Breaking Free from Fear & Anxiety with Matt Codde
by Matthew Codde LCSW
The Breaking Free from Fear & Anxiety Podcast is hosted by Matt Codde. Visit www.restoredminds.com/about to know more about Matt!In this podcast, you’re going to learn practical steps on the journey to recovery. In each episode, we will discuss common challenges and provide you with evidence-based strategies to help you overcome them.At Restored Minds, we believe that recovery is possible for everyone and it's our mission to give you the tools to help you build better mental health so you can become the best version of yourself.
Episodes
-
5 Honest Reasons You're Still Stuck in Fear
Why You're Not Getting Better From Fear, Anxiety and Intrusive Thoughts (5 Hard Truths)If you have been struggling with fear, anxiety, panic, or intrusive thoughts for months or years, this episode is for you. Matt Codde, LCSW shares the top five reasons he has seen people stay stuck, drawing on…
more -
How to Stop Health Anxiety After the Doctor Clears You
Health Anxiety: How to Care for Your Body Without Living in FearIf you live with health anxiety, you are in a real conundrum. You want to be healthy and be there for your spouse, your kids, and your family. At the same time, living in fear is a stressor on the body itself. In this episode, Matt...
-
OCD Recovery: Why Managing and Coping Isn’t Enough
OCD Recovery Awareness: Why Fear Isn't a Disease and Recovery Is PossibleIt's OCD Awareness Week, and Matt Codde, LCSW, wants to talk about something different: OCD recovery awareness. If you're living with OCD or anxiety, you already know you're experiencing it. The bigger question is what you...
-
How to Recover Your Peace: Mental Health Recovery Explained
Mental Health Recovery Explained: How to Take Back Your Peace (Anxiety, OCD & Beyond)If you've been working hard on your anxiety or OCD and it still feels like you're chasing symptoms, this episode offers a completely different angle on recovery. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month and OCD...
-
How to Break the OCD Fear Loop (Not Just the Theme)
OCD Themes Are Just One Fear Loop: Why Chasing the Theme Keeps Anxiety Alive Take the FREE Assessment here: restoredminds.com/start If you've been told your struggle is contamination OCD, harm OCD, relationship OCD, or a different type of anxiety altogether, this episode offers a different lens....
-
How to Actually Let Go of Fear, Guilt & Anger (Not Fake It)
Fear Isn't Protecting You From Suffering. Fear IS the Suffering. Most of us believe our lower emotions are doing us a favor. Guilt keeps us "good." Anger keeps us "safe" from getting hurt again. Fear keeps us "prepared" for whatever's coming. In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW, breaks down why…
more -
How to Heal Anxiety: Step Outside Your Mind
The Real Reason You Can't Think Your Way Out of Anxiety and Intrusive ThoughtsMatt Codde, LCSW, founder of Restored Minds, breaks down one of the biggest traps in anxiety and OCD recovery: trying to use the mind to fix the mind. If you've ever tried to think, analyze, or reason your way out of a...
-
OCD Labels: The Hidden Trap Behind Your Diagnosis
Why Your OCD or Anxiety Diagnosis Isn't the Whole StoryGetting a diagnosis can feel like the moment everything finally makes sense. Matt Codde, LCSW breaks down why labels like OCD, anxiety, panic, or PTSD can be genuinely liberating and why they can also quietly become the very thing that keeps...
-
Why You Can't Think Your Way Out of OCD or Anxiety
Feel Fear Without Believing It: The Consciousness Shift Behind OCD & Anxiety Recovery If you're stuck in OCD, anxiety, or intrusive thoughts, here's the thing that keeps you stuck longer than the thoughts themselves. You keep identifying with your mind. It says something, and you believe it must…
more -
How to Stop Intrusive Thoughts by Releasing the Emotion Behind Them
Do Intrusive Thoughts Last Forever? Here's What Actually Makes Them StickIf you've ever been told "you're just going to have these thoughts forever, you'll have to learn to cope," this episode is for you. Matt Codde, LCSW breaks down why that advice is not only wrong, it's part of what keeps…
more -
How to Break the Sleep Anxiety Loop: A Real Recovery Story with Carly
Sleep Anxiety and OCD: How Carly Broke the Hypnic Jerk Loop and Learned to Trust Her Body Again If bedtime fills you with dread, if you've started dreading the sunset, or if hypnic jerks have turned falling asleep into a nightly battle, this episode is for you. Matt Codde, LCSW sits down with...
