Intrusive Thoughts Unmasked

Chrissie Hodges
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  • MENTAL HEALTH

Intrusive Thoughts Unmasked isn’t a traditional interview show, it’s a lived-experience space. Each episode brings you directly into the raw, unfiltered reality of life with intrusive thoughts. You’ll hear regular contributors, personal stories, and the under-discussed truths of what OCD actually feels like from those of us who have had to hide behind the mask.  Here, you get to take off that mask to be seen, understood, and accepted.

  1. 18H AGO

    Episode 12: A Day in the Life of Harm OCD

    `Today's episode is SO important and I applaud the guests for sharing their detailed experiences with the theme of Harm OCD. We hear about this subtype a lot, but are we really sharing the details of what it is like to experience it? It's shameful and scary to talk about! While we sometimes hide behind the label knowing it's a pretty big genre of people with OCD...how hard is it to open up about the actual thoughts, images, intrusions and feelings? VERY HARD.  People may not understand, people may MIS-understand, disclosing makes us feel shame and guilt, and so many other reasons.  I'm so grateful for the guests for talking about real world examples of living with this. I hope it makes you see that you aren't alone with this and you don't have to live in silence or alone. So many wonderful people have this, live with this, and are willing to share and support you! if you are in need of a community of people who can help you feel more accepted, less alone, and more connected to people who understand, please check out my online community for weekly support, monthly classes and events at https://the-ocd-support-community.co.mn If this podcast inspires, supports, and gives you hope and you'd like to support us monthly or sponsor us, please visit our patreon page and become a member. Your contribution will help us continue the podcast and help us provide even more resources for our community! https://www.patreon.com/intrusivethoughtsunmasked

    37 min

  2. MAR 26

    Bonus Episode - Yep, I uploaded the wrong thing!

    Hello! Yep - if you listened today and thought, what in the world is this, you heard my original recording of the intro and outro instead of the episode including me having to look through all my phone stuff because I had low data storage.  Instead of beating myself up, I'm turning it into a self-compassion exposure. I explain what happened when I found out and I'm also including the original audio so you can see just what a huge mishap it was haha  Trigger warning if you don't like to hear cussing! Anyway, I hope you enjoy and remember that I am just a human that makes mistakes and this is a great opportunity to expose that and remember that life goes on.  Thanks for being a continued listener, and I've also published the original episode so you can enjoy that!!

    15 min

  3. MAR 26

    Episode 11: What Self-Compassion Means to Me - Reuploaded!

    Episode 11: What Self-Compassion Means to Me This is such an important topic for those of us that live with OCD and intrusions! Why? Because OCD makes us believe we don't deserve compassion - and why?! We didn't ask for this disorder, we didn't do anything to make this happen, and it's not our fault. But by default, so many of us fall into this belief that we don't deserve self-compassion for so many reasons. It's a constant struggle for many of us living with OCD whether it be because of the disorder itself, the content, themes, our belief that we are damaged goods, or emotions about what we endure now or have endured before with symptoms or compulsions.  In todays episode, we have three lived experience speakers who share the details about the struggle and what they have done to learn and start practicing - and I mean PRACTICING because it's a PRACTICE!! - self-compassion. I believe in this episode you will find practical tools, reasons, and ideas on how to integrate this into your life because even if it doesn't come easy or natural... You DESERVE it!  Community can be helpful on this path because as you'll hear often on this episode, we talk about what we'd say to others if they experience this...well, here's your chance! If you are in need of a community for people who can help you feel more accepted, less alone, and more connected to people who understand, please check out my online community for weekly support, monthly classes and events at https://the-ocd-support-community.co.mn  If this podcast inspires, supports, and gives you hope and you’d like to support us monthly or sponsor us, please visit our patreon page and become a member. Your contribution will help us continue the podcast and help us provide even more resources for our community! www.patreon.com/intrusivethoughtsunmasked

    44 min

  4. MAR 19

    Episode 10: External Validation: The Silent Mask We Wear

    I am excited to share this episode, it is a personal account of the different masks I have worn for decades trying to gain external validation. After my experience with OCD and my childhood experiences, I began looking to society and the world to build my worth - externally. This is impossible, but I did not know that. Not having the ability or skills to see any sort of worth in myself, I tried countless ways that the world, other people, and how I could impress everything and everyone as a means of finding internal worth. This is a bottomless cup that needs more and more but will never provide fulfillment, contentedness, or value.  Today I talk about what that looked like for me, how our experience with OCD can encourage this, and what it took for me to finally see that - me - just myself - can actually be enough.  I hope this episode helps you feel less alone if you are on the quest to feel whole, and wanting to experience the elusive feelings of self-love! It is attainable...but, it is a journey.  Community was so helpful for me on this path, and if you are in need of a community fo people who can help you feel more accepted, less alone, and more connected to people who understand, please check out my online community for weekly support, monthly classes and events at https://the-ocd-support-community.co.mn If this podcast inspires, supports, and gives you hope and you'd like to support us monthly or sponsor us, please visit our patreon page and become a member. Your contribution will help us continue the podcast and help us provide even more resources for our community! www.patreon.com/intrusivethoughtsunmasked

    38 min

  5. MAR 12

    Episode 9: What Mindfulness Means to Me

    Episode 9: What Mindfulness Means to Me I'm so excited to publish this episode, as I believe mindfulness with OCD is SO confusing and has so many different meanings. Mindfulness absolutely is a concept, but is it what we believe it to be because of what we hear, or what we misunderstand?  The speakers in this episode are able to give their own definitions based on lived experience and share with us what that looks like for them. I hope so much that it translates to you and that you can pull from their experiences and examples of practicing mindfulness that will help you see that it's an incredible and helpful tool to include in your own journey toward recovery.  If this podcast helps you or inspires you, please consider donating or sponsoring us monthly through our Patreon account at www.patreon.com/intrusivethoughtsunmasked Check out the different levels of benefits you can receive by helping us keep these conversations going!  If you are struggling with shame, or other emotions that come alongside OCD and are feeling isolated and need support, please come join my online community where you can get weekly sessions with certified peer support specialists and support groups, and monthly classes and events. Join us when you are needing a community of people who 'get it'! https://the-ocd-support-community.co.mn

