Get to know OCD

It’s frustrating to spend time and money on therapy and feel like nothing is changing. For people with OCD, this happens all the time — often because the wrong therapy approach is being used, or because the real work isn’t happening outside of the sessions. In this video, Tracie Ibrahim shares her own story of being misdiagnosed as a child, learning why traditional therapy didn’t help, and how Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) finally gave her the tools to manage OCD in daily life. She explains why therapy isn’t about magic words or quick fixes, but about learning strategies you can practice every day to take your life back from OCD.At NOCD, we specialize in ERP therapy, the gold-standard treatment for OCD. To book a free 15-minute call today, visit 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.

Chelsea Risko spent over three decades living with fear, shame, and doubt she couldn’t name. From childhood worries to intrusive thoughts on her wedding day, OCD shaped her life in ways she didn’t understand. It all came crashing down in 2021, when she was hit with terrifying self-harm thoughts that made her question everything — even though she loved her life and family. That moment left her desperate for answers, and for the first time, she discovered what OCD really was.Finding the right help changed everything. Through Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Chelsea began to face the fears that once controlled her and found the freedom she had been missing for so long. In this episode, she shares her journey from fear to recovery, the strength she discovered along the way, and why she now speaks out to break the stigma around OCD and give others hope.At NOCD, we specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, the gold-standard treatment for OCD. To book a free 15-minute call today, visit 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.

Not all therapy works for OCD — in fact, the wrong approach can actually make symptoms worse. Too often, people are told to rely on deep breathing, relaxation, distraction, or reassurance to manage intrusive thoughts. These techniques may bring short-term relief, but they don’t stop OCD from tightening its grip. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains why those common strategies fail and what real, evidence-based OCD treatment looks like.At NOCD, we specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the most proven treatment for OCD. If you’ve tried therapy before and felt like it wasn’t working, you’re not alone — most approaches miss the mark. Our licensed therapists know how to treat OCD directly so you can stop feeding the cycle and start living the life you want. Book a free 15-minute call today 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 people think OCD treatment is just meeting with a therapist once or twice a week. But what happens when that’s not enough?In this episode of the Get to Know OCD podcast, Dr. Patrick McGrath sits down with Lori Johnson — a clinician who has worked in every level of care, from inpatient hospitals to outpatient therapy. They explain what “higher levels of care” really mean, including intensive outpatient programs (IOP), partial hospitalization programs (PHP), and residential treatment. Lori shares her journey from working in addiction centers to leading OCD programs, and explains how these different options give people the support they need without always requiring a hospital stay.At NOCD, we specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, the most effective treatment against the disorder. 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.

Emily Barth Isler grew up believing her anxious, obsessive thoughts were just part of being an artist. Like so many, she bought into the myth that suffering fuels creativity. For years, that belief kept her from seeking help — until she realized the opposite was true.Today, Emily is a successful author and writer who credits therapy and medication for giving her the clarity and freedom to put words to paper. In this conversation, she shares how OCD once controlled her life and how she learned to see its patterns differently. At NOCD, we specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, the most effective treatment against the disorder. 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.

Brenna Posey and Tracie Ibrahim grew up in very different eras, but both know the weight of OCD. In this conversation, they reflect on what it was like to struggle before OCD was widely understood, how stigma and silence shaped their experiences, and why so many people went undiagnosed for years. They also share what’s changed — and what still hasn’t. From the rise of social media to greater access to therapy, awareness of OCD is growing, but gaps remain in diagnosis, treatment, and representation. Their stories reveal the progress across generations, and the work still remaining.Both Brenna and Tracie have benefited from Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, the most effective therapy for OCD. To explore treatment options, book a free 15-minute call 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.

Julia Hale is an OCD therapist, but nothing prepared her for the wave of intrusive thoughts and crushing doubt that hit after giving birth. Like many new parents, she had only ever heard postpartum depression talked about — never postpartum OCD. Even with all her training, she found herself blindsided by fears about her baby’s safety, compulsions to protect, and the shame of wondering how this could be happening to her of all people.In this episode of the Get to know OCD podcast, Julia shares the reality of postpartum OCD: what it looks like, why it’s so often mistaken for depression, and how stigma keeps parents suffering in silence. Her perspective as both a clinician and a mom pulls back the curtain on a hidden struggle that affects far more families than most people realize.At NOCD, we specialize in ERP therapy, the most effective therapy for OCD. To explore treatment options, book a free 15-minute call 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.

Nicole Rafiee didn't realize she had OCD, partly because TV and movies told her it only looked like spotless kitchens, color-coded closets, or a punchline. Meanwhile, her experience was constant spirals, intrusive thoughts, and panic that never showed up in media. In this video, she calls out the rare times celebrities actually get it right. From Jennette McCurdy to Jenna Ortega, John Green, and Shannon Purser, these are the stories that cut through the stereotypes and reflect what OCD really feels like.Nicole's OCD therapy was Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy — the most effective treatment for OCD. If you want to explore options with ERP, book a free 15-minute call 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 families first hear their child has OCD, many wonder if they somehow caused it. Dr. Evelyn Stewart has spent her career studying those fears — and the science tells a different story. She explains how research with families and twins shows that genes play a significant role, especially when OCD begins in childhood. Dr. Stewart also shares how environment and stress can act like switches, turning genetic risk “on” or “off.” This interview is packed with the latest research about all the links between OCD and genetics so be sure to watch til the end!Here at NOCD, we specialize in ERP therapy, the most effective therapy for OCD. To explore treatment options, book a free 15-minute call 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 does NOT affect men and women the same way. In fact, research tells us there are many differences in how the disorder affects each gender. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains what those differences are — from boys often developing OCD earlier than girls, to how hormonal changes, pregnancy, or life stressors can trigger symptoms in women. He also discusses how gender roles and identity may shape the way OCD shows up, and why understanding these differences matters for treatment.Here at NOCD, we specialize in ERP therapy, the most effective therapy for OCD. To explore treatment options, book a free 15-minute call 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.