FearCast Podcast Kevin Foss, MFT

On Today’s episode, I get another audio question about ROCD. The questioner shares that they are starting to think they have ROCD because of their fixation over their partner’s hair and that it is different than their typical attraction patterns. So, is he experiencing ROCD, or does he just have a type and should continue searching for the perfect partner?

For today’s episode, I interview Rich Gallagher, MFT, about his recent article the IOCDF news letter about Disgust-Based OCD. His article offers an overview of what Disgust-Based obsessions are and how his Mastery focused treatment differs from the traditional Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) based treatment. We additionally discuss the growing body of research for alternative treatment methods beyond CBT, ERP, and ACT. This was a really fun interview and I learned some great tips on better ways to help people struggling with a difficult OCD/ Anxiety theme.























More From Rich Gallagher, MFT:









When is OCD Treatment “Evidence-Based” Enough? Here’s Your Answer.











How OCD Treatment Needs to Change: A View from Both Sides of the Couch









https://iocdf.org/blog/2023/04/25/disgust-based-ocd-thoughts-on-a-new-treatment-protocol/

Today’s audio question comes from Roger. He’s having a unique situation where his sensorimotor obsessions are becoming associated with activities he likes, which then trigger his obsession/ compulsion routine when he does those activities. He further asks the question about how he can habituate to his breathing, or any other somatic obsession, and whether there is a right or wrong way to do it, and whether it’s right or wrong to try for habituation in the first place. As you can imagine, I have some thoughts.

This week’s audio question comes in as a complex one. For someone experiencing ROCD, which issues should the listener treat as OCD issues, and which should they treat as relationship issues? Should the listener address the anxiety and uncertainty over potentially “sketchy” behavior as their typical ROCD, or should they address it? If they let it go as an OCD thing, what if they miss something important? If they address it as a relationship issue, will they blow up their relationship and drive their partner away?

For today’s question, I answer an audio question sent in through Instagram. The listener asks what they can do about their SO-OCD that keeps screaming that she is a lesbian even though she identifies as bi-sexual. She asks about whether she can know her sexuality and whether she’ll get that clarity after therapy as her therapist suggests. Also, she wants to know how to deal with the feeling of uncertainty while struggling with the obsession.

Today I answer a question from a listener who has a question about how they can help their wife deal with their ROCD. Along with answering their question, I expand out a little to discuss how someone can help a family member or loved one who is struggling with OCD.







If you have feedback about this episode, or would like to offer some tips on what helped you with your loved one, or what a loved one did to help you, leave them in the comment section, or message me them on the episode post at Instagram. I’ll share them on a future episode!