The OCD Confessional

Hospitalized for OCD, Then He Made It Funny | Comedian James Stanley

Send us Fan Mail James Stanley has spent much of his life making people laugh. But behind the comedy is a mental health story that became anything but funny. James grew up with severe OCD, autism, anxiety and Tourette syndrome, and his struggles with OCD became so debilitating that he was hospitalized multiple times. In this episode of The OCD Confessional, James takes us inside those experiences: what OCD looked like when he was young, how severe the disorder became, what it was like to need hospitalization, and what helped him eventually get his life back. We also explore the complicated intersection of OCD, autism and Tourette syndrome—three conditions that can overlap in ways that aren't always easy to untangle—and what it's like to navigate all three while pursuing a career in stand-up comedy. And then there's the comedy itself. James started performing stand-up when he was just 16 years old and has gone on to become a regular feature at Minneapolis's Acme Comedy Company, opening for comedians including Stavros Halkias, Dusty Slay, Kelsey Cook, Chad Daniels and others. He's also appeared on the PBS series Roots of Comedy. Today, James doesn't hide his OCD from audiences. He talks about it onstage. We discuss what it's like to turn some of the darkest periods of your life into comedy, whether humor has helped change his relationship with OCD, and why laughing about mental illness doesn't mean minimizing how devastating it can be. It's a funny, candid and at times very serious conversation about severe OCD, hospitalization, autism, Tourette's, recovery—and finding humor in a brain that has put you through hell. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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The “Difficult Kid” Was Struggling: OCD, ADHD & ODD | Tommy Dwyer

Send us Fan Mail Before Tommy Dwyer became a filmmaker, actor and stand-up comedian, he was the kid who couldn't seem to stay out of trouble. In this episode of The OCD Confessional, Tommy opens up about growing up with a complicated mix of OCD, ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) — long before he fully understood what was happening inside his brain. Tommy shares stories from childhood about questioning authority, getting into trouble at school and feeling different from the kids around him. We explore what those early diagnoses meant to him, what may have been OCD hiding in plain sight, and how his understanding of his own mental health has changed as he's gotten older. We also talk about the complicated overlap between OCD and ADHD, what it's like to have a brain that can feel pulled in completely different directions, and the role humor and creativity have played throughout Tommy's life. Today, Tommy is a Massachusetts-based filmmaker and stand-up comedian — and some of the traits that once got him sent to the principal's office have become part of the creative mind behind his work. In this episode: Tommy's earliest memories of OCD Growing up with ADHD Being diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder Getting in trouble at school and questioning authority Recognizing childhood OCD in hindsight OCD and ADHD existing together Comedy, filmmaking and creativity How Tommy understands his brain differently today It's a funny, candid conversation about what can happen when the kid everyone thinks is “difficult” is actually struggling with things no one else can see. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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Relationship OCD, ERP & Finding What Works | Danielle Jhiani of My OCD Coach

Send us Fan Mail Danielle Jhiani knows OCD from both sides: as someone who has lived through it herself and as the founder of My OCD Coach, where she now helps others navigate OCD and anxiety. In this episode of The OCD Confessional, Danielle opens up about experiencing multiple OCD themes, including Relationship OCD (ROCD), Harm OCD, Health OCD, Somatic OCD, and Just Right OCD — and what she learned when she realized that while the content of OCD can change, the underlying cycle often looks remarkably similar. We spend a lot of time on Relationship OCD: the relentless questioning, analyzing and search for certainty about your relationship, and how difficult it can be to distinguish an OCD-driven need for answers from what feels like genuine intuition. Danielle also shares her experience with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), what it taught her about recovery, and how her own journey eventually inspired her to create My OCD Coach and develop her coaching approach. We talk about: • What Relationship OCD actually feels like • “Is this OCD or is it my intuition?” • How OCD can jump from one theme to another • Danielle’s experience with ERP • What recovery looks like beyond simply eliminating anxiety • The approach she now uses in her OCD coaching work • What she wishes she'd understood when her OCD was at its worst If OCD has ever made you question your relationship, your feelings, your health, your body — or yourself — this conversation is for you. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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LIVE IOCDF KEYNOTE: How ERP and the OCD Community Changed Our Lives

