Anxious & Capable | Real Talk on Anxiety, OCD and Mental Health

 This weeks episode of the Anxious and Capable Podcast, two OCD therapists, Jess & Charlotte (@the_floral_therapist) discuss all things OCD, how therapy and treatment work, what you need to know about OCD (as both a client and a therapist).  And we're super excited to share with you our CPD for therapists who want to build their confidence working with OCD.  🧠 OCD in Your Therapy Room: E...

How many times have you been told to avoid things that trigger your anxiety or OCD? Maybe you start to feeling anxious, so you cancel your plans. Or you avoid opening messages. Maybe you skip that event, and all of this brings you immediate relief. You got to avoid the anxiety. That's a good thing right?! This is advice that I see everywhere, But what if I actually told you this habit of avoi...

In this episode, I'm reflecting on and sharing the 6 things that have helped my mental health and wellbeing in 2025, that I will continue doing in 2026. These are the habits & life style self care practises that have genuinely improved my mental health and confidence.  Living with anxiety and OCD can leave you overthinking, with low self-confidence and struggling to trust yourself. These...

When texting triggers anxiety, rejection, and self-doubt, it can feel exhausting and confusing, especially when everyone else seems to say “it’s just a text.” In this episode, we talk about text anxiety and why messaging can feel so overwhelming for anxious, highly sensitive, neurodivergent, and people-pleasing brains. We explore why unanswered messages, short replies, and changes in tone can trig...

If you’ve ever been called “clingy,” “too much,” or feel like you need constant reassurance from your partner, this episode is for you. We’re talking about what’s really going on underneath that anxiety in your relationships, the constant need for reassurance and the times you feel your partner pulling away.  Because it’s not that you’re too much or that you only attract emotionally unavailable pe...

If you find this episode helpful, I’d love if you could rate and review the podcast. It really helps me reach more people who are struggling with anxiety and OCD and need this kind of support. You’ve probably heard the phrase “feel the fear and do it anyway.” It sounds motivating, but if you live with anxiety or OCD, it can feel impossible. In this episode of Anxiously Capable , I’m breaking down...

It starts with one bad night’s sleep (or a few), then suddenly you’re lying awake every night, dreading bedtime, checking the clock at 3 a.m, and panicking about how you’ll get through tomorrow on 2 hours of sleep. The harder you try to force yourself to sleep, the more impossible it feels. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. I’m joined by therapist Amy Townsend, a sleep anxiety spec...

Ever find yourself stuck in endless “what if” thoughts about your partner? “Do I really love them? Are we meant to be together? What if I’m making a huge mistake?"  Or find yourself comparing your partner or your relationship to others even though you know that you're happy in your relationship.  In this episode of Anxiously Capable , we’re diving deep into Relationship OCD (ROCD) a subt...

Social Anxiety, Bullying, and the Fear of Judgment. That's what we're covering in todays episode of the Anxiously Capable Podcast.   I am joined by the lovely Sophia Spencer (@Socially_fearless), a psychotherapist and coach who specializes in working with social anxiety, inferiority, belonging and confidence.  In this episode we break down: ✔️ Why early experiences of bullying, humiliati...

 Is ChatGPT making your OCD and anxiety worse? This is the big question that we are going to be covering in today's episode of the Anxiously Capable Podcast. If you have OCD, you might find yourself turning to chat GPT to get reassurance or to check if a thought is 'normal' or to even ask it questions like; Did I do something horrible in this situation?  At first it might seem that...

 Anxiety isn't always visible and it doesn't always show up in the ways that we think - and if you struggle with high functioning anxiety, you might be able to get through every single day, looking like you've got it all together, but deep down you feel like you're falling apart.  You feel burnt out, exhausted, and like you are barely holding on. If this sounds like you, then k...

If you’ve ever found yourself obsessively replaying conversations, overanalysing your actions, or spiralling into “What if I’m a bad person?” thoughts — this episode is for you. As a therapist, I see this struggle often in people with anxiety and OCD. In this episode, I break down:  ✔️ Why OCD and anxiety make you doubt your own character  ✔️ Thought-action fusion & the fear of ‘being bad’  ✔️...

What actually helps when anxiety feels unbearable? In this episode, I’m sharing the honest truths and reminders I wish someone had told me when my anxiety was at its worst. These are the lessons I learned the hard way—like how you’re not broken (just overwhelmed), why avoidance makes anxiety worse, and how learning to rest changed everything. Whether you're in a spiral, feeling lost, or just...

