Get to know OCD

Automatic mental compulsions are one of the easiest ways OCD pulls you in without warning — you don’t plan them, you don’t choose them, and half the time you don’t even notice they’ve started. One moment you’re living your day, and the next you’re ten layers deep into replaying a conversation, solving a fear, or trying to think your way to certainty. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains why...

Paige DeAngelo used to look at her anxiety and rituals as the engine behind everything she accomplished. When she pushed through dance rehearsals, launched her mascara business, or chased new opportunities, she assumed the pressure in her chest and the constant mental checking were part of what kept her sharp and driven. OCD made her believe she’d lose her edge the moment she loosened her grip. On...

OCD rarely ever shows up on its own. Many people experience anxiety disorders alongside it, including panic, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and somatic anxiety. In this video, NOCD therapist Shauna Pichette breaks down why comorbidity is so common with OCD, making it hard to truly know what you're suffering from. NOCD specializes in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, the gold standard...

Most people think OCD is just about cleaning, germs, or being organized — but that’s only a small part of it. In reality, OCD can latch onto anything: your faith, your relationships, your memories, even questions about existence itself. These hidden subtypes can make people feel confused, ashamed, or convinced that no one else could possibly understand what’s happening in their mind. In this video...

Braden Smith built his NFL career by overpowering defenders every Sunday as an offensive lineman for the Indianapolis Colts. But away from the field, he was fighting something he couldn’t see — intrusive thoughts about his faith that wouldn’t stop looping in his mind. The constant what-ifs drained his joy, his focus, and the peace he once felt in the things he loved most. In this interview, Braden...

Sometimes OCD makes you afraid of your own thoughts. You don’t want to hurt yourself — but your mind won’t stop asking, what if I did? That fear can feel overwhelming and isolating, but it’s actually a form of OCD called suicidal OCD. In this video, Tracie Ibrahim and Dr. Patrick McGrath talk about what that really means, how it’s different from suicidal intent, and what treatment looks like for p...

Jen Wiles remembers the fear more than anything — not just the thoughts themselves, but the silence that came with them. She was terrified of what her mind was saying, ashamed to tell anyone, and convinced no one would understand. From the outside, she looked fine. Inside, she was breaking. In this video, Jen opens up about what it was really like to live with harm OCD in secret, how it twisted he...

Most therapy isn’t designed for OCD — and that’s the problem. A lot of therapists mean well but use approaches that make symptoms worse, not better. That’s why specialized treatment matters. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains what separates general talk therapy from real OCD care, and why Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the only evidence-based way to break the cycle. NOCD specia...

Tom Smalley grew up chasing athletic success, but behind his drive was a constant mental battle he didn’t yet understand. At sixteen, he was diagnosed with OCD, a condition that turned every game, practice, and routine into a fight against his own mind. What started as private suffering became a lifelong mission to change how athletes and the world see mental health. Today, Tom is the founder of S...

OCD and ADHD are often misunderstood — and when they overlap, it can be even more confusing. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath breaks down how the two conditions interact, where they differ, and what treatment looks like when you’re managing both. He also explains how to recognize the overlap between intrusive thoughts, impulsivity, and attention struggles, plus why Exposure and Response Preventi...

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...