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of The OCD Confessional, we're sharing the keynote address that Liam Martin and his wife, Dr. Lia Martin, delivered at the International OCD Foundation's Global OCD Conference. Together, we reflect on what it was like to build a marriage while OCD was quietly shaping nearly every part of our lives. We talk openly about the fear, confusion, reassurance-seeking, and moments when OCD threatened to pull us apart—and the lessons we learned as we found our way through it together. Liam also shares his personal journey with OCD, including the years he spent searching for answers, how Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) transformed his life, and why discovering the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) became one of the biggest turning points in his recovery. In this keynote, we discuss: How OCD affects romantic relationships and families The hidden impact of reassurance and accommodation Liam's journey from diagnosis to recovery Why ERP remains the gold-standard treatment for OCD The life-changing role of the OCD community Finding hope—even when OCD tells you there isn't any Whether you're living with OCD, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for hope, we hope this conversation reminds you that recovery is possible—and that no one has to face OCD alone. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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Inside OCDCon: Why the IOCDF Global OCD Conference Changes Lives | Stephanie Cogen

Send us Fan Mail What makes the International OCD Foundation's Global OCD Conference (OCDCon) so special? In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we're joined by Stephanie Cogen, Program Director at the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), for a behind-the-scenes look at the world's largest conference dedicated to obsessive-compulsive disorder and related conditions. Stephanie shares how OCDCon brings together people with lived experience, family members, clinicians, researchers, and advocates from around the world to learn, connect, and realize they're not alone. We also discuss: What first-time attendees can expect Why the conference is valuable for both individuals and mental health professionals Exciting new research on pediatric OCD How the IOCDF shapes the future of OCD treatment and education Why OCDCon 2027 in New York City is an event you won't want to miss Whether you've attended before or have always wondered what it's like, this episode offers an inside look at one of the most meaningful gatherings in the OCD community. Learn more about the International OCD Foundation and future conferences at iocdf.org. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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OCD Confessions LIVE from the IOCDF OCD Conference

Send us Fan Mail What does OCD really sound like? In this special episode of The OCD Confessional, we traveled to the International OCD Foundation's Global OCD Conference in Seattle and handed the microphone to members of the OCD community. The prompt: "What's your OCD confession?" What followed were honest, vulnerable, heartbreaking, hopeful—and sometimes surprisingly funny—stories from people living with obsessive-compulsive disorder. These aren't polished interviews. They're real voices sharing real experiences with intrusive thoughts, compulsions, recovery, shame, resilience, and hope. Whether you've lived with OCD for years or are just beginning to understand it, we hope these confessions remind you of one simple truth: You are not alone. Thank you to everyone who trusted us with your story. If you'd like to learn more about the International OCD Foundation, visit iocdf.org. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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Anah Pignatelli on Relationship OCD & 20 Years of Recovery

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we're joined by Anah Pignatelli, OCD advocate, educator, and creator of Key to OCD. For more than 20 years, Anah has navigated OCD in its many forms, including Relationship OCD (ROCD), Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD), and Contamination OCD. Today, she uses her platform to help others understand OCD, break free from shame, and move toward recovery. Anah shares her personal journey from being consumed by uncertainty and intrusive thoughts to becoming an advocate who helps thousands of people better understand what OCD really is. In this episode, we discuss: • What Relationship OCD actually feels like • How SO-OCD creates doubt about identity and attraction • Contamination OCD and fear-based compulsions • Why reassurance keeps OCD alive • The role of ERP in recovery • Building Key to OCD and finding purpose through advocacy This conversation is honest, hopeful, and full of practical insights for anyone struggling with intrusive thoughts and uncertainty. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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POCD Explained: Intrusive Thoughts, Shame & Recovery with OCD Specialist Lukas S. Snear