    46 min

  6. FEB 26

    Episode 8: Why Is Self-Compassion with OCD Difficult? A Conversation with Jonny Say

    Episode 8 We talk with therapist and advocate/educator Jonny Say of the Integrative Centre for OCD in London. Jonny is a regular contributor for 2026 and will engage in several discussions over the course of the year.  Today, we discuss one of the many complex emotions we experience with OCD, particularly with sexual/violent/taboo intrusions - shame. This is an emotion that can take many forms at all stages of OCD, it can be an emotion that continues to pull us back into the entanglement, and it can also be a barrier to treatment. We discuss ways of disconnecting to the shame and Jonny has several helpful strategies that may help if you get stuck in the shame loop. Why is self-compassion so difficult to attain when living with OCD? We have a good chat about this, and also discuss ways to start practicing self-compassion, because as we discuss in the episode - it IS in fact, a practice we can do daily! Find out more about Jonny and hear more about his advocacy on his Youtube Channel at - Jonny Say Therapy. I hope you enjoy the episode! If this podcast helps you or inspires you, please consider donating or sponsoring us monthly through our Patreon account at www.patreon.com/intrusivethoughtsunmasked Check out the different levels of benefits you can receive by helping us keep these conversations going!  If you are struggling with shame, or other emotions that come alongside OCD and are feeling isolated and need support, please come join my online community where you can get weekly sessions with certified peer support specialists and support groups, and monthly classes and events. Join us when you are needing a community of people who 'get it'! https://the-ocd-support-community.co.mn

    51 min

  7. FEB 19

    Episode 7: A Day In The Life of Being Hospitalized for OCD

    This is part of the series of: A Day In The Life of... And today we are talking about what it's like to be hospitalized for OCD. This is an experience that is not uncommon but is hugely stigmatized. Hospitalization is a source of shame, stigma, and fear about how people will view us, what it means about us, and then the traumatization of what it is like to be in many of these centers/hospitals/institutions.  Being hospitalized can be an enormous source of shame, not to mention that many practitioners have NO idea what OCD is or how it can manifest, so the combination of being in a space that is terrifying PLUS not understanding what you are going through can be absolutely traumatizing.  Today, we are sharing our experiences of being hospitalized because of our experiences with OCD. Our hope is that if you have been hospitalized or if you are in the future, you know you aren't alone in this, that you can get through it, and that there are opportunities to find peace and joy, even in a place where that seems impossible! Hospitalization can serve a vital function, and that is if you are in a space with your mental health that you need intervention for safety and security, please understand that it is imperative for you to seek that support. Personally, I am so grateful I had the opportunity to stabilize in a secure environment, despite it's flaws, in order to gain some insight, understanding, and knowledge about what can help while my nervous system was stabilizing. I have always known that if I needed to be hospitalized again, I could do it and I'd be okay. So, this episode is meant to help you see that if you have been or even in the future if you are hospitalized, it is NOT the end of the world! You will survive it, you will and can find hope and motivation, and you do have hope.  If you want to support or sponsor our podcast, please visit our patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/intrusivethoughtsunmasked.com If you are looking for an online community who understands, gets what you are going through, and you can connect to to feel less alone, check out my OCD online community at http://the-ocd-support-community.mn.co

    51 min

  8. FEB 12

    Episode 6: The Cost of Sharing: When Disclosing Your OCD Intrusions has Consequences

    In this episode, we talk to Alie Garza. Alie lives with OCD and is an OCD Therapist and her story is filled with inspiration and resilience. Alie disclosed her intrusions to a trusted community, and unfortunately received a response many of us dread and fear.  Rejection. Ostracization. Misunderstanding. This is something that so many of us fear and keep us silent and behind the mask! The reason I feel Alie's experience is SO important is because she is a testament to going through what we are terrified of, and surviving AND now being in a position of disclosing without shame, fear, or rejection. Alie embodies exactly what advocacy is...and also owning her authentic story to help support others in how to change how they approach these situations.  We discuss her story, what we can do when we feel scared or threatened by sharing, and how to approach professionals who may misunderstand.  This is an important episode and topic. It may feel scary to listen to because trust me...I KNOW this is something so many of us worry about. But, by NOT talking about it, we just perpetuate the fears that we have no agency, right, or opportunity to shed light, education, or boundaries around who we tell and why.  I hope this episode helps support you if you are experiencing this or gives you some insight or tips if you are in this position.  If you are in need of a community that can help support you where you are at in your OCD experience, check out my online community for support at https://the-ocd-support-community.mn.co If this podcast supports or inspires you, please consider supporting us as a patreon or sponsor at www.patreon.com/intrusivethoughtsunmasked

    49 min
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About

Intrusive Thoughts Unmasked isn’t a traditional interview show, it’s a lived-experience space. Each episode brings you directly into the raw, unfiltered reality of life with intrusive thoughts. You’ll hear regular contributors, personal stories, and the under-discussed truths of what OCD actually feels like from those of us who have had to hide behind the mask.  Here, you get to take off that mask to be seen, understood, and accepted.

Information

  • Creator
    Chrissie Hodges
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Intrusive Thoughts Unmasked
  • Show Website
    Intrusive Thoughts Unmasked