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When we hear "intrusive thoughts," most of us picture a "what if" statement: What if I go crazy? What if I drive off the side of the road? What if I hurt my baby? But there are two other forms that many people never hear about, and not knowing about them can make us mistake them for something else. In this episode, Arielle shares her own experience with postpartum OCD and walks through all three forms: intrusive thoughts, intrusive images, and intrusive urges. You'll hear: - The three forms of intrusive thoughts: thoughts, images, and urges - What an intrusive image feels like ("like a movie playing out") and why your brain treats it like a real emergency - The "secret" form of OCD: intrusive urges, the pull to act that so many women misread as intent or desire - How the OCD cycle works for all three (the thought, the meaning we give it, the distress, and the compulsion), and why the same process applies to each - Why praying to make the thoughts go away can become a compulsion - Why reacting to the thoughts was "gasoline" for them, and why we have to stop treating them like an emergency - Why the thoughts may not go away, and why that's okay FREE 5-DAY PEACE RESET Arielle is launching a free 5-Day Peace Reset on November 16. It walks through a process very similar to what she does with her clients in her program: what intrusive thoughts are, how they impact you, the cycle around them, how to recognize them in your own life, and how to respond differently so you can experience peace. Sign up or join the list at peaceafterpostpartum.com/start.

This episode includes a discussion of harm-themed intrusive thoughts. If you are experiencing thoughts like this, Arielle encourages you to listen, because she believes it will help you feel less alone and know what to do. "I made my mom sleep on the outside of my sons' bunk bed so she could stop me from murdering my family in my sleep, and I wish I was kidding." Arielle opens up about the intrusive thoughts she experienced after having her baby: the fear that she could lose control, sleepwalk, and hurt the people she loves most. She walks through the lengths she went to in order to keep everyone safe, including moving out of the bedroom, taking anti-anxiety medication to fall asleep, and having her mom (who worked in a prison for over 10 years and is now a therapist) sleep on the outside of the bed. You'll hear: - The first intrusive thought she ever had, while pregnant with her second son, and what happened when she told her doctor - Why sleep started to feel like the most dangerous thing she could do - What it was like to barely sleep, to question her faith, and to feel unable to tell anyone the whole story - How every "safety" move she made was actually strengthening the OCD cycle - Why an intrusive thought on its own doesn't mean anything, and what changes when you give it meaning - How to experience peace in the middle of the storm, even while the thoughts are still there If you are a Christian mom dealing with scary intrusive thoughts, whether you're newly postpartum or years out, Arielle would love to walk you through her path to peace. Text the word PEACE to 404-692-3754.

There was a point in my postpartum experience where I wasn’t just questioning my thoughts. I was questioning everything. I questioned whether I was really a Christian. Whether I had ever actually been saved. Whether Christianity itself was true. Why God was allowing me to suffer. Why He wasn’t healing me. Why I could open my Bible and feel absolutely nothing. Today we’re talking about Step 5 of The Unafraid Method: ANCHOR. In this episode, I’m sharing one of the deepest parts of my own story and what it looked like when postpartum anxiety and intrusive thoughts started affecting my faith too. We talk about: Religious intrusive thoughts and the fear of committing the unforgivable sinQuestioning whether I was ever really savedWatching The Case for Christ because I was questioning what I believedWondering why God would allow me to suffer instead of healing meReading the Bible and feeling nothingUsing feelings as proof of whether God was closeThe moment I looked in the mirror and said, “God, if You’re real, I need You to do something.”The difference between faith and certaintyHow prayer and Scripture can sometimes become part of certainty-seekingWhat it means to stay anchored when you don’t understand what God is doingWhy being anchored doesn’t mean never questioning, doubting, or feeling afraidOne of the biggest things I had to learn was this: God’s presence is not dependent on my ability to feel it. Being anchored didn’t mean I always felt sure. Sometimes it simply meant continuing to reach for God when I didn’t feel sure at all. Peace After Postpartum officially launches October 5th. If you want to hear more when we open, text PEACE to (678) 436-8589. By texting PEACE, you agree to receive recurring text messages from Arielle Wozniak LLC about Peace After Postpartum and related resources. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help or STOP to unsubscribe. ariellewozniak.com/smsterms | ariellewozniak.com/privacy Next up in The Unafraid Method: RECLAIM.

