Anxiety Disorders and Sneaky Compulsions (Episode 151)

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This episode of Disordered dives into the concept of sneaky compulsions. Many people struggling with anxiety or OCD often find themselves performing behaviors that they do not immediately recognize as compulsions. These can look like productive research, seeking reassurance through a joke, or even "checking" to see if you still feel calm.

Drew and Josh discuss how these behaviors are often avoidance or escape mechanisms in disguise. Whether it is asking a therapist if you are the worst case they have ever seen or using AI to obsess over a body sensation, these actions are designed to provide short term relief while keeping you stuck in the anxiety cycle.

Key topics covered in this episode:

* Why we mask compulsions as personality traits or curiosity.

* The "reassurance seeker's workaround" of projecting issues onto others.

* How gathering more information can actually be a form of avoidance.

* Real life examples from the community about catching sneaky compulsions in the moment.

* The importance of psychological flexibility and learning to be with difficult feelings instead of trying to fix them.

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Want to ask us questions, share your wins, or get more information about Josh, Drew, and the Disordered podcast? Send us an email or leave a voicemail on our website.