FearCast Podcast Kevin Foss, MFT

Today, Issy reached out with an audio question. She shared her story about diagnosis with OCD and her success with POCD, but wanted to know how to deal with issues related to SO-OCD. She has two main questions. The first is how to help her parents understand what ERP is and why she should do it (and why they should pay for it). The second is about groinal sensations and how to deal with them in the process of her own self exposure and hierarchy.

Today’s episode is a mash up of a few emailed questions. First, a listener notices their obsessions about their thoughts increases physical pain and they don’t know how to handle it. Next, a listener asks whether they should start therapy again with their various ups and downs of ROCD and SO-OCD. Finally, I answer a question (or, a couple of questions) from a listener who wants to know whether OCD is caused by depression, and whether ROCD can focus on someone’s physical flaws. This was a rapid fire episode!

For today’s audio question, I answer Hannah’s question about her Sensorimotor/ Hyperawarness obsession. She shares that she’s had a few other obsessions in this theme, but lately it’s turned into being stuck between doing something or not, and both being problem! The good old “lose-lose” from OCD, and she feels stuck. I discuss her question and give her some things to consider as she moves forward.

For today’s audio question, Chris Trondsen, MFT, was kind enough to join me to discuss Panicasaurus’s question. The question is very layered and has a lot of aspects to consider, but the main question is whether they are truly in doubt of their sexual orientation, or whether they are just struggling with their SO-OCD. Chris and I go through this question with a fine toothed comb to try to and answer his question, and probably answer a bunch of other questions he didn’t have along the way.

Today’s audio question comes from Overthinking Queen who wants to know whether her obsessions are coming from some unresolved or unaddressed issues in her life. She also struggles with her fear that she might be slowly abandoning her faith due to thoughts about sex, relationships, and SO-OCD obsessions. She also shares some fears about starting therapy because a therapist may encourage her to pursue her same-sex thoughts (ahem, obsessions) or encourage her to drop her faith, and believe me I’ve got some thoughts on this last point.

For today’s episode, I answer a few emailed questions! I’m going over two listener questions. The first one from someone struggling with driving and feeling overwhelmed, self-critical, and fearful. I offer them some advice on how they can embrace the good with the bad, and discuss how compassion can boost her self confidence! With the second question, I discuss some ways the listener can deal with their fear of developing Schizophrenia and similar disorders. Great questions this week, as always, and I loved being able to answer them!