One of the hardest parts of postpartum intrusive thoughts is how isolating they can feel. You may have people who love you deeply and still feel like no one fully understands what it’s like to be scared of your own mind. Today we’re talking about Step 4 of The Unafraid Method: CONNECT. In this episode, I’m sharing why community was such an important part of my own story, why being understood can feel so different from simply being loved, and how the people around you can support you without accidentally becoming part of the reassurance cycle. We talk about: Why shame and intrusive thoughts can feel so isolatingThe difference between people who love you and people who truly understand the experienceWhy hearing “me too” can be so powerfulHow community can help you notice progress you may miss on your ownThe difference between support and reassuranceWhat helpful support from a spouse, friend, or family member can actually sound likeHow to communicate what you need when you’re spiralingWhy reassurance can bring temporary relief but keep you coming back for more certaintyWhere professional support fits into a larger support systemA simple way to identify the gaps in your own support circleConnection isn’t about finding people who will prove every fear wrong. It’s about having people who can be present, understand what you’re walking through, and help you stay connected to your life when fear gets loud. I also share why community is such a big part of Peace After Postpartum, my 90-day group program + community for moms navigating intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and OCD postpartum. If you want more information, text PEACE to 404-692-3754. 🤍 Next up in The Unafraid Method: ANCHOR.

You know you’re spiraling. You know Googling, checking, analyzing, and asking for reassurance aren’t giving you lasting relief. But then comes the question: What am I actually supposed to do when the intrusive thought shows up? Today we’re moving into Step 3 of The Unafraid Method: RESPOND. In this episode, I’m walking through a simple framework you can use to start creating space between the scary thought and what you do next: Notice → Name → Don’t Solve → Return We talk about: Why trying to get rid of the thought can keep you stuckHow to notice the thought without immediately entering the debateNaming the pattern instead of analyzing the contentWhy “this one is different” is such a powerful trapLetting a question exist without needing to solve itReturning to your actual life even when anxiety is still presentHow reassurance, prayer, Scripture, and “good thoughts” can sometimes become part of the certainty-seeking cycleThe difference between trust and certaintyWhy progress does not mean responding perfectly every single timeA simple exercise to practice responding differently in one real-life situationThe goal is not to make every intrusive thought disappear. It’s to stop treating every scary thought like a question that has to be answered before you’re allowed to keep living. I also share more about Peace After Postpartum, my 90-day group program + community for moms navigating intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and OCD. If you want the founding member details, text PEACE to 404-692-3754 by August 31st. 🤍 Next up in The Unafraid Method: CONNECT.

You have the scary thought. Then comes the Googling. The checking. The analyzing. The reassurance. The avoiding. The replaying. And for a little while, you might actually feel better. So why does the fear keep coming back? Today we’re diving into Step 2 of The Unafraid Method: RECOGNIZE. In this episode, we’re talking about the things you may be doing after an intrusive thought because they make you feel safer in the moment, but can become part of the cycle that keeps pulling you back into fear. We’ll talk about: Why reassurance can feel so good but never seem to lastThe difference between useful research and Googling for certaintyChecking your feelings, reactions, body sensations, and memoriesAvoidance and how fear can slowly start making your decisionsSneaky mental patterns like reviewing, analyzing, testing, and trying to prove a thought wrongHow prayer can sometimes become part of certainty-seeking without us realizing itHow to start recognizing your own patterns without judging yourselfA simple exercise to identify what you reach for when fear shows upI also answer a question I’ve been getting about how far postpartum you can be and still join Peace After Postpartum. If these struggles began during your postpartum season and you’re still actively navigating them, I don’t want you to automatically assume you’re “too far postpartum” for this to be relevant. Peace After Postpartum is my 90-day group program + community for moms navigating intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and OCD. If you want the founding member details, text PEACE to 404-692-3754 by August 31st. 🤍 Next up: RESPOND — what do you actually do when the scary thought shows up?

If you’ve ever had a scary intrusive thought postpartum and immediately found yourself analyzing it, checking how you feel, Googling, asking for reassurance, or wondering what it means about you, this episode is for you. Today we’re diving into the first step of The Unafraid Method: UNDERSTAND. I’m breaking down what’s actually happening when a scary intrusive thought shows up, your brain assigns meaning to it, anxiety spikes, and suddenly you feel like you have to figure it out right now. In this episode, we talk about: Why intrusive thoughts can feel like evidence about who you areThe cycle of intrusion → meaning/alarm → distress → response → temporary reliefWhy Googling, checking, reassurance, avoidance, and mental reviewing can keep the spiral goingWhy anxiety, sensations, and emotional reactions can become part of what you start analyzingWhy thoughts that hit your deepest values can feel especially powerfulThe constant need for certainty underneath so many OCD-type fearsWhy “What if this time is different?” can keep restarting the cycleA simple way to map one recent spiral without trying to solve the thoughtThe goal isn’t to never have another intrusive thought. It’s to move from: “What is wrong with me?” to: “I recognize what’s happening here.” I also share an update on Peace After Postpartum, my new 90-day group program + community for postpartum moms navigating intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and OCD. If you want details about becoming a founding member, text PEACE to 404-692-3754 by August 31st. 🤍 Tomorrow we’re moving into Step 2 of The Unafraid Method: RECOGNIZE, where we’ll talk about the things you may be doing to feel safe that could actually be keeping you stuck in the spiral.

