Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Episode 56

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Aubrey back to the show for part 2 of her interview. This week they delve a little deeper into Aubrey’s struggles over the years. As people with OCD know sometimes problems are not strictly relegated to pure OCD, sometimes other co-morbid struggles abound as is the case for Aubrey. She shares about her past behaviors as well as some of her current ones including anorexia, hair pulling and mild hoarding. Julie is fascinated by the similarities that these issues have with OCD and really gains an insight into how easily some other these behaviors can occur if you already have OCD. They talk about how medication and therapy have helped and also about different coping mechanism they have formed over the years. This episode is one of honesty and resilience in the face of numerous struggles and should be a great listen for everyone.

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Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Episode 55

This episode Julie and Andy welcome Aubrey to the show. Aubrey is a 28 year old living in Texas who remembers struggling with OCD as far back as she can remember. She talks about how severe her OCD is and when she first noticed it in herself through a therapist telling her she had it. Julie and Aubrey discuss some of their similar obsession and compulsions while Aubrey also shares some obsessions unique to her such as a fear of committing suicide and a fear of water and the need to be completely dry. On the compulsion side Aubrey discusses cuticle picking, hair pulling, scab picking and checking locks. This is part one of a two part interview with a brave woman who has tried several different medications along with several different therapists and has made huge strides done the road to recovery from OCD. You will here about her desire for a family, about what she believes is the cause of her OCD as well as where she sees herself in the future. This is an episode you don't want to miss.

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Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Episode 54

After a long hiatus Julie and Andy return to the podcast and catch their viewers up on everything that has been going on in their lives for the past couple months. They talk about how having a kid has completely changed their lives and how it’s tough adjusting to a tiny little person calling the shots instead of them! Julie discusses how her OCD has been doing during this time and her thoughts on OCD and motherhood. The end the episode by discussing the future of the show and announce the upcoming topics that will be talked about as well as some very important interviews they have lined up. This welcome back episode is one that Julie and Andy are very happy to record.

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Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Episode 53

In this episode Julie and Andy continue their conversation with Charlotte about OCD and Religion. They talk about the difference between "real" prayers and OCD prayers, how they often feel like an "evil person, " and how both of them are at times preoccupied with divine retribution. Andy reads comments and emails from listeners about the topic and the resulting discussion begs the question of whether being religious makes OCD worse or better and whether an atheist suffering from OCD struggles with these same obsessions. This episode is a frank conversation about how OCD can affect and cling to areas in our lives that are most precious to us no matter how much we wish they wouldn't.

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Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Episode 52

In this episode Andy and Julie welcome Charlotte back to the show to talk about OCD and Religion. Religion is an important or the primary factor in many people's lives and, not surprisingly, the same is true, with a twist, for many who suffer from OCD. For some, unfortunately, their religion is an integral part of their obsessions (e.g., scrupulosity) and compulsions. For others, fortunately, their faith provides a means of dealing with and/or overcoming their OCD and its attendant problems. Charlotte and Julie discuss how religion plays into their OCD struggles and how at times they feel blasphemous and as if the obsessions and compulsions take the joy out of their faith. This is an open and honest discussion between two morally sensitive people that is sure to shed light on another interesting aspect of OCD.

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