms with the awareness of seeing the sky as a “dome” that makes her feel claustrophobi...

Harm OCD from 2022-01-05T18:43:25

Harm OCD is an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder subtype focused on violent or harming themes. This is a common obsession for people suffering with OCD and can cause a tremendous amount of anxiety f...

Can I have more than one obsession, and what if I orgasm during ERP? from 2021-12-28T16:04:24

Originally published on December 24, 2021, however it did not post correctly. Here it is now. To close out 2021, I’m answering two quick questions from listeners. The first question is about whe...

Christmas and Religious Scrupulosity with Mitzi VanCleve from 2021-12-09T07:21:19

For today’s lovely yuletide episode, I was joined by Mitzi VanCleve to talk about how to manage anxiety, obsessions, and stress associated with Christmas for those suffering with Religious Scrup...

Obsessing about obsessing, and dealing with“I’m sooo OCD” from 2021-12-06T05:47:05

Thanks for joining me for another episode! Today’s episode is an listener audio question about how to deal with OCD attacking the ERP process. In it, I discuss where to find good resources for t...

Trigger Warnings with Nathan Peterson, Kelley Franke, and Lauren Rosen from 2021-11-29T05:21:58

For today’s episode, I was joined by Nathan Peterson (27:32), Kelley Franke, and Lauren Rosen (39:35) to talk about trigger warnings. We have all heard about them, we have also all heard them, b...

Marriage, Intimacy, and Scrupulosity feature Erin Ramachandran from 2021-11-22T05:29:49

For this week’s episode, I was joined by Erin Ramachandran of Mental Health Strong to answer a listener’s question about how to best manage their anxiety as they are on the cusp of getting marri...

HOCD caused by my ROCD? And HOCD caused by my lack of relationship experience? from 2021-11-07T22:00

On this episode, I answer two questions that center around HOCD (Sexual Orientation OCD, i.e. SO-OCD), but ask different questions within these two themes. The first question (6:40) is about a w...

“What To Do When Obsessions Overlap With Genuine Interests”- IOCDF presentation with Kelley Franke, MFT, and Lauren Rosen, MFT from 2021-11-01T12:00

On this episode, I am joined by Kelley Franke, MFT, and Lauren Rosen, MFT, for a presentation we gave at the 2021 IOCDF conference. They were so kind to join me to discuss what you can do if and...

#78- Losing Natural Ability To Blink, Self-Compassion, and Are Obsessions Partially True? from 2021-10-25T04:10:56

On this episode, I discuss Sensorimotor OCD, Self-Compassion, and SO-OCD (HOCD). More specifically, on my first question, I discuss someone’s fear about potentially losing their ability to blink...

#77- Symmetry OCD, the“feeling problem”, trauma, and compulsive flooding from 2021-10-13T05:56:48

I’m back again with an episode that is full of diverse topics and a host of information. First, I answer a question about Symmetry OCD (8:25) and discuss what it is, what it isn’t, and what can ...

Lynn’s Questions from 2021-09-27T05:51:34

I’m back, and a little late. However, I’m here on this episode to answer several questions from one particular listener. Lynn. She asks a ton of great questions ranging from the effects of surge...

Vocal tension OCD, what to say to my HOCD thoughts, and transferring my obsessions to my partner from 2021-09-08T05:52:11

Here we are with another question and answer episode. On this jumble episode, I answer a question about soemone’s obsession about their voice and how to deal with tension around their vocal cord...

Addiction Treatment and OCD Treatment with Elizabeth Bartholomew from 2021-08-23T04:28:15

Today we are talking about the addiction treatment model and how it overlaps with, influences, and takes places alongside OCD and anxiety treatment. For this episode, I was joined by Addiction a...

Body Dysmorphic Disorder with Chris Trondsen from 2021-08-09T15:00

On this episode, I was joined by Chris Trondsen who shared his knowledge of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Chris shared with us his understanding of BDD, how it differs from OCD, some specific ...

