Living With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Alison to the show. Alison has been an OCD sufferer for many years and is author of a book for teens entitled “Being Me with OCD.” She also was a speaker at last year’s IOCDF conference. This conversation covers therapy, medication, fighting the stigma of mental illness, the importance of looking forward in your struggle, and the importance of reaching out to just one person to help you in your struggles. Alison is a seasoned speaker and will be a joy to listen to her story, her struggles, and her success with OCD.

In this episode we welcome Stoddard to the show for a double episode on Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (ROCD). Stoddard has been plagued with this type of OCD since his first relationship at the age of 16. Wherever he has gone and whatever relationship he has been in, ROCD has been in the forefront making him doubt his partner and even doubt himself. This episode is one that is full of laughter and joking but also gets down to the serious issue that is ROCD and how it can be life altering when experienced to the degree the our guest experiences it.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Diana Wilson to the show. Diana is the cofounder of the UK organization MaternalOCD. The goal of MaternalOCD is to raise the profile of OCD for mothers, for as we all know the disorder is one that strips women of their fundamental right to enjoy motherhood. Diana and Julie cover a wide variety of topics during this episode including perinatal OCD, postnatal OCD, CBT, imaginary exposure, recovery, and support groups. This show is for anyone that is a mother and struggles with thoughts of harming their children. More information can be found at www.maternalocd.org.

In this interview Julie and Andy welcome Dr. Sarosh Motivala to the show. Sarosh works at the UCLA Treatment Center for OCD and also has is own practice, SpectrumCBT, where he treats people with anxiety disorders. Sleep and OCD is one of Sarosh’s main areas of expertise and this episode’s conversation focuses a lot on this topic as well as the ins and outs of CBT vs. ERP. If you have OCD and struggle with sleeping this episode is for you.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Ro Vitale to the podcast. Ro is a singer and songwriter from Argentina who also happens to be an OCD sufferer. The conversation covers Ro’s battle with severe OCD, her traveling to Los Angeles to seek help, her treatment with CBT and ERP, her recovery from OCD, and her becoming an OCD advocate and IOCF spokesperson. This story is one of overcoming, one of following your dreams, and one of never surrendering to the disorder no matter how bad it gets. Ro’s journey will undoubtedly touch your heart.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Kara to the show. Kara has struggled with OCD of various types her whole life but in particular she currently deals with Homosexual OCD (HOCD) and Relationship OCD (ROCD) the most. Julie and Kara talk about why these particular types of OCD are so hard to deal with, especially for women. The nature/nurture side of the disorder is also discussed as Kara’s mother has a long history of being hospitalized for her severe OCD. This is the story of a woman who loves her life and tries every day to make her husband and kids proud of who she is and who she is becoming.

In this episode Julie and Andy finish their discussion about the IOCF Conference in Los Angeles. They talk about the keynote with Ethan S. Smith (a future guest on the show), The Scary World of OCD and Parenting, the Myth of Pure O, Moving Beyond OCD to organize and create discipline, Acceptance and the Shield, and Dating and Marriage with OCD. The conference experience was amazing and the sessions were not only informative, but some were life changing for Julie as well as Andy. Don’t miss this part 2 of 2 update episode.

In this episode Julie and Andy share with listeners their experience at the International OCD Foundation Conference they recently attended in Los Angeles. They talk about the sessions they attended as well as the people they were privileged to meet over the three days. Sessions they attended include: The Neuropsychology of OCD, Beyond SSRIs, OCD in the media, and The untold Story of Negative Emotions. The conference was attended by a record number of 1300 people and for Julie and Andy was well worth the time and effort. Don’t miss this episode to catch up on everything IOCDF.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Allyson to the show. Allyson has recently discovered that she has OCD although looking back she can now see OCD traits as far back as her childhood. A couple of years ago there was an event in Allyson’s life that changed her mental makeup, caused depression and severe panic attacks. After seeking help for the first time she made some progress but realized that things were still not right a few months ago. After many conversations with Julie, Allyson realizes that what she has been struggling with her whole life has been OCD. Allyson’s is story of courage and perseverance and one not to be missed.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome their friend Katie to the show. Katie is a mother of two and her daughter Emi, who is 7, suffers from OCD. Katie explains what it is like to mother someone with OCD and what the process of identifying Emi’s OCD was like for her and her husband. She talks about medication, play therapy, taking one day at a time, and always having a positive mental attitude. This interview is a direct result of listeners asking us to talk about OCD in children and if you are a parent of someone with OCD this show is for you. Katie is candid, caring, and very knowledgably of how best to help her daughter. Don’t miss this episode.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Charlotte back to the show. Charlotte has been interviewed several times before and now has returned for an update, and what an update it is! Charlotte has done so much and been through a lot over the past four years and each of her experiences has changed her as a person and made her into who she is today. In 2010 Charlotte’s OCD was almost unmanageable with hours being spent on rituals and compulsions. With therapy, medication, self-exposures, and CBT the person you hear on today’s episode barely resembles the Charlotte you heard before…and in a good way, in a great way! Don’t miss this episode. There is hope and people do get better.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Kristin to the show. Kristin has recently discovered that what she has struggled with her whole life has been OCD. From family and school difficulties as a child and pre-teen, to an OCD spike in college, Kristin has now started to take control of her OCD through therapy and medication. This episode is sure to inspire you that despite the odds; OCD can be managed and overcome. www.klvliteraryservices.com