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Lukas S. Snear, therapist at NOCD, to discuss one of the most misunderstood and stigmatized forms of OCD: POCD (Pedophilia OCD). POCD is not about desire or intent. It is a subtype of OCD characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts, fears, and doubts that can create overwhelming shame, anxiety, and isolation. Because the topic is so taboo, many people suffer in silence and are afraid to seek help. Lukas helps us unpack: • What POCD actually is • How intrusive thoughts become obsessive fears • Why reassurance never solves the problem • The difference between OCD fears and genuine desires • How Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) helps people recover • Why so many people with POCD feel alone — and why they aren't This conversation is educational, compassionate, and filled with hope for anyone struggling with intrusive thoughts they don't understand. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you get your podcasts. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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OCD Medication Explained — SSRIs, What Works & What Doesn’t | Dr. Steven Poskar

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Steven Poskar, MD, psychiatrist, Clinical Director of OCD NYC, member of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation, and one of the country’s leading experts in the treatment of OCD and related disorders. This conversation focuses on one of the most debated and misunderstood topics in OCD treatment: medication. Dr. Poskar breaks down what medications for OCD actually do, why SSRIs are used differently in OCD than in depression, and the most common misconceptions patients have when starting treatment. We also discuss why medication alone is often not enough — and how it works best alongside evidence-based therapies like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and CBT. We also explore the growing interest around: • Psilocybin and OCD • MDMA-assisted therapy • Glutamate-targeting medications • Why some medications fail • How to think critically about “gut health” and alternative treatment claims This episode is educational, nuanced, and grounded in real clinical experience — whether you’re considering medication, currently taking it, or simply trying to better understand OCD treatment. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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Rachael Mathews on Health OCD, Anxiety & Motherhood

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Rachael Mathews, OCD advocate and creator of the Hold Space community, to talk about living with health OCD and anxiety. Rachael shares her experience navigating intrusive thoughts and constant fear around her health. We talk about what health OCD actually feels like, why reassurance never quite sticks, and how anxiety can quietly take over your day-to-day life. We also explore: • What health OCD really looks like beyond “being a hypochondriac” • Intrusive thoughts and fear of illness • How motherhood changes the experience of OCD • The importance of community and feeling understood • The story behind Hold Space, her private support group for people navigating health anxiety and OCD Rachael’s story is honest, calming, and deeply relatable — especially for anyone whose OCD shows up as fear about their body, their health, or their future. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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Ryan Judd on What Causes OCD, ERP Therapy & Why Recovery Is Possible

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Ryan Judd, Clinical Director of the OCD Institute Texas, a residential treatment program specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders. Ryan brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to the conversation, giving him a unique perspective on what it actually takes to recover from OCD. We start with his OCD confession and his personal experience before diving into his work treating people with some of the most severe forms of OCD. In this episode, we explore: • What OCD actually is (beyond the stereotypes) • What science says about what causes OCD • Claims around gut health, inflammation, and OCD • Why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) are so effective • Why OCD is not something you just have to “live with forever” Ryan also shares why he’s passionate about challenging the idea that OCD is “incurable” — and what real recovery can look like. This episode is both educational and empowering, and a must-listen for anyone trying to better understand OCD or find a path forward. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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Connor Stout on Contamination OCD, Panic Attacks & Harm OCD

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Connor Stout — psychiatric rehabilitation specialist, mental-health advocate, and founder of @stillgood_wellness — for a powerful conversation about living with OCD, panic disorder, and depression. Connor shares how his journey began with contamination OCD as a child, when his parents first noticed changes in his behavior that led to a diagnosis. He opens up about the progression of his mental health — including severe panic attacks that kept him from leaving his house, experiences with harm OCD, and a depressive episode in college that ultimately led him to step away from school. We talk about the moments that shaped him and how his experiences led him to a career helping others rebuild their lives after mental illness. In this episode, we explore: • What contamination OCD really feels like • Panic disorder and being afraid to leave home • Harm OCD and intrusive thoughts • Depression and identity loss • The turning point toward recovery • Why talking about mental health matters Connor’s story is honest, vulnerable, and deeply hopeful — a reminder that even in the hardest seasons, growth and connection are possible. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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Tori Peyton on Harm OCD, Trauma & Eating Disorder Recovery