False Memory OCD, Anger as a Compulsions, and What If People Find Out About My Exposures from 2021-07-26T05:51:41

This episode is a nice hodgepodge of questions, but all have a subtle theme of guilt. Fun, right?! The first question is about False Memory OCD and whether the ongoing feelings of anxiety reflec...

Dealing with a real life health issue, a response to dealing with a real health issue, and whether or not to work with a specialist from 2021-07-14T06:07:22

On this lovely episode I answer a question from someone about how they should deal with their obsessions about a real life health issue (5:48). Oddly enough, I also answer share feedback on the ...

Follow-Up Questions From The Real-Event OCD Episode from 2021-06-22T05:00:03

On this episode, I answer two listener questions that were sent in after listening to the Real-Event OCD episode. The first questions deals directly with the fear of being cancelled and how to p...

Forward Moving Faith and Intrusive Thoughts As An Aversion To Faith from 2021-06-14T15:00

I’m back, and late, for this next installment of the FearCast. On this episode, I batch two faith based questions from people asking about their Religious Scrupulosity. They are similar, but one...

Stuart Ralph of The OCD Stories from 2021-05-24T16:00

For this episode, I was joined by Stuart Ralph of The OCD Stories Podcast. Stuart was gracious enough to join me to talk about his own OCD story, the experience he has gained by interviewing the...

Mental Health Strong with Erin Ramachandran from 2021-05-11T16:00

For today’s episode, I was joined by Erin Ramachandran of the non-profit group Mental Health Strong. Erin and her husband, Keith, work with couples effected by mental health and addiction issues...

Omega 3, Relapse Prevention, My Google History, and TOCD from 2021-04-26T06:16:58

I’m finally back in the office and am recording fresh, new episodes. I answer a pretty wide variety of questions, ranging from Omega 3 supplement, TOCD, and Pure-0. I also discuss the ever prese...

TOCD, Why Exposures Work, How To Make Sexual OCD worse,To Distract or Not? from 2021-04-13T06:18:30

Hi everyone, so I’m off on parental leave, so I have this episode of questions I recorded weeks ago! Hopefully nothing catastrophic happened in the world in the meantime thereby making all my an...

Safety, Preparation, and Life Threatening Situations With Officer Jordan from 2021-03-29T16:00

I’m out for parental leave this month, so I’m sharing an interview I had with a friend of mine, Officer Jordan. He is a police officer and former EMT who has special experience and extensive kno...

Rumination with Dr. Michael Greenberg from 2021-03-15T16:56:03

For today’s interview, I was joined by Dr. Michael Greenberg who is leading the discussion on rumination’s role in maintaining OCD, and how eliminating the ruminative process can lead to profoun...

Faith and Doubt- Scrupulosity in Orthodox Judaism with Dr. Jedidiah Siev from 2021-03-01T16:00

I’m returning to the Faith and Doubt Series! I was lucky enough to be joined by Dr. Jedidiah Siev who publishes research and speaks on his clinical specialty of Religious Scrupulosity for Orthod...

Breaking their heart, what if it’s not ego-dystonic, and TERRIFIED of being gay! from 2021-02-15T08:00

After a long, unintended break, I return with an extra long episode that covers a lot of ground. As the theme lately, given the grouping of these types of questions, I answer questions about ROC...

A Little Bit of Unicycle, A Lot of OCD from 2021-01-25T08:00

On this episode, I answer a bunch of listener questions on a variety of topics. I also talk about my own effort to learn something new and rely on the FearCast community for encouragement and ac...

Uncertainty and Resilience with Mike Sizemore from 2021-01-11T08:00

Mike Sizemore is an OCD sufferer, advocate, and admin/ contributor over at OCD Friends on Facebook. He recently spent some time with me discussing how Uncertainty and Resiliency played a role in...