-
OCD & Anxiety Treatment with Dr. Melissa Quinn: Meds, ERP, and Integrative Care Explained
Is Medication Right for Your OCD? A Psychiatrist Breaks Down SSRIs, Dosing, and What Actually Works If you've ever wondered whether medication could help your OCD or anxiety, or you've tried an SSRI and felt like "nothing worked," this episode is for you. Matt Codde, LCSW sits down with Dr.…
more -
You're Not Stuck, You're Arguing to Stay That Way
Arguing for Your Limitations: 9 Self-Limiting Beliefs Keeping You Stuck in OCD, Anxiety & Fear If you feel like you've been "trying to heal" for years but keep landing in the same place, this episode is for you. Matt Codde, LCSW breaks down the most common ways we unconsciously build a case for…
more -
Why Chasing Approval and Control Is Destroying You
Nervous System Hijacked by Approval: Approval Addiction, Chronic Self Abandonment, and Chasing Control In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW, explores what happens when your nervous system is hijacked by approval and you slowly slip into chronic self abandonment. He breaks down how approval addiction...
-
Why Your Anxiety Won't Go Away: The Secret Payoff of Fear
The 5 Hidden Payoffs of Fear That Keep OCD and Anxiety Loops Running Most people assume fear is just something that happens to them. In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW and founder of Restored Minds, explains why part of the mind actually believes it's benefiting from staying afraid, and why that...
-
Why OCD Keeps You Stuck: Victim Consciousness Explained
Stop waiting for OCD and anxiety to change before you do — here's why the shift has to come from within first. If you've been stuck in the loop of OCD or anxiety for a long time, there's a good chance something deeper is keeping you there: victim consciousness. In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW...
-
Why Stopping Reassurance Seeking Alone Won't Cure OCD
If you have OCD or anxiety and you can't stop seeking reassurance, you are not alone and you are not broken. Whether it's Googling, calling loved ones, or mentally reviewing events over and over, reassurance seeking feels necessary in the moment. But it keeps you stuck. In this episode, Matt…
more -
How to Be More Loving to Yourself to Break the OCD Cycle
If you've been struggling with OCD or anxiety for a long time and feel like nothing is working, this episode may reveal why. Matt Codde, LCSW explains why self-rejection is one of the most overlooked barriers to healing, and how learning to be more loving toward yourself is not a self-help…
more -
Why OCD Recovery Is More Than Just Getting Better
If you've been living with OCD, anxiety, or chronic fear, you may have been telling yourself that now just isn't the right time to fully commit to recovery. In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW shares a perspective that goes beyond symptom management — one that asks a deeper, more honest question:...
-
Why Your OCD Work Isn't Working (It's the Starting Point)
If you've tried ERP, meditation, supplements, and every tool you can find but still feel stuck, the problem likely isn't the tools. It's the belief you're bringing to them. In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW breaks down why approaching OCD and anxiety recovery from a "fix the problem" mindset...
-
Why Staying Stable in OCD Recovery Keeps You Stuck
Getting from survival to stable in OCD recovery is real, hard-won progress — and it deserves to be celebrated. But staying in that "I'm fine" zone for too long comes with a hidden cost that most people don't see until they're sliding back toward survival mode. In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW...
-
The 4 Real Stages of OCD Recovery (And Why Stage 2 Isn't Enough)
If you've been doing the work on your OCD or anxiety and you're no longer in crisis — that's real progress. But if you still feel like you're just 'managing' or waiting for the next episode to hit, this video is for you. Most people with OCD and anxiety move between Stage 1 (Surviving) and Stage…
more -
Why OCD Recovery is Spectral
If you've been using ERP or the Triple-A Response and still feel stuck, this episode explains why. Matt Codde, LCSW breaks down one of the most misunderstood concepts in OCD and anxiety recovery: the difference between chasing a future free of intrusive thoughts versus ascending to a higher level...
-
Why OCD and Anxiety Help Feels Impossible — And What Actually Works
Most people struggling with OCD and anxiety have tried everything: reading, therapy, tools, strategies — and still feel stuck. In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW walks through the real reason recovery stalls, and it has nothing to do with lack of information or resources. The problem is a paradigm…
more -
False Memory OCD: Why You Can’t Stop Replaying the Past
If you struggle with false memory OCD or real event OCD, you know how exhausting it feels to replay the past over and over trying to find certainty. In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW explains why OCD traps people in mental compulsions like rumination, memory checking, reassurance seeking, and...
