Around and Around - The OCD Circle

MINDFULNESS, SELF-CARE, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS.  MY CONVERSATION WITH JAIMI MCPEEK - PART TWO Today’s show is part two of my conversation with Jaimi McPeek, where we continue diving into the topic of self-love. If you haven’t listened to part one, I invite you to do so. You may remember Jaimi in previous episodes, where she shared her OCD story. She is the founder of th...

POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE, HEALTHY BOUNDARIES AND SELF-COMPASSION. MY CONVERSATION WITH JAIMI MCPEEK - PART ONE Today, I welcome back Jaimi McPeek, in a three-part conversation about self-love. You may remember Jaimi in previous episodes, where she shared her OCD story. She is the founder of the mental health awareness movement, Flip of a Coin. I encourage you to go back and listen to her story if you h...

THE ROLE OF STRESS IN OCD: PRACTICAL METHODS FOR RELIEF Everyone in this world has stress, but for a person with OCD, stress can escalate it. In this episode, I talk about ways to manage stress in your life and give my own examples of things that have helped. My blog and current social media links are listed below: Facebook Group Page -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1006937163975152 Blog – arou...

EMPATHY AND OCD: HOW SUPPORTING PARTNERS CAN ENHANCE RELATIONSHIPS. MY CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL AND TRACI PERKINS – PART TWO Today I have for you the conclusion of my conversation with Michael and Traci Perkins, discussing how one partner having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can affect relationships. If you haven’t already listened to part one of this fascinating conversation, I encourage you to...

UNDERSTANDING OCD FROM A PARTNERS PERSPECTIVE: EMOTIONAL WELLBEING THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY. MY CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL AND TRACI PERKINS – PART ONE Today I have for you part one of my conversation with Michael and Traci Perkins, to discuss how one partner having obsessive compulsive disorder can affect relationships. As you may remember, Traci and I talked in a previous episode about her ocd and...

OCD AND MORTALITY: THE FEAR OF DEATH: PREPARING FOR LIFE'S ONLY CERTAINTY In this episode, I address the common fear of death, particularly among individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I share a personal anecdote about my near-death experience at age 7 and discuss methods I use to cope with the fear of death in my daily life. The episode offers suggestions for managing this fear...

AGIS ANGELEYE’S OCD STORY: RECOVERY FROM HIS CAREER LOSS - PART TWO In today's episode, I continue my conversation with Agis Angeleye, a multi-talented artist from Greece now residing in the United Kingdom. The focus is on Agis's journey with OCD, delving into the steps he took with his therapist to overcome compulsions and rituals. The episode also explores the contrasting perspectives on...

AGIS ANGELEYE’S OCD STORY: RECOVERY FROM HIS CAREER LOSS - PART ONE Today’s episode is part one of my conversation with Agis Angeleye. He is a musician, photographer and video artist from Greece and is now living in the United Kingdom. Agis’s OCD started when he was 25 years old but he remembers having OCD tendencies at a young age.. His OCD was centered around constantly worrying about his health...

UNDERSTANDING THE MENTAL HEALTH DUO: OCD AND PANIC ATTACKS In today’s episode, I talk more about panic attacks and describe a recent one I had at the Pink concert. I went for many months without a panic attack and now they are happening more frequently, which tells me that I need to be more in tune with my mind and body in order to stop my anxiety from escalating. My blog and current social media...

DON'T LET OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER STEAL YOUR JOY: MY CONVERSATION WITH JANAYA In today’s episode, I speak with Janaya, who is a naturopath and a mother living in Sydney, Australia. She has lived with Obsessive Compulsive disorder since the age of 17. She was diagnosed with OCD two years ago. Janya does not have contamination OCD and she does not have counting rituals. One of her biggest...

THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF OCD AND PANIC ATTACKS TO LOOK FOR In today’s episode, I talk about the symptoms of panic attacks, my most recent panic attack and how I could have handled it differently. Have you ever had a panic attack? If so, which of the symptoms I mentioned resonate with you? Thank you so much for listening. Stay tuned for more interviews with others who are living with Obsessive Com...

FLIP OF A COIN: HOW LIVING WITH OCD LED HER TO MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY; MY CONVERSATION WITH JAIMI McPEEK – PART TWO Today’s episode is the conclusion of my conversation with Jaimi McPeek. During our time together, Jaimi talks about what she learned from her suicide attempt, family relationships, her reactions to medications, her experiences with neurofeedback therapy and transcranial magnetic stim...

