146. How to Relax When OCD Won’t Let You: A Buddhist and Somatic Healing Perspective

What does it feel like when your mind gets stuck on a loop, telling you again and again that you’re a bad person? That’s the reality of Pure OCD. In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova sits down with Sah D’Simone, spiritual teacher, humanitarian, and creator of the Somatic Activated Healing method, for an open and heartfelt conversation.

Sah shares his journey with intrusive thoughts that made him question his worth, how growing up in a Buddhist culture shaped his experience, and how the loss of his mother made everything even more intense. Instead of letting OCD take over, he’s leaned into Buddhist wisdom, somatic healing, and service to others as powerful ways to heal.

Together, Kristina and Sah unpack how OCD fuels cycles of self-obsession and why real healing often begins with learning to slow down, relax, and be present. They talk about the role of evidence-based treatments like ERP and ACT, while also highlighting holistic practices that calm the nervous system and nurture recovery.

If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own thoughts, this conversation offers hope, practical tools, and a fresh perspective on what healing can truly look like.

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

• Why relaxation and not constant productivity is crucial for calming an OCD brain.
• How Pure OCD manifests and why labels can be both freeing and limiting.
• Practical ways to balance evidence-based OCD treatments with Buddhist-inspired mindfulness and self-compassion.

In This Episode

• [00:01] Introduction and guest welcome
• [58] Sah’s background and work
• [03:09] OCD and self-obsession
• [04:03] Sah’s personal OCD story
• [04:54] Pure OCD and identity
• [07:16] Cultural and religious influences
• [09:04] OCD manifestations and coping
• [09:53] Kristina’s OCD experience
• [10:45] The internal experience of OCD
• [12:51] Relaxation and cultural challenges
• [15:21] The importance of true relaxation
• [16:18] Blending Buddhist wisdom with evidence-based OCD therapies
• [17:57] Mind wandering and savoring the moment
• [18:57] Closing and farewell

Our Guest

Sah D’Simone is a spiritual teacher, grief educator, humanitarian, and creator of the Somatic Activated Healing Method, which blends Buddhist teachings, dance, and social justice. With a mission to bring love where love is not, Sah has dedicated his life to both personal transformation and global humanitarian service, supporting communities from Los Angeles to Nepal and India.

Resources & Links

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

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

Sah D’Simone

• Website
• Instagram
• Somatic Activated Healing Online Membership, which comes with a 7-day free trial

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!