Phobia Phriday-Trypanophobia from 2021-01-01T08:00

For the last episode of Phobia Phriday, I’m addressing Trypanophobia, or the fear of injections. I feel like this one is relevant to the times and something that is on everyone’s mind given the ...

More ROCD Listener Questions from 2020-12-21T08:00

This is the last FearCast Episode of this squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching year. So, I am doing another batched episode on the wonderful topic of ROCD. The questions run the g...

Phobia Phriday- Oudenophobia from 2020-12-18T08:03

Oudenophobia is the fear of nothing or nothingness. On this episode of Phobia Phriday, I discuss this what this phobia is, how people experience it, and what you can do to overcome it.

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December Jumble- HOCD, ROCD, Hyperawareness, Scrupulosity from 2020-12-07T08:00

This is one of those hodge-podge episodes that touches on a lot of different topics. I answer questions about whether someone has fallen out of love, what exposures someone can do to address the...

Phobia Phriday- Casadastraphobia from 2020-12-04T05:47:51

Casadastraphobia is the fear of falling upwards into the sky! Not a very common fear, but the perfect kind of fear to discuss on this episode of Phobia Phriday! I hope everyone had a wonderful T...

More Sexual Obsession Questions from 2020-11-16T06:01:58

This episode covers a wide range of topics, from telling people about HOCD, to dealing with HOCD and incest obsessions, to managing POCD obsessions and the morality of the thoughts’ existence! I...

Phobia Phriday- Koumpounophobia from 2020-11-13T20:51:25

Welcome back to another installment of Phobia Phriday! On this episode, I’ll be discussing Koumpounophobia, otherwise known as the fear of buttons. That’s right buttons. Why such a long name for...

Phobia Phriday- Emetophobia from 2020-10-30T00:14

Welcome to episode two of the Phobia Phriday Series! On this episode, I talk about Emetophobia, or more commonly known as the fear of vomiting! This is more common that you’d originally think, a...

Sensorimotor Questions- All Breathing, All The Time from 2020-10-26T05:04:52

This is another grouped episode where all the questions surround one central theme. In this episode, all the questions focus on breathing related obsessions as part of Sensorimotor OCD. For all ...

Phobia Phriday- Submechanophobia from 2020-10-16T05:14:06

Welcome to the first episode of Phobia Phriday! On this inaugural episode, I discuss Submechanophobia, otherwise known as the fear of submerged man-made objects. This was a fun one to research, ...

HOCD and Other Sexually Focused Obsessions from 2020-10-12T04:40:55

This new episode is a collection of HOCD and other sexually focused listener questions! Thanks to the FearCast survey, I’m giving the batched questions a try. Even better than answer three quest...

Certainty and Confidence with Jon Hershfield, MFT from 2020-09-28T06:00

Confidence and certainty are two concepts that we wrestle with in the course of anxiety and OCD treatment. On this episode, I was honored to interview Jon Hershfield, The Great and Powerful, and...

Health Real Event, Eye Floaters, and At What Point is it OCD? from 2020-09-14T05:17:47

On this episode of the FearCast, I answer three listener questions on a range of topics. First, I answer a question about how to deal with health anxiety when someone actually has a real life ch...

Faith and Doubt Series- with Jaimie Eckert from 2020-08-24T02:27:20

The Faith and Doubt Series is back after a long hiatus; and its back with a bang! On this episode, I had the chance to interview biblical scholar Jaimie Eckert about the top things someone with ...

Listener Questions- Headaches, Sensory Integration, And Disclosing OCD from 2020-08-10T05:27:45

More listener questions mean more answered questions on the podcast. On this episode, I start with a brief recap of my big take-away from the IOCDF conference (Inhibitory Learning Model). I’d lo...

To Share Bible Verses, and When HOCD Doesn’t Conflict With Gay Porn from 2020-07-27T04:25:38

So, you read the title correctly. This is a real mixture of an episode. On this, the 50th episode, I answer a question about whether a mother of a man with Religious Scrupulosity should continue...

