141. ERP, Medication & Hope: Beating OCD with The Struggling Warrior

In this powerful and candid episode of the OCD Whisperer Podcast, host Kristina Orlova sits down with Hussain, the founder of The Struggling Warrior, a platform dedicated to raising awareness and educating people about OCD. With over a decade of personal experience, Hussain shares his journey from the onset of his OCD at a young age to his eventual path to therapy and recovery.

Hussain opens up about the challenges of dealing with intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and the isolation that came with his OCD. He discusses his struggles through college, how his OCD affected his academic life, and the turning point when he finally reached out for help. In this conversation, Kristina and Hussain explore how therapy, ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), and medication ultimately helped him regain control of his life.

Additionally, Hussain shares his passion for supporting others living with OCD and his mission behind creating his platform and writing his book, Listen Up: OCD is Talking. He discusses his book's unique approach, personalizing OCD, and offering readers insights into how OCD functions, its tricks, and ways to challenge it.

Whether you're on your own OCD journey or seeking inspiration and guidance, this episode offers hope, vulnerability, and practical advice.

The 3 things you’ll learn in today’s episode:

• How OCD can evolve and worsen over time, and the importance of seeking help before hitting rock bottom
• Why finding the right therapist is crucial for recovery and the impact of a supportive, understanding relationship
• Hussain’s innovative approach to understanding OCD through his book Listen Up: OCD is Talking and his Unbound OCD Toolkit

In This Episode

• [00:03] Introduction and guest introduction
• [01:08] Hussain’s early experiences with OCD and intrusive thoughts
• [03:42] The development of compulsive behaviors and the impact on his school life
• [06:07] Hitting rock bottom during college and the decision to reach out for help
• [08:21] The turning point: reaching out to his family and seeking therapy
• [09:24] The struggles with stigma and the mental health system
• [12:05] Medication changes and how his OCD evolved
• [14:52] Finding the right therapist and the introduction of ERP
• [16:22] How Hussain’s book and resources aim to help others living with OCD
• [20:47] Conclusion and how to reach out to Hussain and access his resources

Our Guest

Hussain is the founder of The Struggling Warrior, a platform aimed at educating and raising awareness about OCD. With over a decade of personal experience, he is dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and offering practical tools for managing OCD. Hussain is also the author of Listen Up: OCD is Talking and the creator of the Unbound OCD Toolkit.

Resources & Links

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

• Instagram
• YouTube
• OCD CBT Journal Tracker and Planner
• Website

Hussain Al Abdullah

• Website
• Listen Up: OCD is Talking
• Unbound OCD Toolkit
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Mentioned

• Cognitive Therapy for OCD
• Sneaky Rituals with Jenna Overbaugh

• ICBT with Kristina Orlova and Christina Ennabe

Please note, while our host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

Stay tuned for weekly episodes filled with valuable insights and tips for managing OCD and anxiety. And remember, keep going in the meantime. See you in the next episode!