E03: OCD Themes, Misdiagnosis and Treatment: A Life Consumed by OCD to Becoming an OCD Therapist

In this episode, we have the privilege of hearing Madison's story, as she opens up about her journey with various themes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Madison shares her experiences with OCD related to health, relationships, bathroom rituals, gender identity, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Madison reveals that it took nearly a decade to receive an official diagnosis of OCD, as she was initially misdiagnosed with anxiety. She specifically delves into her most challenging theme, health anxiety, which caused her to believe she had schizophrenia, resulting in her life being consumed by this debilitating obsession. Throughout the episode, Madison discusses different treatment approaches she has pursued, including exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy and internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy (ICBT). She highlights the differences between these treatments and emphasizes how ICBT, in particular, has empowered her to manage her OCD thoughts more effectively. Despite the overwhelming nature of this disorder, Madison has used her personal experiences to help others. She is currently undergoing training to become an OCD Specialist Therapist, channeling her journey into making a positive impact in the lives of individuals struggling with OCD.