Real Event OCD, Cancel Culture, and Reassurance from 2020-07-14T06:00:21

This episode tackles the very real, and very troubling, OCD subtype known as Real Event, or Real Life, OCD. I discuss this subtype, including its common obsessions, compulsions, and treatment. A...

10 Things A Parent of a Child or Adolescent With OCD Should Know- With Elena Fasan, LCSW from 2020-07-01T15:48:17

For this episode, I had the privilege to talk with Elena Fasan about the 10 things a parent with a child or adolescent with OCD should know! Elena is a child and adolescent OCD and anxiety disor...

Erotic Friend Fiction, Hyper-Hyperawareness, and Insomnia from 2020-06-15T05:47:09

Thank you all for joining me on this, the 47th episode of the FearCastPodcast. On this episode, I answer three questions! Thank you all you listeners, I’ve been getting more and more questions, ...

TOCD Exposures and Surviving POCD from 2020-06-01T05:19:14

This was a weird episode to record, not because of the content, but because I had to move my whole studio to make it happen. I was delighted to answer these two questions. One is about an exposu...

Intrusive Thoughts At Church, and The HOCD/ROCD Venn Diagram from 2020-05-18T06:00

This episode is packed with some great questions! First, I answer a question about dealing with sexually explicit thoughts at church! After that, I talk about the relationship between ROCD and H...

“Chesticular”Responses and Compulsive Suicidal Thoughts from 2020-05-04T19:49:12

Hey there everyone! I’m back with another episode answering your questions as they pertain to anxiety, OCD, and exposure therapy. This episode has some great questions on it, too. First, I answe...

HOCD is a Libido Killer and Trouble Making Decisions from 2020-04-20T06:00

I hope everyone is doing well during the Pandemic and is staying happy and healthy! I’m back with another episode of the FearCast! On this episode, I open by talking about the struggle people ar...

Stuck in the Pandemic and Stuck in HOCD Obsessions from 2020-03-30T19:45:36

We’re all in it. We’re all stuck here in the Pandemic and trying our best to keep our thoughts, morale, and emotions from getting the best of us. In this episode I talk about giving ourselves gr...

Postpartum and Perinatal OCD With Kelley Franke from 2020-03-18T04:01:52

I hope everyone is stay happy and healthy in the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak! As a special treat, I have the magnificent Kelley Franke on thie show to talk about Postpartum and Perinatal OCD...

Coronavirus, and ROCD/ HOCD Questions from 2020-03-09T06:00

Hi everyone! On this episode, I start out by addressing some of the fears about the Coronavirus, including how to manage your anxiety and how to take a steady, measured response to it. In other ...

S’s Mom’s Questions from 2020-02-24T05:34:45

I’m answering a series of questions asked by S’s mom about her teenage daughter’s OCD and OCD treatment. In answering these questions three, I talk about when OCD starts, whether to start a weig...

ROCD Listener Question from 2020-02-11T06:45:24

On this lovely new episode, I answer a listener question about whether they are experiencing ROCD (Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) related symptoms. So, I give a re-cap of what ROCD ...

Imperfection from 2020-01-27T22:38:27

I’m back at it again with a discussion on imperfection. I’ve noticed a ton of people talking about their fear of imperfection and how it keeps them in a rat race striving for perfection, or quit...

OCD, God, and Masturbation from 2020-01-13T04:35:20

I’m back in a new year with a new episode! On this lovely episode, I answer a listener’s question about OCD, God, and masturbation. It was an interesting episode to research, and I hope you find...

Shame and Guilt from 2019-12-11T06:28:27

On this episode, I talk about shame and guilt, and how they impact those suffering with OCD and anxiety related disorders. Additionally, I offer some tips on what to do with it and how to reduce...

OCD, OCPD, and the Kardashians from 2019-11-25T07:47:50

I’m back to discuss the differences between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). On top of this, I talk about the Kardashians, not because I ...

