Intrusive Thoughts Unmasked

Chrissie Hodges
  • 4.8 (5)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

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. 2d ago

    The Mask I Wore This Summer

    Episode 26: The Mask I Wore This Summer This is a storytelling episode talking about a personal experience I've had this summer and in reflection seeing the many masks I had to wear. What I wanted to focus on was the 'why'. Many of us wonder why it is we feel like we *have* to wear a mask at times -with ourselves and with others. Sometimes it feels like it doesn't make sense, and others just don't understand. So today, I wanted to share through my own experience some of the reasons many of us pick it up and put it on, and then even how hard it is taking it off.  I hope this episode resonates with you, and that if you have or are experiencing this, you can feel like there's a 'why' attached that sometimes gets lost in the shame we feel.  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

  2. Aug 27

    Dr. Steven Phillipson: Resentment, Despair, & Hopelessness - Typical Emotions for OCD

    Episode 25: Dr. Steven Phillipson - Emotions that can be a barrier to treatment and recovery for OCD In this episode, I talk to OCD specialist and renowned therapist about the emotions of resentment, despair and hopelessness and how they can impact treatment, and even after treatment, what it means to live with a brain like ours with OCD! Dr. Phillipson talks extensively about why we may feel these emotions and also what can help when they show up to remind us that this is a disorder that happened to us and not something that warrants these emotions that cause barriers.  Always a pleasure to have Dr. Phillipson on our podcast! It was a great discussion that felt validating and also person-centered when it comes to living with OCD and the natural emotional experience we have with the disorder and the themes. For more information about Dr. Phillipson's practice, go to: www.ocdonline.com 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

  3. Aug 13

    In My Own Words: Grief & Other Emotions with OCD

    Episode 24: In My Own Words: Grief & Other Emotions In this episode, 3 lived experienced individuals with OCD share what it is like to live with the grief and other emotions that accompany a life with OCD. Emotions are not often talked about...but SHOULD BE! Because it's often the emotions that keep us silent...that enforce the mask. When in reality, if we only knew just how many people live with what we live with, feel what we feel...we would know that so many other people can relate and help us feel normalized and VALIDATED in those emotions.  I hope you will feel like what you have experienced is seen and heard through the narratives of these amazing guests! You truly are not alone! 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

  4. Aug 1

    The Clancy Trial & OCD: Let's Clear Up the Misinformation

    Episode 23: The Clancy Trial  This has been a wild and tragic week of misinformation spewed and continued to be spewed on social media by influencers unethically 'diagnosing' Lindsay Clancy with mental health disorders.  Please know that behaviors by therapists who 'diagnose' people who they don't know, have not assessed, are not associated with the person or circumstances is a violation of ethics and it is irresponsible, reckless, and inappropriate. Therapists who do this are unethical and should not be trusted.  This week has been triggering for many in our community because of the circumstances of the trial, and when you have therapists carelessly adding to the fears to fulfill a personal agenda, it can have dire consequences. I'm doing this podcast to share my experience in advocating against this kind of behavior, and also to share how this has taken a toll on myself, and does with many advocates.  I am right there with you if you are struggling and feeling fears around this situation. You are not alone. And I hope this episode clears up any misguidance you may have seen by irresponsible influencers.  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

  5. Jul 23

    Dr. Michael Greenberg: Psycho-Dynamic Therapy - How Does it Relate to OCD?

    Episode 22: Dr. Michael Greenberg: Psycho-Dynamic and OH MY Oedipal Complex! I have been waiting for a while to dive into this episode and post it for you! I adore Dr. Greenberg and how he thinks when it comes to the whole experience of OCD and the continued healing we can do in learning not just about the disorder but all of the other nuances about our childhood that can contribute to what we are experiencing emotionally today! And this episode reflects that! We had no agenda, and here we are going deep into where psycho-dynamic therapy can play a role in explanations of emotions now as adults and how concepts such as Oedipal complexes may offer an explanation to our themes.  Before you go running for the hills! Give it a listen. As a psychology student both in my past Masters degree and my current, I was ALWAYS scared of finding out some deep, dark meaning to why OCD manifests the way it does...when in reality psycho-dynamic offers way more complex interpretations that have nothing to do with content, themes, or my feared outcomes. Michael does an amazing job at breaking it down for us in a person centered, trauma informed way. Please know Michael will be joining us again, so send me your comments/questions and we can talk more about the things you are curious about! ocd.chrissie@gmail.com 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

  6. Jul 9

    John, Stephanie & Ryan: How to be a Supportive Sibling of Someone with OCD

    Episode 21: John, Stephanie, & Ryan: How to be a supportive sibling to someone with OCD SO MANY THANKS to these wonderful individuals for coming on to share their personal experiences of what it's like to live as siblings of someone who has OCD. This episode revealed so many of the issues many of us face - as people who LIVE with OCD - and those that are desperate to support us and help us get better - and how communication or fears or shame can get in the way of being able to meet each other. I loved how each person had a different viewpoint and especially how they approached this, all while everyone wanting one thing - to help make things better and easier.  Loved ones as supporters may seem SO EASY, right? Just understand OCD and do what needs to be done! That's just not the case with this disorder. So many of us wear a mask, we hide the experience, we shield our loved ones, and we cover up the degree of suffering we have to avoid feeling like a burden or weak or unworthy. How do we communicate this? How do we convey just how hard and consuming this is, all while making sure we are still loved, accepted, and not looked at differently? These are a few of the things we touched on today.  I really hope to have more of these interactive discussions on this podcast. The raw and vulnerable talk about what it's really like from ALL angles.  Many, many thanks to Stephanie, Ryan, and John for sharing your stories and for making me an 'honorary' member of your family! Being with you during this recording helped me feel loved and accepted, so I know that you all are doing your parts as a cohesive and supportive family not only to make John feel supported, but anyone that you encounter who may struggle with mental health issues to help them feel validated, normalized, and accepted - exactly as they are.  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

  7. Jun 25

    Episode 20: Why Is Traveling So Hard with OCD? Summertime Sucks!

    Episode 20: This is a storytelling episode. I've been hearing from clients and many people that summers are super triggering because of the pressure to travel or the feelings of sadness/envy of people who are traveling and portraying that life is impeccable because of their trips! Travel is hard, y'all. There are a lot of expectations and it's a complete disruption of your routine, so while many people are excited for that, we - with OCD - may feel scared or dysregulated because we are USED to our routine and the control around it.  I wanted to share what it's been like for me the last 6-8 years learning and just having to deal with and manage the moments in different countries as I travel to do work to bring OCD awareness internationally. It's been something that has been a values based experience, but one that I've had to struggle to learn to be okay with and enjoy.  I hope this episode helps if this is something you deal with!! 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

  8. Jun 11

    The OCD Haze: In My Own Words

    Episode 19: The OCD Haze:  This terrifying state of mind and being when you are trapped inside of symptoms and it feels like there's no way to connect, no way to ever go back to who you were, and life will never be the same. It's almost impossible to describe and hard to remember when you're out of it, and hard to remember what it's like to be normal when you're in it.  In today's episode, we have four different accounts of what it's like to be inside the OCD haze. I know the descriptions and experiences are going to make you feel like you are not alone when you are in this space. There is such vulnerability and real reflection of the experience in this episode. I know you will relate! 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

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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
5 Ratings

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
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Intrusive Thoughts Unmasked
  • Show Website
    Intrusive Thoughts Unmasked

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