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome author and OCD advocate, Janet Ruth Young to the show. Janet is the author of three books about mental illness- “The Opposite of Music,” “My Beautiful Failure,” and “Things I Shouldn’t Think” which is specifically about harm OCD. Janet herself has suffered with OCD for most of her life and was inspired to write these books as not only pieces of fiction but also as educational tools for people to learn about depression and OCD. This is an episode from a new and fresh perspective and one that you should not miss. www.janetruthyoung.com The Opposite of Music http://lwocd.me/The_Opposite_of_Music Things I Shouldn’t Think: http://lwocd.me/Things_I_Shouldnt_Think My Beautiful Failure: http://lwocd.me/My_Beautiful_Failure

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Paul from Northern Ireland to the show. Paul’s OCD came on suddenly in his teen years as the result of a head injury. His subsequent story is one that will inspire you to never give up and to reach your goals despite the odds. Paul is now a therapist and wants to help other people with OCD. The episode covers a wide variety of subjects including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Becky to the show. Becky first noticed something was different about her when she was a young child and suffered with OCD in middle school while not being able to tell anyone else the way she was feeling. She was hospitalized for OCD as an older child and that experience shaped the outcome of everything in her life. This episode is the story of a determined young woman whose experiences you will no doubt be able to identify with.

In this episode Julie and Andy celebrate the 100th episode of their podcast! The show has spanned five years, and a lifetime of memories. The show consists of reading comments from listeners, answering questions from listeners, interesting statistics and all in all a huge celebration of how the podcast has changed their lives for the better. This show is light and funny and goes out to all the people that have made the podcast the success that it is.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Aaron to the show. Aaron has had OCD since he was a child and at 16 was hospitalized for it. His OCD focuses on scrupulosity, the fear of burning in hell, and the fear of harming others. Aaron’s OCD has been managed over the years with intense therapy from some of the country’s best therapists and with various medications. This interview is sure to leave you with the impression that not only is Aaron a sufferer but through everything, he is a survivor. Reference: dailystrength.org

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Laura to the show. Laura has recently discovered that what she has dealt with for most of her life is in fact OCD. Some of the topics discussed include alcoholism and drug addiction and how that plays into Laura’s OCD, motherhood, religion and faith, medication, therapy, and plans for the future. This interview is honest, open, and very real, nothing is sugar coated because telling your story with all the good and bad parts is what is important. This episode will leave you no doubt that Laura is a survivor and a warrior.

In this episode Julie and Andy provide listeners with an update of what has been going on in their lives since their last update show in August 2013. They talk about Julie's recovery from thyroid cancer, her battle to get her hormones regulated, and all the difficulties that come alone with having a major organ removed. Julie also shares how her OCD journey has been going over the past year and what her medication status has been during that time. The couple also discusses parenting and how that has impacted Julie's OCD as well as their relationship. This episode will catch you up on everything Julie and Andy.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Bernie back to the show. This is Bernie's fourth time to be interviewed which makes him feel like part of the LwOCD family. Bernie updates listeners on what has been going on in his life over the past year and shares that both his OCD and GAD have gotten worse which has prompted him to start taking medicine again. Life has had its ups and downs for Bernie lately and he shares about the struggles his family has been through, the major events that have caused his OCD to spike, and anything else he and Julie can think to talk about. Don't miss this episode that is full of fun and laughter.