-
OCD Made You Feel Nothing? Here’s How to Feel Alive Again
If OCD or anxiety has left you feeling empty, hopeless, or like the joy has been completely stripped from your life — you're not broken. In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW breaks down exactly why OCD and anxiety create emotional numbness, apathy, and depression as a secondary effect, and what you...
-
Why Your OCD Isn't Getting Better: 5 Hidden Mental Compulsions Sabotaging Your Recovery
Most people with OCD focus on the visible rituals — washing, checking, or avoiding. But the compulsions that most often keep the loop alive are invisible: they happen entirely inside your head. In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW, breaks down the five mental compulsions that he sees most often in…
more -
Pure O OCD Is a Myth: The Truth About Intrusive Thoughts and Mental Compulsions
If you've been dealing with relentless intrusive thoughts — about harm, sexuality, religion, or relationships — and every attempt to fight them has made things worse, this episode is for you. Pure OCD (also called Pure O or purely obsessional OCD) is one of the most misunderstood presentations of...
-
From Stuck in OCD to Taking Back Control: A Real Recovery Story with Jaro
A real OCD recovery story: How Jaro broke the fear loop after 10+ years — and what finally worked. If you've been struggling with OCD for years — trying therapy, reading books, understanding everything intellectually, but still feeling stuck — this episode is for you. Matt Codde, LCSW, sits down...
-
How Long Does OCD Recovery Take? An Honest Answer
One of the most common questions Matt receives is: "How long will OCD or anxiety recovery take?" In this episode, he gives an honest, clinically-grounded answer — and it's not what most people expect. Rather than a specific timeline, Matt reframes recovery as a journey that depends entirely on…
more -
What Real OCD Recovery Looks Like (It's Not What You Think)
If you've been working on your OCD or anxiety for months — or even years — and still feel stuck, this episode is going to reframe everything. Most people believe recovery means the intrusive thoughts stop. The anxiety disappears. They finally feel "normal." But chasing that version of recovery is...
-
Why Retroactive Jealousy OCD Keeps You Stuck (It's Not About the Past)
If you can't stop thinking about your partner's past — obsessing over their ex, replaying old memories, or demanding reassurance — this episode is for you. Retroactive jealousy OCD isn't really about the past. It's a present-moment insecurity that gets projected backward, creating an exhausting...
-
Relationship OCD: The Fear Loop Destroying Your Relationship
If you or someone you love is caught in relentless doubt about a relationship — questioning feelings, hyperfixating on a partner's flaws, or seeking constant reassurance — this episode is for you. Matt Codde, LCSW breaks down what relationship OCD really is, why it has almost nothing to do with...
-
Why Your ERP Hierarchy Isn't Working (OCD Recovery)
How to Build an ERP Hierarchy for OCD — And Why Most People Do It Wrong If you've been trying ERP for OCD and feel like you're spinning your wheels, there's a good chance your exposure hierarchy is missing something critical. In this episode, Matt Codde, LCSW walks you through how a traditional…
more -
ERP for OCD & Anxiety: Why the “Gold Standard” Fails Without This One Piece
ERP for OCD & Anxiety | Why Hierarchies Alone Don’t Break the Loop ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is often called the “gold standard” for OCD and anxiety treatment. But if you’ve tried ERP and felt like it didn’t quite work—or you got partial results and then new fears popped up—you’re…
more -
How to Stop Rumination: Why Overthinking Won’t Fix Anxiety (Do This Instead)
If you’re stuck in your head, constantly overthinking, replaying thoughts, or trying to “figure it out”… this episode will show you how to stop rumination the right way. Rumination isn’t just thinking—it’s a compulsion that keeps you trapped in the OCD and anxiety loop. And the more you try to...
-
Rumination: Why You Can’t Stop Thinking (And How to Break the Loop)
If you feel stuck overthinking, replaying thoughts, or trying to “figure things out,” this Rumination Episode will change how you understand it completely. In this episode, we break down what rumination really is, why it feels so automatic, and how it silently keeps you trapped in the OCD and...
-
Harm OCD Isn’t a Disease — Here’s What’s Really Happening
If you’re struggling with harmful intrusive thoughts, this episode will change how you understand everything. Harm OCD isn’t a disease — it’s a self-reinforcing loop driven by fear, thoughts, and compulsions. In this episode, we break down why trying to “fix” the thoughts keeps you stuck, how the...