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Tori Peyton (@growithtori), creator, advocate, and host of the Keep Growing podcast, for an incredibly honest and powerful conversation about OCD, trauma, and eating disorder recovery. Tori shares her story of experiencing sexual abuse at a young age and how that trauma later manifested as harm OCD, intrusive thoughts, and a struggle with an eating disorder. We talk about how OCD can attach itself to trauma, why intrusive thoughts can feel so real and terrifying, and how silence and shame can keep people stuck. Most importantly, Tori opens up about what helped her begin to heal — including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and trauma-focused therapy — and how she’s rebuilding her life with compassion, awareness, and honesty. In this episode, we explore: • Harm OCD and intrusive thoughts • The intersection of trauma and OCD • Eating disorders and control • The role of ERP in recovery • Healing after shame and silence This episode is sensitive, real, and deeply hopeful — for anyone navigating OCD, trauma, or both. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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Alix Behar on Relationship OCD (ROCD), Intrusive Doubt & Saving Her Relationship

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Alix Behar (@recoverocd), OCD advocate and content creator, to talk about relationship OCD (ROCD) — and how it nearly cost her the relationship she’s now built a life around. Alix shares how OCD first showed up for her, how intrusive doubts and constant questioning took over her mind, and what it’s like when your brain convinces you that something is wrong with the person you love most. We talk about the emotional toll of ROCD, the reassurance traps that keep it alive, and how Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) helped her begin to break free. In this episode, we explore: • What relationship OCD actually feels like • How ROCD targets love, attraction, and certainty • Why reassurance never works long-term • How ERP helps retrain your brain • Turning recovery into advocacy This conversation is honest, validating, and incredibly important for anyone who has ever questioned their relationship because of OCD. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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Chris Trondsen on Surviving Severe OCD & Finding Recovery Through ERP

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Chris Trondsen, licensed marriage and family therapist at The Gateway Institute and longtime advocate with the International OCD Foundation. Chris brings a rare and powerful perspective to the conversation — not only does he treat OCD professionally, he has also lived through severe OCD himself. Chris shares how intrusive thoughts and compulsions once consumed nearly every waking hour of his life, the years he spent misdiagnosed, and the moment he finally discovered Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — the gold-standard treatment for OCD. After reaching a devastating low point during his illness, Chris eventually rebuilt his life and dedicated his career to helping others recover from the same disorder that once controlled his own. In this episode we discuss: • What severe OCD actually feels like • The damage misdiagnosis can cause • How ERP treatment works in real life • The emotional aftermath of recovery • What Chris learned moving from patient to therapist This conversation is both deeply honest and hopeful — and a powerful reminder that recovery from OCD is possible. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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“The Struggling Warrior” on Religious OCD and Recovery

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Hussain, OCD advocate and founder of The Struggling Warrior, a platform dedicated to helping people understand and navigate obsessive-compulsive disorder: https://thestrugglingwarrior.com/ Hussain shares his personal journey living with intrusive thoughts and OCD, how the disorder targeted the things he cared about most, and what helped him begin loosening OCD’s grip. We talk about the isolation that often comes with intrusive thoughts, the shame that keeps people silent, and why speaking openly about OCD can be a powerful step toward recovery. We also discuss: • What intrusive thoughts actually feel like • Why OCD attacks your deepest values • How Hussain turned suffering into advocacy • The importance of community in OCD recovery • What helped him begin to rebuild trust in himself This conversation is honest, hopeful, and a reminder that even in the hardest moments, people living with OCD are not alone. You can follow Hussain on instagram @thestrugglingwarrior_ Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Lisa McCarty on Postpartum OCD & Intrusive Thoughts in Motherhood