Ever feel like everyone else is coping better than you? Like you’re the only one struggling, falling apart, or secretly wondering, “Why can’t I handle life like other people?”  In this short, calming episode, therapist Jess Eden shares why anxiety tricks you into believing you’re incapable, and why your brain is probably forgetting all the evidence that you’ve handled more than you realise. You’ll...

Do you find yourself scrolling social media endlessly? Maybe you're not even fully aware its happening - until 1 hour late you're left feeling frustrated and annoyed at yourself for wasting your life. Maybe you've tried setting screentime limits but you still find yourself on an Instagram or TikTok deep dive.  You’re not alone — and you’re not doing anything wrong. In this episode,...

Do you ever feel like you have to constantly be working on yourself just to be “ enough ”?  In this mini episode, therapist Jess Eden explores the constant pressure to do more, be more and always be improving yourself.  You’ll hear a gentle reframe on the pressure to grow, why self-help can sometimes become self-harm in disguise, and why you’re allowed to stop striving and just be. Whether you’re...

Feeling overwhelmed by all the anxiety and OCD advice out there? You’re not alone. In this honest episode, therapist Jess Eden shares 3 things that genuinely support long-term recovery — without adding to the noise. You’ll learn:  ✔️ Why separating from intrusive thoughts is a powerful step toward recovery  ✔️ How reassurance-seeking fuels the anxiety cycle (and how to stop)  ✔️ Why reconnecting w...

When you’re stuck in comparison, it’s easy to feel like everyone else is doing better than you, especially on social media. In this short, calming episode, therapist Jess Eden shares a gentle reminder that what you’re seeing is never the full story of someone else's life. If you’ve been spiralling, overthinking, or feeling behind in life, this episode is your pause. We’ll explore:  ✔️ Why com...

Imposter syndrome, anxiety, and self-doubt — if you’ve ever felt like a fraud, like you don’t deserve your success, or like you’re waiting to be “found out,” this episode is for you. Jess is joined by therapist Harriet Curry for a real and validating conversation about how imposter syndrome shows up, why it’s so convincing, and how to start building your self-worth and self-belief.  We talk about:...

Feeling guilty for resting is one of the most common struggles when you live with anxiety, OCD, or low self-worth. In this short, soothing episode, therapist Jess Eden shares a gentle reframe on why you don’t need to earn your rest — and how to let go of the internal pressure to always be doing more. You’ll hear validation for emotional exhaustion, support for slowing down, and a calm reminder tha...

What does OCD recovery actually look like? In this episode, I’m sharing the honest truths that often get left out of OCD recovery conversations. We’ll talk about taking an active role in therapy, why it doesn’t always feel good, the pressure to recover fast, and how to stop waiting to feel “ready.” If you're navigating intrusive thoughts or mental compulsions, this is your reminder that you&a...

Anxiety doesn’t just make you feel uncomfortable — it makes you question everything.  In this short, calming episode, we explore the exhausting cycle of overthinking, mental checking, and self-doubt that anxiety creates — and why trying to answer every single anxious question only keeps you stuck. PS. Get the Break Free From Rumination Guide here.  You’ll hear:  ✔️ Why anxiety feels like it demand...

Making friends as an adult is hard enough — and when you add anxiety into the mix? It can feel near impossible. In this honest episode, we unpack the reality of trying to connect with others when you're dealing with overthinking, self-doubt, fear of rejection, and the awkwardness of putting yourself out there. Whether you’re feeling lonely, struggling to meet like-minded people, or wondering...

Mental compulsions are invisible, but the exhaustion they cause is very real. In this short and supportive episode, I’m speaking to the moments when your brain won’t switch off — when the looping, scanning, checking, ruminating and mental rehearsals feel like they’ve taken over. You’ll hear:  ✔️ Why mental compulsions are so exhausting  ✔️ How OCD links certainty with safety  ✔️ A gentle reframe t...

When health anxiety takes over, it feels impossible to trust your body — or your thoughts. In this episode, we’re talking about why health anxiety spirals happen, how it tricks you into worst-case thinking, and gentle ways to start breaking the cycle. Whether you’re stuck in Googling symptoms, checking your body, or feeling constant worry about your health — you’re not alone, and you’re not broken...