What is Acceptance? from 2019-11-09T23:01:59

A question I get a lot is, “How do I accept my terrible thoughts? I dont want to accept them!” This episode is inspired by a listener’s question about this exact issue. I discuss what acceptance...

Winter Is Coming, and Gaslighting OCD from 2019-10-22T06:00:05

This delightful episode discusses the obvious; winter is coming! No, this is not a Game of Thrones reference. It is, however a way we can ease off our responsibility to get certainty RIGHT NOW a...

Anxious Drunk and Is God A Tyrant? from 2019-10-08T05:52:13

On this wonderful episode, I’m sharing one of my FAVORITE analogies and tricks for OCD and anxiety treatment. No kidding. I thought I’d keep this one in my back pocket, but here we are. I talk a...

ERP- Anxiety Doing The Thing and Avoiding The Thing from 2019-09-23T04:39:56

Episode 30, yah, this one, deals with a listener’s struggle deciding whether it’s the right exposure to do what they’re afraid of, or whether it’s a better exposure to not do the thing. They’re ...

Bill Hader and Cognitive Distortions from 2019-09-10T03:52:44

After a longer than intended break, the FearCast Podcast returns with a discussion of Bill Hader’s YouTube post about his anxiety, as well as my ramblings about Cognitive Distortions! Thanks to ...

Panic! from 2019-08-19T06:31:27

On this episode, I discuss Panic Disorder, as well as panic attacks, anxiety attacks, and what we can do to help. We all knew this episode was going to show up eventually, so here it is! This ep...

More Listener Questions from 2019-07-31T05:12:07

On this episode, I answer two listeners questions! The first question is from a listener suffering with religious Scrupulosity and is struggling to figure out what to do with his lack of feeling...

ROCD: Relationship OCD from 2019-07-16T06:00:33

Relationship OCD, or ROCD, is you guessed it, an OCD sub-type focused on your relationship! Didn’t see it coming, did you? On this episode, I go over the basics of Relationship OCD and treatment...

Psychodynamic Therapy and Brain Squirrels from 2019-07-01T07:10:13

Psychodynamic therapy and brain squirrels? This episode is a real mash up of odd brain stuff and nerdy therapy talk. First, I talk about a weird and unwanted trick my dog taught herself and how ...

5 Tip For Your Best Summer (with anxiety) from 2019-06-18T04:44:15

Summer is upon us (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere)! In this episode, I go over my top 5 things you can do to make this summer the best summer with anxiety you’ve ever had! Spoiler, i...

Faith and Doubt: Guest Fr. Thomas Santa from 2019-06-03T07:44:41

Father Thomas Santa of the Scrupulous Anonymous newsletter stops by for this installment in the Faith and Doubt series! He was kind enough to spend his time discussing issues of faith and doubt ...

Conspiracy Theories and Listener Questions from 2019-05-20T06:11:33

Conspiracy theories are everywhere! We hear about them on the TV, from the news, from social media, and even our own brain! On this episode, we discuss our own conspiracy theories and what to do...

Faith and Doubt: Guest Mike Erre from 2019-05-06T04:33:26

The Faith and Doubt Series has begun! This episode features a guest interview with Mike Erre. Aside from being an all around good and boisterous guy, Mike is a pastor and hosts the VOX Podcast. ...

Religious Scrupulosity from 2019-04-24T06:06

In this episode I discuss Religious Scrupulosity, which is a sub-type of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder concerning religious or moral issues. As always, I tried to shoehorn more information in it...

Listener Question- Groinal Sensations and HOCD from 2019-04-09T06:10:53

This episode features a listener question! That said, this episode is intended for adult listeners due to some adult content. We’ll discuss how to deal with two compulsions of HOCD; checking gro...

Sensorimotor/ Hyperawareness from 2019-03-25T17:29:33

Are you way too focused on your breathing, blinking, or heartbeat? Are you constantly distracted by screeching tires or little particles in the air? If so, you may be suffering from Sensorimotor...