FLIP OF A COIN: NAVIGATING OCD & MENTAL HEALTH IN ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL: MY CONVERSATION WITH JAIMI MCPEEK – PART ONE Today’s episode will be Part 1 of my fascinating conversation with Jaimi McPeek, founder of the mental health awareness movement, Flip of a Coin. Jaimi not only discusses having OCD since a very young age but how she has survived other disorders, including anorexia nervosa...

MY PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH OCD: I WAS OBSESSED WITH A FRIEND In today’s episode, I deconstruct my current obsession. While I am happy to say that I am at the end of this OCD spell, which has lasted over five years, I still have to be very cautious of triggers. Instead of avoiding these triggers, I use them for exposure therapy, turning them into a beneficial tool for healing. Deconstructing this s...

BREAKING FREE: ASHLEY MARIE BERRY'S EXTRAORDINARY OCD STORY. AUTHOR OF SEPARATE THINGS: A MEMOIR In today’s show, I sit down to talk with Ashley Marie Berry, author of the book "Separate Things: a Memoir," which is now available on Amazon. Ashley discusses her mental health journey, detailing her experiences with depression, bipolar disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). S...

MODIFYING MY LIFE TO IMPROVE MY MENTAL HEALTH In this episode, I address the topic of breaking a promise made to listeners in a previous show, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing mental health. I talk about the need for flexibility in managing mental illnesses, acknowledging that adjustments may be necessary in various aspects of life, such as routines, medications, and relationships. I ref...

MY PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH OCD: I WAS OBSESSED WITH MY TEACHER In this episode, I reflect on my first notable obsession, which occurred during fourth grade with a teacher and persisted for many years. I kept my obsessions, including this one, a secret for most of my life. Having OCD as I child in the 1960’s was most unfortunate, but I have no doubt that this is when it started for me. I am glad th...

MINDFUL CAREERS - MANAGING OCD IN THE WORKPLACE Managing OCD in the workplace can pose significant challenges, regardless of the work environment's pace or stress level. The discussed tips and tricks in the episode aim to assist individuals in handling compulsions, rituals, and interactions with clients, bosses, and co-workers. Through effective planning and organization, individuals can navig...

OCD: A PERSONAL JOURNEY TO REFLECTION AND RECOVERY OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS In this podcast episode, I revisit my journey over the past 13 years by reading entries from my old blog. I use these reflections to compare my past and present experiences related to my phobias, obsessions, therapy, medication usage and social interactions. I emphasize the importance of journaling as a means to gauge person...

Welcome, my friends, to the Around and Around The OCD Circle Podcast. A new episode launches bright and early every Monday morning in the US and around the world. I wanted to announce some of the exciting shows that are coming up in the near future. I will be discussing topics such as: managing OCD in the workplace, panic attacks and also the fear of death. Please be sure you check the show notes...

THE REALITY OF OCD: TRACI PERKINS’ JOURNEY – FROM THE OCD PROJECT - PART TWO This morning’s episode is part two of my conversation with Traci Perkins, who was a patient on the reality show “The OCD Project.” Theu OCD Project took place in 2010 and is available for viewing on YouTube. I encourage you to watch it in order to get to know Traci better. And also, if you have any questions for Traci, pl...

THE REALITY OF OCD: TRACI PERKINS’ JOURNEY – FROM THE OCD PROJECT - PART ONE I’m really excited about this morning’s show. It’s part 1 of my conversation with Traci Perkins, a patient on the reality show, “The OCD Project.” "The OCD Project" was a reality television series that aired on VH1 in 2010. The show followed the experiences of individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)...

EMPATHY & OBSESSIONS: NAVIGATING LIFE WITH OCD AND BEING AN EMPATH In this episode, I explore my occasional feelings of neediness. I admit to frequently checking on others to ensure their well-being and the strength of our relationships. I question whether I am genuinely needy or if I simply crave a sense of being needed. I am what is called an empath. I will talk about the pros and cons of be...

CLOSING THE LOOP: OCD AND CLOSURE The podcast episode discusses the origins of intrusive thoughts and rituals, emphasizing the significance of closure in my life. They stress that failing to achieve closure can lead to prolonged obsessions. I have made significant efforts to obtain closure for an event I am about to share. My social media links are below. Facebook Group- https://www.facebook.com/g...

MY PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH OCD: I WAS OBSESSED WITH MY BOSS In this episode, I share my personal story about my longest episode of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which revolved around an obsession with a woman named Sherry, my former boss. I discuss the origin of this obsession, the many rituals I performed to keep her safe, the professional treatment I received, and the resulting consequenc...