The harder you try to control your thoughts, the more it controls you
Get to know OCD18 Mar 2025

The harder you try to control your thoughts, the more it controls you

When we try to control every thought that enters our mind, we unknowingly give it more power. The harder we fight intrusive thoughts or uncomfortable feelings, the more they seem to persist. Brenna Posey, a member of NOCD, shares how this cycle kept her stuck and how she learned — through therapy and experience — that true freedom comes from allowing thoughts to come and go without reacting to them.

Learning to sit with uncertainty is one of the most challenging but life-changing skills for managing OCD. In this video, Brenna explains why resisting anxiety only fuels it and how changing your response can break the cycle. She also offers practical strategies to help you step away from compulsions and regain control —not over your thoughts, but over how you respond to them.

Exposure and Response Prevention therapy helped Brenna manage her OCD, and it might do the same for you. If you want to explore treatment options with our team, book a free 15-minute call at https://learn.nocd.com/podcast

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Episoder(201)

How Mental Compulsions Helped Me Hide OCD for Decades

How Mental Compulsions Helped Me Hide OCD for Decades

For years, Shala Nicely looked like she had it all together, but in reality? Her mind was consumed with obsessive thoughts and nonstop mental rituals. Because her compulsions weren’t visible, no one —...

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Manifestation, Positive Thinking, Law of Attraction — Why They Don’t Help OCD

Manifestation, Positive Thinking, Law of Attraction — Why They Don’t Help OCD

Manifesting. Cleanses. The Law of Attraction. Jaclyn Steinmann tried it all, believing that if she could just control her thoughts — keep them positive and “high vibration” — she could finally quiet t...

19 Jun 202547min

Why Nothing Ever Feels "Just Right" with OCD

Why Nothing Ever Feels "Just Right" with OCD

Ever find yourself re-checking, redoing, or repeating things until they feel just right — but they never actually do? You're not alone. In this video, Dr. Patrick McGrath breaks down the “just right” ...

15 Jun 202510min

I Used to Hide My Anxiety — Now I Help Millions Heal

I Used to Hide My Anxiety — Now I Help Millions Heal

Paige Pradko looked like she had it all together — working a corporate gig in Chicago, high-achieving, and smiling through the stress. However, she was secretly battling relentless anxiety. It all cam...

12 Jun 202544min

OCD, Arousal, and the Mind-Body Disconnect

OCD, Arousal, and the Mind-Body Disconnect

For years, Tracie Ibrahim treated OCD professionally — but even she was stunned by how often groinal response came up in sessions. Not just with one theme, but across the board: harm OCD, sexual orien...

8 Jun 202510min

Self-Criticism, OCD, Overthinking, and the Mindset SHIFT That Helps People Heal

Self-Criticism, OCD, Overthinking, and the Mindset SHIFT That Helps People Heal

Jon Hershfield is a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in the treatment of OCD. In this episode, he joins Dr. Patrick McGrath to discuss his experiences as a clinician, his work as...

5 Jun 202547min

The Day OCD Almost Ended My Relationship

The Day OCD Almost Ended My Relationship

Alix Behar remembers the day everything almost collapsed. OCD had taken over her relationship, flooding her with intrusive thoughts, compulsive confessions, and endless reassurance-seeking. One mornin...

1 Jun 202513min

A Mother's Story Of OCD, Substance Abuse, Loss, And Legacy

A Mother's Story Of OCD, Substance Abuse, Loss, And Legacy

Margaret Sisson knew something was wrong when her son Riley came home from camp in a panic she'd never seen before. He started throwing up every morning before school. He checked doorknobs until they ...

29 Mai 202553min

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