Identity Is More Than Your Diagnosis from 2019-03-11T17:31:54

Anxiety, depression, bipolar, abuse, isn’t our identity. You are more than your mental illness, so why are your making it your central characteristic? Even if you aren’t fully identifying as you...

Question&Answer from 2019-02-25T17:28:25

Have a question about anxiety and OCD treatment? If so, you’re in luck! I dedicate this entire episode to answering listener questions. How are anxiety and paranoia related? How does Exposure an...

Post-Partum OCD from 2019-02-16T00:23:18

Post Partum OCD, or PPOCD, is an OCD sub-type focused on harm coming to, or you harming, your child. In this episode, I talk about this rarely acknowledged form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder....

Making Decisions from 2019-02-04T06:57:41

Making decisions can be difficult. We face so many options and choices that we become overwhelmed. So often our choices are also not clear or we have to make some sacrifices. In Episode #14 of t...

Pedophile OCD from 2019-01-21T07:35:54

In Episode #13, I continue the journey through “taboo” OCD subtypes with Pedophile OCD, or POCD! We’ll discuss the definition of POCD, how it’s different from pedophilia, some ways it manifests,...

HOCD or Sexual Orientation OCD from 2019-01-09T04:10:54

in Episode 12, I go over HOCD. I discuss what it is and what we can do about it using CBT, ERP, and acceptance tools. As a bonus, I put together an imaginal exposure in the form of a guided imag...

Finding a Therapist from 2018-12-11T00:07:19

In Episode 11, I’m talking about how to find a therapist! I go over some issues to consider and offer a few suggestions on what to ask and what to look for when you’re looking to start therapy. ...

Probability of Risk from 2018-11-29T07:04:13

In episode #10 I discuss a super cool, super nerdy issue with statistics! Turns out, our brain isn’t very good at weighing the pros and cons of a situation when making decisions. I talk about so...

Inhibitory Learning Model from 2018-11-12T15:29:24

On this episode, I take a look at the Inhibitory Learning Model. It helps explain why Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) works, and principles that can make your exposures more effective! Listen

Rational vs Irrational Phobias from 2018-10-29T20:41:10

Today, I talk about rational vs irrational fears and why the distinction doesn’t really matter. I also answer some questions about the effectiveness of OCD treatment and what factors contribute ...

The Underminer from 2018-10-15T16:44:35

In Episode #7, I discuss that little voice in your head that tries to challenge and negate everything in your life. I also answer a question about encouraging family and friends to get into trea...

We Should Talk…About OCD from 2018-10-01T15:38:31

Episode #6 tips its hat at OCD Awareness Week, October 7th-13th. I talk about the who, what, where, when, why, and how of sharing your OCD with friends and family. If you’re wondering about whet...

Getting Fired from 2018-09-19T06:37:37

On Episode #5, I talk about the fear of getting fired. Additionally, I answer two questions. One question is about returning to your pre-OCD days. The other is about the spectrum of anxiety/ OCD...

Personal Emergency Kit from 2018-08-28T00:05:53

In Episode #4, I go over a personal emergency kit for dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression. I also answer a question about the fear of going crazy!

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Some Thoughts Are Gross from 2018-08-05T23:55:30

On Episode #3 of the podcast, I look at one way to identify and deal with unwanted and intrusive thoughts. I also answer questions about having hobbies related to one’s obsessions, and how to de...

Existential OCD from 2018-07-15T19:47:47

On Episode #2 of FearCast, thanks to a request from some listeners, I go over the basics of Existential OCD and offer an ERP exercise for those struggling with Existential anxieties. If you list...

Goals and Dogs from 2018-06-22T05:00:37

The first episode! On this episode, I go over the goals of the podcast, why on earth I would ever do a podcast about anxiety and OCD, and offer a pretty morbid metaphor for Exposure and Response...