Stay ConnectedTune in each week for a deep dive into all things OCD with host Dr. Patrick McGrath, NOCD’s Chief Clinical Officer. We’ll be sharing inspiring real-life stories of people who’ve faced OCD and came out the other side, as well as practical tips for understanding and tackling OCD. We hope you enjoy the podcast and it helps you get to know OCD.
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Emily Barth Isler grew up believing her anxious, obsessive thoughts were just part of being an artist. Like so many, she bought into the myth that suffering fuels creativity. For years, that belief kept her from seeking help — until she realized the opposite was true.
Today, Emily is a successful author and writer who credits therapy and medication for giving her the clarity and freedom to put words to paper. In this conversation, she shares how OCD once controlled her life and how she learned to see its patterns differently.
At NOCD, we specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, the most effective treatment against the disorder. Want to explore your treatment options? Book a free 15-minute call with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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Brenna Posey and Tracie Ibrahim grew up in very different eras, but both know the weight of OCD. In this conversation, they reflect on what it was like to struggle before OCD was widely understood, how stigma and silence shaped their experiences, and why so many people went undiagnosed for years.
They also share what’s changed — and what still hasn’t. From the rise of social media to greater access to therapy, awareness of OCD is growing, but gaps remain in diagnosis, treatment, and representation. Their stories reveal the progress across generations, and the work still remaining.
Both Brenna and Tracie have benefited from Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, the most effective therapy for OCD. To explore treatment options, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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Julia Hale is an OCD therapist, but nothing prepared her for the wave of intrusive thoughts and crushing doubt that hit after giving birth. Like many new parents, she had only ever heard postpartum depression talked about — never postpartum OCD. Even with all her training, she found herself blindsided by fears about her baby’s safety, compulsions to protect, and the shame of wondering how this could be happening to her of all people.
In this episode of the Get to know OCD podcast, Julia shares the reality of postpartum OCD: what it looks like, why it’s so often mistaken for depression, and how stigma keeps parents suffering in silence. Her perspective as both a clinician and a mom pulls back the curtain on a hidden struggle that affects far more families than most people realize.
At NOCD, we specialize in ERP therapy, the most effective therapy for OCD. To explore treatment options, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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Nicole Rafiee didn't realize she had OCD, partly because TV and movies told her it only looked like spotless kitchens, color-coded closets, or a punchline. Meanwhile, her experience was constant spirals, intrusive thoughts, and panic that never showed up in media. In this video, she calls out the rare times celebrities actually get it right. From Jennette McCurdy to Jenna Ortega, John Green, and Shannon Purser, these are the stories that cut through the stereotypes and reflect what OCD really feels like.
Nicole's OCD therapy was Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy — the most effective treatment for OCD. If you want to explore options with ERP, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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When families first hear their child has OCD, many wonder if they somehow caused it. Dr. Evelyn Stewart has spent her career studying those fears — and the science tells a different story. She explains how research with families and twins shows that genes play a significant role, especially when OCD begins in childhood. Dr. Stewart also shares how environment and stress can act like switches, turning genetic risk “on” or “off.” This interview is packed with the latest research about all the links between OCD and genetics so be sure to watch til the end!
Here at NOCD, we specialize in ERP therapy, the most effective therapy for OCD. To explore treatment options, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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OCD does NOT affect men and women the same way. In fact, research tells us there are many differences in how the disorder affects each gender. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains what those differences are — from boys often developing OCD earlier than girls, to how hormonal changes, pregnancy, or life stressors can trigger symptoms in women. He also discusses how gender roles and identity may shape the way OCD shows up, and why understanding these differences matters for treatment.
Here at NOCD, we specialize in ERP therapy, the most effective therapy for OCD. To explore treatment options, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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When your child has OCD, it’s natural to want to help — but some of the most common parenting instincts can accidentally make things worse. OCD and anxiety therapist Natasha Daniels knows this firsthand, both as a clinician and as a mom with children suffering with the disorder. In this episode, she shares what OCD looks like in kids, how parents can get stuck in the cycle of accommodation, and what it really takes to support a child WITHOUT feeding their compulsions.
At NOCD, we specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — the gold-standard treatment for OCD. If you want to explore your treatment options for yourself or your child, book a free 15-minute session with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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Most people don’t think twice about breathing, blinking, or swallowing food — your body just does it automatically. But for some, OCD turns those simple functions into constant obsessions. This is called sensorimotor OCD, a subtype where your mind gets stuck on bodily sensations like swallowing, breathing, or even heartbeats. Instead of passing thoughts, these sensations become overwhelming, leading to worry, compulsions, and endless self-monitoring. In this episode, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains why OCD latches onto the body’s autopilot functions, how the cycle of anxiety and compulsions keeps it going, and what it takes to break free.
At NOCD, we use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — the gold-standard therapy for OCD, including sensorimotor OCD. If you’re ready to break free from the cycle of obsessions and compulsions, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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Deep brain stimulation is one of the most advanced treatments for severe OCD. It involves implanting tiny electrodes into specific brain circuits and delivering continuous, low-level electrical pulses that interrupt faulty signals driving obsessions and compulsions. This therapy isn’t a first-line option — it’s reserved for people who haven’t responded to other treatments — but for some, it can dramatically reduce symptoms. Sound like a sci-fi movie? In this episode, Dr. Rachel Davis explains how the groundbreaking therapy works, plus shares her own lived experience with OCD.
At NOCD, we specialize in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — the gold-standard treatment for OCD. Unlike deep brain stimulation, ERP isn’t a last resort. It’s a proven first step that helps most people regain control of their lives. If you want to explore your treatment options, book a free 15-minute session with us at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
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OCD loves to make promises it can’t keep. It tells you that if you just pray one more time, wash one more time, or check one more time, you’ll finally feel certain — but that moment never comes. In this video, Patrick breaks down how OCD feeds on the lie of “enough,” why compulsions never truly satisfy, and what it takes to step out of the cycle and stop chasing the impossible standard your brain sets.
Here at NOCD, we specialize in ERP therapy, the most effective therapy for OCD. To explore treatment options, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/YT
Follow us on social media:
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