OCD Straight Talk Chris Leins, MA, NCC, LPCC-S

Chris discusses the idea of meta-cognitions: the thoughts we have about the thoughts we have; and he answers a listener's question about intrusive images. He points not to the images or thoughts we have, but what we think about those thoughts or images that makes them scary. 

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com.

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Chris grapples with the questions of 1. What constitutes a panic attack? and What are the common triggers or reasons that individuals might experience them? He then tackles the whole matter of what to do next, suggesting that panic disorder is just OCD disguised as something else. 
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 us a 5-star rating or subscribing to the podcast for more structured help with your anxiety-related symptoms.

Chris tackles a listener's question about Mental Contamination, and provides clarity on two points: the first priority in making therapeutic progress, and the aim of exposure therapy.
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 or subscribing to the podcast for more structured help for your anxiety-symptoms. 

Chris discusses the idea of overriding your urge to manage your thoughts and feelings. This isn't easy; and nobody (at least nobody who knows what he or she is talking about) is saying it is. But it certainly is possible. To further unpack this, Chris gives the example of behavior-change within the context of depressive episodes, and explains its longitudinal effect. He then shows how behavior-change within the context of clinical anxiety or OCD is not only a similar concept but also enjoys the same results. 

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com, and subscribe to OCDST for more structured help with your anxiety.

Chris takes on the question of the degree to which OCD is unlike the anxiety disorders and more like Trichotillomania and Excoriation Disorder. It comes down to emotionality and what specifically to focus on managing.

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com; and consider subscribing for more structured help with your anxiety. 

Chris tackles a good question relative to exposure therapy: How informal is too informal? Many of us walk into exposure-work with the idea that it has look a certain way; and that way is often accompanied by some preconceived notions. Some of these are good and accurate. Some of them are not. Well, which notions or "parameters" are actually helpful, according to the literature? 

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have to chrisleins04@gmail.com; and consider subscribing to OCD Straight Talk for more structured help with your OCD or anxiety-symptoms.