Get to know OCD

Sarah Jeffery’s acting career has spanned hit shows and films like Charmed and Descendants. On screen, she looked fearless. But behind that was a mind that wouldn’t stop asking, what if I forget how to act? what if I freeze? Sarah’s OCD twisted her love of acting into fear, making her question her abilities and even her place in the industry. In this interview, Sarah shares what that experience wa...

For some people struggling with OCD, specialized weekly therapy isn’t enough. The symptoms can be too intense, the progress too slow, or the support just not consistent enough to make a real change. That’s where higher levels of care could be in play. In this video, clinician Lori Johnson and Dr. Patrick McGrath explain what intensive programs like IOP and PHP actually look like, who they’re for,...

J Aubrey built a big following on YouTube for his deep-dive documentaries — but behind the scenes, his creative process was being hijacked by OCD. What looked like perfectionism to his viewers was actually hours of re-recording lines, re-editing scenes, and chasing a feeling that something finally “felt right.” The same mind that made him meticulous as a storyteller was also trapping him in endles...

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 Exp...

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 desp...

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...

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...

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 wor...

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 acces...

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 cou...

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 S...

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, turn...

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...

When your child has OCD, it’s natural to want to help — but some of the most common parenting instincts can accidentally make things worse. OCD and anxiety therapist Natasha Daniels knows this firsthand, both as a clinician and as a mom with children suffering with the disorder. In this episode, she shares what OCD looks like in kids, how parents can get stuck in the cycle of accommodation, and wh...

Most people don’t think twice about breathing, blinking, or swallowing food — your body just does it automatically. But for some, OCD turns those simple functions into constant obsessions. This is called sensorimotor OCD, a subtype where your mind gets stuck on bodily sensations like swallowing, breathing, or even heartbeats. Instead of passing thoughts, these sensations become overwhelming, leadi...

Deep brain stimulation is one of the most advanced treatments for severe OCD. It involves implanting tiny electrodes into specific brain circuits and delivering continuous, low-level electrical pulses that interrupt faulty signals driving obsessions and compulsions. This therapy isn’t a first-line option — it’s reserved for people who haven’t responded to other treatments — but for some, it can dr...

OCD loves to make promises it can’t keep. It tells you that if you just pray one more time, wash one more time, or check one more time, you’ll finally feel certain — but that moment never comes. In this video, Patrick breaks down how OCD feeds on the lie of “enough,” why compulsions never truly satisfy, and what it takes to step out of the cycle and stop chasing the impossible standard your brain...

Michael Twohig has spent years studying what happens when people try to fight their thoughts — and why that battle almost always makes things worse. As a psychologist, researcher, and leading expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), he’s worked with countless people who felt trapped by their own minds, stuck in loops of overthinking, doubt, and mental exhaustion. In this conversation, he...

Renee Zukin spent much of her life trying to silence fear — avoiding risk, obsessing over safety, and doing everything possible to feel in control. It worked just well enough to keep going, but never well enough to feel free. In this interview, she opens up about how fear shaped where she lived, how she ate, how she parented, and how long it kept her from getting the right help. What changed wasn’...

Is OCD seasonal? Not exactly — but it can FEEL that way. In this episode, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains how OCD often ramps up during high-stress times like the holidays, not because of the calendar, but because stress weakens your ability to resist compulsions. Watch as Patrick debunks this common OCD myth! Here at NOCD, we specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, the most effective...

Most therapists don’t get formal training in how to treat OCD. In fact, many graduate programs barely mention it at all. That leads to years of misdiagnosis, missed symptoms, and patients getting the wrong kind of help. The result? People with OCD are left suffering longer than they should — even in the care of well-meaning professionals. That’s why Elizabeth DuPont Spencer and Kimberly Morrow dec...

One year ago, the Get to know OCD podcast launched with a simple goal: share real stories from people living with OCD. What happened next was bigger than anyone expected. Each week, guests opened up about their darkest moments, their breakthroughs, and the messy middle in between. In this special anniversary episode, Dr. Patrick McGrath reflects on the moments that stayed with us, the common threa...

The Not Alone project began with a simple, powerful idea: send handwritten letters to people struggling with OCD to remind them they’re not alone. Founded by Molly Fishback and Morgan Rondinelli, the project has grown into a movement — one that’s now reached thousands and was recently honored with the Hero Award at the 2025 IOCDF Conference. In this episode, they share how Not Alone started, the i...

Megan spent most of her life thinking something was just wrong with her. She was six years old when the compulsions started — counting, checking, rituals she didn’t understand — all fueled by the fear that if she didn’t do them, something terrible would happen. It wasn’t until she was 19 that she finally realized what it all was: OCD. In this episode of the Get to know OCD podcast, Megan shares wh...

For years, movies and TV shaped how people understood OCD — and for a long time, the portrayals got it ALL wrong. In this video, therapist Dr. Patrick McGrath sits down to watch some of the most well-known OCD scenes on screen. What he finds is a mix of half-truths, stereotypes, and the occasional glimpse of what real OCD actually feels like. Join Dr. McGrath on this watch-along featuring actors l...