OCD Straight Talk

Chris begins a new series with Dr. B and encourages listeners to begin the process of becoming their own behavior therapists.

Chris opines about the future of mental healthcare in general and OCD treatment in particular. Given the slow but steady, technological development of healthcare delivery in the past 20 to 30 years, it's only a matter of time. Soon AI human-like robots (like Max Headroom from the 80s) will serve as treatment experts, and patients will get themselves better with the use of highly developed and...

Chris discusses a unique form of OCD that is, at the same time, common to the population: Perfectionism. In this case, it's not as straight forward as working to stop compulsions. The endeavor of behavior change is more about adding an ingredient than omitting one. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chris@kentuckyocd.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consid...

Chris shares a recent episode he had with OCD and anxiety and works to discuss, frame by frame: what should you do when OCD sets a trap for you and it works? Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to Chris@kentuckyOCD.com If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to OCD Straight Talk for more structured help with you anxiety or OC...

Chris discusses a menagerie of concepts in this episode, and works to bring them together for OCD-sufferers everywhere. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.

Chris discloses his own ongoing struggle with OCD, and talks about a recent conversation with a patient during which he realized an off-the-beaten-trail, just-an-innocent-part-of-who-he-is (not his OCD) has actually been his OCD all along. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, feel free to consider giving it a 5...

Chris discusses a phenomenon evident in the population nowadays that some people prefer to cut corners and find a quick fix for their anxiety. The trouble is a precious few "easy" fixes actually work for most people over the long haul. Nothing generally replaces doing the work of learning the ERP model and skill-set, and sharpening it into ready use to help yourself manage your anxiety s...

Chris discusses using the basic and core concepts of OCD and anxiety treatment for the purpose of increasing self-esteem. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com or @ocdstraighttalk. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.

Chris discusses two ways, one motor and one metal with examples, as to how you might work to spoil compulsions that you've just engaged. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com or DM @ocdstraighttalk.

Chris discusses some specifics of how to build a working hierarchy. But nothing will replace your grit and resilience.

Chris discusses a few cliches that inform his work in therapy in order to orient and empower patients and listeners as to the "active ingredient" in the therapeutic process. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to @ocdstraighttalk on IG or chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating, and subscribing to the podcas...

Chris discusses the correct way to do exposure therapy and continues the discussion on why many people don't get what they want from the process: they're not doing it the right way. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help w...

Chris discusses the reality that people fall back on the habits that they know when the anxiety-related "shit hits the fan." They're going to use the so-called "coping behaviors" with which they're familiar to try and feel better, even though it is often these very responses that keep their thoughts and anxiety strong and coming back again and again. The great trouble is that they can't stop these...

Chris encourages listeners with the idea that they don't "have to" do compulsions, explaining that often people confuse intrusive thoughts and anxiety with compulsions. They in turn think they "can't" stop the compulsions. The clarity between them and the choice to stop compulsions makes a big difference, especially over time. Feel free to reach out with any questions y...

Chris discusses the OCD and anxiety disorders hack: that thoughts and feelings following the leadership of behavioral patterns. There are a few pitfalls to keep in mind... Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your an...

Chris discusses some personal experiences that led to the launching of OCDST in March of 2020. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety- or OCD-symptoms.

Chris recaps several concepts that raise the question: How do you tell the difference between OCD and objective danger? While a number of answers could be presented to the question, Chris offers two. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to Chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more stru...

Chris responds to an oft' repeated phrase, "Well, I have anxiety, but I don't have OCD. And for fun, he also addresses several myths and misunderstands relative to the diagnosis and treatment of the anxiety-related disorders. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found OCDST helpful, consider giving us a 5-star rating and sub...

Chris discusses several ideas and studies, and works through conversations he typically has with patients at various points of the clinical process. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found OCD Straight Talk helpful, consider giving it a 5-star rating and subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with you anxiety-symptoms.

Chris responds to a listener's question regarding how obsessions or intrusive thoughts might be experienced differently across the OCD-population. He lists kinds and categories of intrusive thoughts and provides several cases examples from his own experience. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider gi...

Chris discusses the difference between the style and persona of a good OCD-therapist and the supportive way of a truly helpful family member. It's about balancing two opposing ideas. But many family members fall too far to one side or the other. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've OCD Straight Talk helpful, consider giving us a 5-st...

Chris presents the idea that there's always some evidence, some reason to perceive intrusive thoughts as reality. This coupled with the reasonable possibility of feared outcomes heightens anxiety for OCDers. Evidence makes the thoughts feel real ... even if the evidence can point to several conclusions. So the question isn't, Can I dismantle or disprove the evidence; it's, Can I tolerate the uncer...

Chris presents a conversation he often has with patients at the beginning of treatment. Expectations are powerful things, including if they're unrealistic. So having healthy and reasonable expectations is important, especially when it what we should expect to get out of therapy. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast...

Chris presents a definition for OCD that extends outside of the diagnostic criteria. "Why?," you might wonder. The answer is because the diagnostic criteria is so inclusive that it doesn't actually exclude very much at all. Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com. If you've found the podcast helpful, consider giving OCD Straight Talk a 5...

Chris discusses an attentional principle that is readily observable for most people. You can't both ruminate and engage the goings-on of the here-and-now at the same time. You're either doing one or the other, even if that means that you're quickly switching back and forth between the two. Chris builds on this concept and provides a practical strategy to harness the principle in order...