If you’ve ever had a scary thought postpartum and immediately wondered, “What does this mean about me?” this episode is for you. In this episode, I’m sharing the 7-step process I wish I had when I was in the thick of intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and OCD. We’ll talk about: Why the thought itself isn’t always what keeps the spiral goingHow Googling, checking, analyzing, reassurance, and avoidance can keep fear aliveThe difference between understanding what’s happening and actually knowing how to respondWhy support and community matter so much when this feels isolatingHow faith in Jesus fits into the process without becoming another place to chase certaintyWhy “getting better” does not have to mean never having another scary thoughtThe full Unafraid Method: Understand → Recognize → Respond → Connect → Anchor → Reclaim → SustainI also share why, after years of coaching women 1:1, I’m creating something new for postpartum moms navigating intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and OCD. Peace After Postpartum is a 90-day group program + community built around The Unafraid Method, with weekly coaching, practical support, and faith woven throughout. If you’re listening before August 31st and want details about becoming one of the founding members, text PEACE to 404-692-3754. And come back tomorrow because I’m breaking down Step 1 of The Unafraid Method: UNDERSTAND.

The decision to take meds or not to take meds is one that can cause a ton of turmoil for many of us. In this episode, I talk through the decision making process by sharing my own story and how I came to the decision of taking medication, my thoughts about medication, my hesitations, and my experience with medication. I initially thought meds would be the magic pill to solve all my problems…spoiler alert, it wasn’t. Feeling stuck and not sure what to do next, schedule a free 1:1 coaching call to help you move forward: ariellewozniak.com/breakthrough Making a decision about medication, get the free guide: https://ariellewozniak.com/medication-guide-form  As always, feel free to text me if you ever want to connect: 404-692-3754 Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for professional medical advice.

In today’s episode, I share the surprising lesson I learned from a story in Scripture about a leader whose life was extended by God, but whose comfort led to pride and downfall. You’ll see why trials can actually be the very thing that brings us closer to the Lord, and how falling to your knees in hard seasons might be the greatest gift you’ll ever receive. Feeling stuck and not sure what to do next, schedule a free 1:1 coaching call to help you move forward: ariellewozniak.com/breakthrough As always, feel free to text me if you ever want to connect: 404-692-3754 Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for professional medical advice.

In today's episode, I discuss the simple shift that allowed me to stop anxiety and depression from ruling my life! Starting today you too can live a life that isn't dictated by how you feel. Feeling stuck and not sure what to do next, schedule a free 1:1 coaching call to help you move forward: ariellewozniak.com/breakthrough As always, feel free to text me if you ever want to connect: 404-692-3754 Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for professional medical advice.

Today's episode is about the top three barriers myself and my clients have experienced in our journeys to overcome postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD. These three things can keep you stuck and confused about how to move forward, but it doesn't have to be that way. In this episode, I'll share tips to overcome each of the three barriers and finally start moving forward! Feeling stuck and not sure what to do next, schedule a free 1:1 coaching call to help you move forward: ariellewozniak.com/breakthrough As always, feel free to text me if you ever want to connect: 404-692-3754 Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for professional medical advice.

If you're a "type A" person who likes to be in control, chances are postpartum depression has been extremely tough because it's a situation you simply cannot control. Let's talk about in today's episode - perhaps there's an action step you need to take today to start healing! Feeling stuck and not sure what to do next, schedule a free 1:1 coaching call to help you move forward: ariellewozniak.com/breakthrough As always, feel free to text me if you ever want to connect: 404-692-3754 Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for professional medical advice.

Friend, if you're anything like me, you want this experience to have ended yesterday. You don't want to sit in this any longer. But, what if there's something more to learn or perhaps something more happening through this experience. In today's episode, I walk you through a familiar biblical story and apply it to the battle with postpartum depression. Feeling stuck and need help moving forward? Schedule your free call: ariellewozniak.com/breakthrough Text me if you ever want to chat: 404-692-3754 Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and should not substitute for professional medical advice.

Have you ever felt like you were floating outside your body... or like the world around you wasn’t real? Those strange, scary sensations are known as depersonalization and derealization, and they’re more common in postpartum anxiety and OCD than you might think. In today’s episode, I’m walking you through what these symptoms are, why they happen, and what to do when they hit you hard. The answer probably isn’t what you’d expect, but it is what actually works. Inside this episode, you’ll hear: What depersonalization and derealization feel like in real life How these sensations connect to postpartum anxiety and OCD Why trying to "snap out of it" only fuels the fear What to do instead when you feel detached from yourself or your surroundings Why this experience doesn’t mean you’re broken and why there’s real hope for healing If you’ve been silently struggling with feeling “off,” disconnected, or unsure if you’re losing your grip, this episode is for you. You’re not alone. And there’s a path forward. Take Action:If you’re stuck in postpartum anxiety or OCD and want Christ-centered support, schedule a free 30-minute Breakthrough Call to get clarity and a step-by-step plan at https://l.bttr.to/JhHzw Still have questions or need a word of encouragement? Text me directly at 404-692-3754. I’d love to hear from you. Disclaimer:This episode is for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for professional medical advice.