Advertise on podcast: FearCast Podcast

For a while I had a question that I needed answered, so naturally I call up Jon Hershfield, MFT. I often hear from clients in treatment that they are afraid of googling information, asking a question, or otherwise looking up information as it might become compulsive and set them back. But, does that mean someone with OCD is doomed to a life without information or clarification? How can someone with OCD learn something new with being in danger of a therapeutic set-back? The post #292- When And How Is It “OK” To Gather Information, With Jon Hershfield, MFT appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Marie reached out to ask a few questions. Her main two questions are 1) Can groinal sensations show up in the context of OCD even when they go against someone’s values, and 2) Can I stop monitoring and questioning their meaning without feeling like I’m missing something important? These are two great questions. So many people acknowledge their compulsions keep them locked in a disastrous cycle and want to stop, but they fear that they will miss something vital so they try again (and again). So, what can Marie do to prevent herself from accidentally hurting someone as a result of her groinal sensations? The post #291- Stopping Groinal Sensations Will Prevent Me Harming People, Right? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Documentarian, photographer, and artist, Jaina Cipirano, joined me today to talk all about Emetophobia. Not only is she the creator and director of the upcoming documentary on Emetophobia, she is also someone who has struggled with it, fought it through therapy, and come out the other side in recovery. In this candid interview, Jaina shares how she started to notice Emetophobia in her life, the battle of misunderstanding with her family and treatment providers, the wrong treatment, and the relief of appropriate treatment. This conversation is absolutely validating and educational to anyone struggling with Emetophobia, or anyone who knows someone fighting it. Jaina Cipriano website: https://www.jainaciprianophotography.com/ Actualization Documentary: https://www.jainaciprianophotography.com/actualization-2026 For more about Emetophobia, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center The post #290- Emetophobia, Treatment, And Recovery With Jaina Cipriano appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Rose reached out to me recently to ask a question that a lot of people also have. Her therapist let her know that she’s doing really well and the therapist thinks Rose is ready to go it alone without therapy. But, is Rose ready? So, how will she know she’s ready? Does she have the right tools? What happens if she relapses and needs to call the therapist again; is she a failure? Can she slide into talk therapy again even though it wasn’t helpful the first time? Does she need it? Loads of questions and uncertainty that I do my best to address. If you have these questions too, this might be an episode for you. The post #289- Therapist Thinks I’m Done With Therapy. Am I Really Ready? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Jason messaged with a question any homeowner has had, and I’m willing to met pretty much anyone around the world has had. He wants to know when “enough is enough” to stop ruminating, checking, and thinking about potential problems around his house. I offer him some suggestions on how to limit his compulsions while I encourage him to remember that no matter how much he tries, OCD will always want him to do more. The post #288- How Can I Tell When I’ve Checked Enough To Move On? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Anna reached out with an audio question (and a follow up email) to ask a question about Aboulomania, or severe difficulty making decisions. She struggles making big choices and finds herself getting stuck. She wants to know how she can start making choices, trusting herself, and getting over this hangup. The post #287- Aboulomania is stopping me from making decisions- Help! appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Mary messaged me with a question about how she can accept her past choices without having to also accept that she is fundamentally flawed for giving into her compulsion. Real Event OCD can be a monster because it forces you to accept a giant package of information, which all together feels wrong, and wont let you easily split it up. I was glad to hear her message because I see this struggle in my practice so I know more people need to hear this message. The post #286-Is Accepting My Past Choices Agreeing That I Am Broken? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today I had the pleasure of having on repeat guest, Natalia Aiza, LPC, to talk about her upcoming book for self guided EMDR. Natalia has been on the podcast before to talk about SPACE for children and adults, and her recent book on EMDR outlines what this treatment method looks like, how it works, and how people can utilize some of the trauma focused techniques in a self guided way. Natalia is a great communicator and her passion for helping people is evident in this episode. The post #285- Self Guided EMDR with Natalia Aiza, LPC appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today I had the privilege to speak with Dr. Alec Pollard, PhD, and to pick his brain about Treatment Interfering Behaviors, or TIBs. Dr. Pollard is a well known researcher, speaker, and clinician who has a particular interest in helping people who struggle with the treatment process. We discuss four key TIBs (Beliefs, Skills Deficits, Incentive Deficits, and Motivation Deficits) and how they create obstacles in the way of recovery. Dr. Pollard discusses how clinicians and treatment seekers identify and work through their TIBs so they can get back on track toward recovery. The post #284- Treatment Interfering Behaviors (TIBs) with Alec Pollard, PhD appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s audio question comes from Joey. They ask a question that represents the middle ground between genuine relationship concerns and Relationship focused OCD (ROCD). In their call they note their obsession toward their partner and struggle with fears that their partner will leave or cheat. But, they also point out that their partner is spending a lot of time with other people which is triggering their insecurity. The post #283- ROCD Makes Me Think My Partner Will Leave Or Cheat appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today’s question comes from Ann who asked a question that I’ve never been asked before. Ann shared that she has been diagnosed with POCD by her psychiatrist, but she questions this diagnosis because she is interested in a niche anime style that portrays young looking, or child coded, characters in sexually explicit ways. First, how can she come to terms with the diagnosis and deal with the obsession that it is wrong. Secondly, how can she think about her interest in Lolicon anime? Is it compatible with diagnosis, or is the interest in it enough to make the thoughts ego-syntonic, thereby nullifying the POCD diagnosis? I offer some thoughts and some considerations while offering encouragement and guidance for treatment to discuss with her treatment team. For more about POCD, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center The post #282- Can I Have POCD And Be Into Lolicon Anime? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Today I’m answer two questions. Anxious Questioner wants to know how to handle a situation where they shared some details about their OCD and now they are worried it has changed the way the other person views them, and they want to know what to do. To answer this, I do offer some direct advice, but I also go over some solid guidelines on how, when, and why to share details about your obsessions, if you share them at all. Diane asks the next question. She wants to know how to let go of the content of the thoughts to get on with her life. Scrupulosity has gripped her after a rough medical patch that has left her struggling with unnamed thoughts that stop her from looking at people or sitting next to them. I discuss ways to give herself forgiveness and offer some exposure advice! For more about Religious and Moral Scrupulosity, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center The post 281- I Overshared, What Do I Do, And Forgiving Myself For These Thoughts appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Peyton sent in a great question about their Casadastraphobia, but it also applies to other phobias, and the question is mainly in two parts. First, is it common for people to ignore their phobias because they think it’s just a crazy thought without ever knowing that it is a real fear/ phobia with a real name? The second question is about whether knowing about the fear, and subsequently giving it attention, make it worse just because you’re now aware of it? These are great questions! In the process, I learned about the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon, and I forward the learning to all of you. To learn more about phobias, check out this article from the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center The post 280- Casadastraphobia/ Phobias: Does Knowing It’s A Thing Make It Worse? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

Broken Record sent in an audio question about her struggle with ROCD and SO-OCD. She is struggling with a dilemma; is she actually not attracted to her female partner, or is she more attracted to the male body shape? Did I mention she identifies as Bi-sexual? Either way, she wants to know how to love her partner best and stop her rumination about the possibility that she dislikes her partner’s body and would rather have something entirely different! The post #279- Is ROCD Making Me More Attracted To Men? appeared first on FearCast Podcast.

For today, I’m going to answer two questions! The first comes from Alex who wants to know whether his routine of checking his groin for potential arousal, and how it all started, is a normal process for someone with POCD. The next question comes from Salt & Pepper. They want to know whether OCD can give them thoughts about self harm, or are they actually having self harm thoughts? The post #278- Habitually Checking My Groin, and OCD Causing Self Harm Thoughts appeared first on FearCast Podcast.