-
Harm OCD – Harmful Intrusive Thoughts & Why Fighting Them Makes It Worse
Harm OCD and harmful intrusive thoughts can feel terrifying — especially when your mind produces violent or disturbing thoughts that feel completely against who you are. In this episode of The Restored Minds Show, licensed therapist Matt Codde, LCSW explains Harm OCD and harmful intrusive…
more -
Why Consciousness Needs To Be Integrated in Mental Health (The Missing Piece in Recovery)
In this episode, we explore why consciousness needs to be integrated in mental health and why understanding awareness itself may be essential for lasting recovery from OCD, anxiety, panic attacks, and emotional suffering. Matt explains how many traditional treatment models overlook the role of...
-
Some Thoughts on Medication and Anxiety – When Medication Helps (and When It Doesn’t)
In this episode of The Restored Minds Show, licensed therapist Matt Codde, LCSW shares some thoughts on medication and anxiety, including the role of SSRIs, benzodiazepines, placebo research, and how medication fits into a broader recovery journey.If you're struggling with anxiety, OCD, panic...
-
What Causes OCD & Anxiety? The Real Root Most People Miss
Many people struggling with OCD and anxiety spend years searching for the root cause. Is it genetics, brain chemistry, past trauma, or something deeper? In this episode, we explore what causes OCD & anxiety by breaking down four different frameworks often used to explain these conditions…
more -
Entrepreneurship, Fear, & Returning to Wholeness | The Inner Journey Every Entrepreneur Faces
In this episode, we explore Entrepreneurship, Fear, & Returning to Wholeness, and why building a business often forces us to confront our deepest fears, beliefs, and emotional patterns. Many entrepreneurs believe success, money, or achievement will resolve internal struggles — but true…
more -
Why Healing the Past Matters: How to Actually Release Old Emotional Wounds
Why healing the past matters isn’t about endlessly talking about old memories — it’s about releasing the emotion tied to them. In this episode, we break down how unresolved emotional experiences from your past can fuel anxiety, OCD, intrusive thoughts, and fear loops. Many people intuitively know...
-
The Fear of Aging and Body Image: Why You’re Really Afraid (It’s Not About Looks)
The Fear of Aging and Body Image isn’t really about wrinkles, weight, or appearance. It’s about something much deeper. In this episode, we explore how anxiety around aging and body image issues are often rooted in the fear of rejection and the need for approval. When we believe we’re only...
-
Knowing This Doesn’t Change Anything | OCD & Anxiety Recovery Truth
In this episode, we break down why information alone will never create recovery — and how the real transformation happens through implementation and embodiment. If you find yourself constantly searching for answers, watching more videos, reading more books, and still feeling stuck in the anxiety...
-
From OCD & Intrusive Thoughts to Inner Freedom | Kyle's Recovery Story
In this powerful recovery interview, Kyle shares his journey from debilitating OCD, intrusive thoughts, panic, and feeling “broken” — to discovering inner freedom, emotional regulation, and peace. If you’ve ever felt trapped in the OCD loop, overwhelmed by anxiety, or consumed by intrusive...
-
Why Am I Stuck in This LOOP? | The Real Reason OCD & Anxiety Keep Repeating
In this episode of The Restored Minds Show, Matt explains why people get stuck in the OCD and anxiety loop, why fear keeps self-perpetuating, and why trying to fix the “theme” never truly works. If you’ve been asking yourself, “Why am I stuck in this loop?” — the answer may not be what you think....
-
The Hidden Cost of Treating Fear as Faith | Scrupulosity, OCD & Anxiety Explained
Many people struggling with scrupulosity, religious OCD, and anxiety believe their suffering is a sign of deep faith.But what if the real issue isn’t faith at all? In this episode, I break down the hidden cost of treating fear as faith—and how this misunderstanding keeps people trapped in guilt,...
-
Why Scrupulosity Isn’t About Faith (And Why Treating It That Way Keeps You Stuck)
Scrupulosity is often misunderstood as a faith problem — but treating it that way is one of the biggest reasons people stay stuck. In this episode of The Restored Minds Show, licensed therapist Matt Codde, LCSW explains why scrupulosity isn’t about faith, belief, or not trying hard enough — and…
more
About this show
The Breaking Free from Fear & Anxiety Podcast is hosted by Matt Codde. Visit www.restoredminds.com/about to know more about Matt!In this podcast, you’re going to learn practical steps on the journey to recovery. In each episode, we will discuss common challenges and provide you with evidence-based strategies to help you overcome them.At Restored Minds, we believe that recovery is possible for everyone and it's our mission to give you the tools to help you build better mental health so you can become the best version of yourself.
Hosted by
Matthew Codde LCSW