Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Tom Corboy to the show. Tom is the Executive Director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles and employees therapists at three locations in California, specifically dedicated to treating people with OCD. The Center has individual treatment options, group therapist options, in-patient, out patient, Skype, and even online therapy, having helped about 1500 or more people with OCD to date. In this interview Tom tells us his history on how he came to establish the center, what kind of treatment they focus on, and how successful those treatments are. He is also the author of a couple of workbooks as well as a book on OCD spectrum disorders. Don’t miss the wealth of knowledge that Tom disseminates to us during this episode, it’s a great one!

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Lindsey Muller to the show. Lindsey works in private practice with Sarosh Motivala who was previously interviewed on the show. She specializes in the treatment of body focused repetitive behaviors such as skin picking and trichotillomania. She is also the author of the published book, Life is Trichy, which talks about her personal struggles with the disorder, her overcoming of it, and her professional experience treating it. Lindsey is one of the foremost treaters of these disorders and her interview is not to be missed.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Mitzi VanCleve as their guest. Mitzi is the author of the book called “Strivings within-The OCD Christian: Overcoming Doubt in the Storm of Anxiety” and links her being a Christian directly with her relationship and overcoming of OCD. For years Mtizi straggled with OCD and panic disorder without knowing what was wrong with her but once she did discover it she made every effort to gain knowledge, find help, and help others around her. Mitzi’s story is one you don’t want to miss.

In this episode Julie and Andy interview guest Katy who has suffered with OCD and anxiety most of her life. Katy’s OCD has run the gamut of obsessions and compulsions and she also suffers with ADD, Dermotillomania, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Despite all these obstacles Katy has found help, been supported by friends and family, and has learned that no matter what you go through there is always hope if you simply reach out. Katy says it best when she says that even though she suffers from OCD and even though it shapes her life, it doesn’t define it.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome their friend Cindy to the show. Cindy has suffered with Trichotillomania for over 25 years. She is very honest and open about her disorder and how she is still in the midst of her disorder and not on the recovery side at this time. Her story is one of struggle, pain, frustration and of hope. Although Cindy’s Trich is worse than it has ever been she still has a glimmer of hope that things will get better and that she will overcome her disorder. For everyone struggling this is the episode for you, our episodes are not always about being recovered and healed, sometimes they are about sharing with each other in the midst of our hurt, and that’s what Cindy’s story is.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Alison to the show. Alison has been an OCD sufferer for many years and is author of a book for teens entitled “Being Me with OCD.” She also was a speaker at last year’s IOCDF conference. This conversation covers therapy, medication, fighting the stigma of mental illness, the importance of looking forward in your struggle, and the importance of reaching out to just one person to help you in your struggles. Alison is a seasoned speaker and will be a joy to listen to her story, her struggles, and her success with OCD.

In this episode we welcome Stoddard to the show for a double episode on Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (ROCD). Stoddard has been plagued with this type of OCD since his first relationship at the age of 16. Wherever he has gone and whatever relationship he has been in, ROCD has been in the forefront making him doubt his partner and even doubt himself. This episode is one that is full of laughter and joking but also gets down to the serious issue that is ROCD and how it can be life altering when experienced to the degree the our guest experiences it.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Diana Wilson to the show. Diana is the cofounder of the UK organization MaternalOCD. The goal of MaternalOCD is to raise the profile of OCD for mothers, for as we all know the disorder is one that strips women of their fundamental right to enjoy motherhood. Diana and Julie cover a wide variety of topics during this episode including perinatal OCD, postnatal OCD, CBT, imaginary exposure, recovery, and support groups. This show is for anyone that is a mother and struggles with thoughts of harming their children. More information can be found at www.maternalocd.org.

In this interview Julie and Andy welcome Dr. Sarosh Motivala to the show. Sarosh works at the UCLA Treatment Center for OCD and also has is own practice, SpectrumCBT, where he treats people with anxiety disorders. Sleep and OCD is one of Sarosh’s main areas of expertise and this episode’s conversation focuses a lot on this topic as well as the ins and outs of CBT vs. ERP. If you have OCD and struggle with sleeping this episode is for you.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Ro Vitale to the podcast. Ro is a singer and songwriter from Argentina who also happens to be an OCD sufferer. The conversation covers Ro’s battle with severe OCD, her traveling to Los Angeles to seek help, her treatment with CBT and ERP, her recovery from OCD, and her becoming an OCD advocate and IOCF spokesperson. This story is one of overcoming, one of following your dreams, and one of never surrendering to the disorder no matter how bad it gets. Ro’s journey will undoubtedly touch your heart.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Kara to the show. Kara has struggled with OCD of various types her whole life but in particular she currently deals with Homosexual OCD (HOCD) and Relationship OCD (ROCD) the most. Julie and Kara talk about why these particular types of OCD are so hard to deal with, especially for women. The nature/nurture side of the disorder is also discussed as Kara’s mother has a long history of being hospitalized for her severe OCD. This is the story of a woman who loves her life and tries every day to make her husband and kids proud of who she is and who she is becoming.

In this episode Julie and Andy finish their discussion about the IOCF Conference in Los Angeles. They talk about the keynote with Ethan S. Smith (a future guest on the show), The Scary World of OCD and Parenting, the Myth of Pure O, Moving Beyond OCD to organize and create discipline, Acceptance and the Shield, and Dating and Marriage with OCD. The conference experience was amazing and the sessions were not only informative, but some were life changing for Julie as well as Andy. Don’t miss this part 2 of 2 update episode.

In this episode Julie and Andy share with listeners their experience at the International OCD Foundation Conference they recently attended in Los Angeles. They talk about the sessions they attended as well as the people they were privileged to meet over the three days. Sessions they attended include: The Neuropsychology of OCD, Beyond SSRIs, OCD in the media, and The untold Story of Negative Emotions. The conference was attended by a record number of 1300 people and for Julie and Andy was well worth the time and effort. Don’t miss this episode to catch up on everything IOCDF.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome Allyson to the show. Allyson has recently discovered that she has OCD although looking back she can now see OCD traits as far back as her childhood. A couple of years ago there was an event in Allyson’s life that changed her mental makeup, caused depression and severe panic attacks. After seeking help for the first time she made some progress but realized that things were still not right a few months ago. After many conversations with Julie, Allyson realizes that what she has been struggling with her whole life has been OCD. Allyson’s is story of courage and perseverance and one not to be missed.

In this episode Julie and Andy welcome their friend Katie to the show. Katie is a mother of two and her daughter Emi, who is 7, suffers from OCD. Katie explains what it is like to mother someone with OCD and what the process of identifying Emi’s OCD was like for her and her husband. She talks about medication, play therapy, taking one day at a time, and always having a positive mental attitude. This interview is a direct result of listeners asking us to talk about OCD in children and if you are a parent of someone with OCD this show is for you. Katie is candid, caring, and very knowledgably of how best to help her daughter. Don’t miss this episode.