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by writer and mental-health advocate Lisa McCarty to talk about postpartum OCD, intrusive thoughts in motherhood, infertility anxiety, the stigma surrounding maternal mental health, and being a caregiver while struggling with OCD. Lisa shares her personal experience navigating fertility struggles, pregnancy, and postpartum mental health — including how OCD and anxiety showed up during one of the most vulnerable seasons of her life. We talk about intrusive thoughts in new parents, the shame that keeps people silent, and the difference between normal parental worry and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In this episode, we explore: • What postpartum OCD actually feels like • Intrusive thoughts in motherhood • Fertility struggles and anxiety • The stigma around maternal mental health • How storytelling can reduce shame • What helped Lisa begin to heal If you’ve ever felt afraid to say your thoughts out loud — especially as a parent — this conversation is for you. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Our Worst OCD Thoughts, Health Anxiety & How This Podcast Changed Us

Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode of The OCD Confessional is just us. No guest. No expert. Just Alicia and Liam getting real about our own OCD journeys — the worst intrusive thoughts we’ve had, Liam’s ongoing struggle with health OCD, how this podcast has changed us, and the feedback from listeners that’s meant the most. We talk about: • The most ridiculous (and terrifying) OCD thoughts we’ve experienced • How health anxiety can hijack logic • Where we are now in our recovery journeys • The best messages we’ve received from listeners • What doing this podcast together has taught us • And yes… coffee or tea, beach or mountains, sweats or jeans It’s honest. It’s vulnerable. And it’s very funny — because humor has been one of our most powerful tools in navigating OCD. If you’ve ever wondered who we are outside of expert interviews and research deep dives, this is the episode for you. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Zachary James on Relationship OCD, POCD & Health Anxiety

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Zachary James — known on Instagram as @ocdestigmatize — to talk about living with some of the most misunderstood and stigmatized forms of OCD: Relationship OCD (ROCD), POCD, and health OCD. Zachary shares how OCD targeted his relationships, his identity, and his health — creating relentless doubt, fear, and intrusive thoughts that felt impossible to ignore. We talk about what it’s like when OCD attacks the things you care about most, why reassurance never works long-term, and how he began to loosen OCD’s grip through awareness and treatment. In this episode: • What relationship OCD actually feels like • Understanding POCD and intrusive thoughts without shame • Health OCD and constant fear of illness • The role of exposure and response prevention (ERP) • Why destigmatizing OCD matters This conversation is honest, vulnerable, and essential listening for anyone struggling with intrusive thoughts that feel too taboo to say out loud. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

From OCD to therapist: Kristina Orlova on Scrupulosity OCD, Relationship OCD and Recovery

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by Kristina Orlova, OCD therapist and creator of The OCD Whisperer, who brings a powerful dual perspective — both as someone who has lived with OCD and as a clinician who now helps others treat it. Kristina opens up about her own experiences with morality OCD, relationship OCD (ROCD), and “just right” OCD — themes that quietly erode trust, certainty, and self-confidence. She shares what it felt like to live inside constant self-questioning, guilt, and doubt, and how those experiences ultimately shaped her decision to become an OCD therapist. We talk about: What morality OCD really looks like beyond “being a good person” How relationship OCD attacks love, attraction, and certainty The exhausting nature of “just right” OCD How lived experience changes the way therapists treat OCD What actually helps when OCD targets your values and relationships This episode is for anyone whose OCD shows up as constant moral checking, relationship doubt, or the feeling that nothing ever feels quite right — and for those curious about how recovery is possible. Support the show 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube & everywhere podcasts live. 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @theocdconfessional 📺 YouTube: The OCD Confessional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LpIFjdtZQ Supported by NOCD If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable. ➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist. 🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter). Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.