EPISODE · Sep 17, 2025 · 1H 14M
Lilian Dindo: ACT Therapy for OCD, Anxiety, and Obsessive Thoughts
from Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal · host Theories of Everything
Lilian Dindo explains Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for anxiety, panic attacks, and obsessive thoughts They discuss how ACT can help uncover personal values, differentiate anxiety from excitement, and even boost learning in math and physics.0:00 Introduction4:05 What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) therapy?8:12 Suffering is a part of life11:06 ACT is not just for therapy, but for general illness and rejection14:24 Lilian's feeling anxiety in this interview *right now*, but ACT is helping15:57 Dealing with panic attacks18:22 "Anxiety" and "excitement" are physiologically indistinguishable20:00 Implementing ACT (specific example)26:15 Stop avoiding. The mind works by addition (not subtraction)!30:00 Choosing courage vs. "mustering" courage30:51 Coping vs. mollifying33:45 Goal oriented vs. Value oriented36:06 How to uncover your own values?42:14 Do values imply a "should"? (specific example)47:45 What separates those for whom therapy works for, from those it doesn't?54:57 Suicidal ideation / psychosis (there's hope with ACT)57:14 Enhancing learning math / physics59:50 Acceptance vs Acknowledgement1:01:40 Physical vs Psychology (mind and body connection)1:05:53 A visual example you can employ to abate anxiety1:10:39 The role of belief / hope / faith / trust1:11:08 "Thanking" the negative thought / emotion1:11:50 People don't suffer with just ONE issue, but multipleSPONSORS:- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal- Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE- PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e- Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything- Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerchRESOURCES:- YouTube link: https://youtu.be/L_hI7JNsbt0- Lilian's links:- http://actfindyourpath.com- https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/lilian-dindo-20557- https://www.bcm.edu/research/faculty-labs/act-on-health-lab- http://contextualscience.org- Links mentioned:- Karl Friston episode: https://youtu.be/SWtFU1Lit3M- A H Almaas episode: https://youtu.be/6JlKf1QAvXA- Curt's Crash Course on Theoretical Physics: https://youtu.be/e8kyvdPP8os Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science. SPONSOR: I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE FOLLOW: Substack | Spotify | YouTube | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Lilian Dindo explains Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for anxiety, panic attacks, and obsessive thoughts They discuss how ACT can help uncover personal values, differentiate anxiety from excitement, and even boost learning in math and physics.0:00 Introduction4:05 What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) therapy?8:12 Suffering is a part of life11:06 ACT is not just for therapy, but for general illness and rejection14:24 Lilian's feeling anxiety in this interview *right now*, but ACT is helping15:57 Dealing with panic attacks18:22 "Anxiety" and "excitement" are physiologically indistinguishable20:00 Implementing ACT (specific example)26:15 Stop avoiding. The mind works by addition (not subtraction)!30:00 Choosing courage vs. "mustering" courage30:51 Coping vs. mollifying33:45 Goal oriented vs. Value oriented36:06 How to uncover your own values?42:14 Do values imply a "should"? (specific example)47:45 What separates those for whom therapy works for, from those it doesn't?54:57 Suicidal ideation / psychosis (there's hope with ACT)57:14 Enhancing learning math / physics59:50 Acceptance vs Acknowledgement1:01:40 Physical vs Psychology (mind and body connection)1:05:53 A visual example you can employ to abate anxiety1:10:39 The role of belief / hope / faith / trust1:11:08 "Thanking" the negative thought / emotion1:11:50 People don't suffer with just ONE issue, but multipleSPONSORS:- Patreon: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal- Crypto: https://nowpayments.io/donation/TOE- PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/paypalTOE- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt- Discord Invite: https://discord.com/invite/kBcnfNVwqs- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e- Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything- Merch: https://tinyurl.com/TOEmerchRESOURCES:- YouTube link: https://youtu.be/L_hI7JNsbt0- Lilian's links:- http://actfindyourpath.com- https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/lilian-dindo-20557- https://www.bcm.edu/research/faculty-labs/act-on-health-lab- http://contextualscience.org- Links mentioned:- Karl Friston episode: https://youtu.be/SWtFU1Lit3M- A H Almaas episode: https://youtu.be/6JlKf1QAvXA- Curt's Crash Course on Theoretical Physics: https://youtu.be/e8kyvdPP8os Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal features long-form, technically detailed interviews with leading researchers in physics, mathematics, consciousness, and philosophy, exploring topics at the level of active research. For academics, graduate students, and anyone seeking depth beyond popular science. SPONSOR: I personally subscribe to The Economist. TOE listeners get 35% off the annual subscription. No other podcast has this! https://economist.com/TOE FOLLOW: Substack | Spotify | YouTube | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
NOW PLAYING
Lilian Dindo: ACT Therapy for OCD, Anxiety, and Obsessive Thoughts
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Mar 19, 2026 ·34m
Feb 18, 2026 ·11m
Feb 11, 2026 ·45m