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(196)

Nothing Is Ever “Enough” For OCD

Nothing Is Ever “Enough” For OCD

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The Therapy That Helps You Make Peace With Your Thoughts

The Therapy That Helps You Make Peace With Your Thoughts

Michael Twohig has spent years studying what happens when people try to fight their thoughts — and why that battle almost always makes things worse. As a psychologist, researcher, and leading expert i...

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How I FINALLY Learned To Live WITH Fear

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The Surprising Truth About Seasonal OCD

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Is OCD seasonal? Not exactly — but it can FEEL that way. In this episode, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains how OCD often ramps up during high-stress times like the holidays, not because of the calendar, b...

3 Aug 20257min

Most Therapists Are NOT Trained To Treat OCD — These Two Are Changing That

Most Therapists Are NOT Trained To Treat OCD — These Two Are Changing That

Most therapists don’t get formal training in how to treat OCD. In fact, many graduate programs barely mention it at all. That leads to years of misdiagnosis, missed symptoms, and patients getting the ...

31 Jul 202549min

1 Year of OCD Conversations Later, Here’s What Stuck With Us

1 Year of OCD Conversations Later, Here’s What Stuck With Us

One year ago, the Get to know OCD podcast launched with a simple goal: share real stories from people living with OCD. What happened next was bigger than anyone expected. Each week, guests opened up a...

27 Jul 20259min

Sending Hope To People With OCD — One Letter At A Time

Sending Hope To People With OCD — One Letter At A Time

The Not Alone project began with a simple, powerful idea: send handwritten letters to people struggling with OCD to remind them they’re not alone. Founded by Molly Fishback and Morgan Rondinelli, the ...

24 Jul 202536min

I Lived with OCD for 19 Years Before I Knew What It Was

I Lived with OCD for 19 Years Before I Knew What It Was

Megan spent most of her life thinking something was just wrong with her. She was six years old when the compulsions started — counting, checking, rituals she didn’t understand — all fueled by the fear...

17 Jul 202548min

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