It’s Not What You Think

Paediatrician Dr Leila Masson joins Penny and Angie to talk about PANS/PANDAS, a medical condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks brain cells and can lead to sudden, severe symptoms of OCD.  Doctors often mistake PANS/PANDAS for other conditions and it can be extremely difficult for parents to get a diagnosis for their kids.  Dr Masson, a medical doctor who also specialises in environmental and nutritional health discusses: - Why kids get PANS/PANDAS - what the signs and symptoms are  - how it is diagnosed  - why it can be so hard to receive a diagnosis  - how it can be treated  - how to look after your kids’ immune systems to try to avoid conditions like PANS/PANDAS    LINKS  Dr Masson’s online parents course for PANS/PANDAS Children’s Health A to Z by Dr Leila Masson PANDAS Network Family media plan

A few years ago, Jo’s OCD was so crippling that she needed to be hospitalised and completed two stints at The Melbourne Clinic. OCD had completely taken over her life in every way.  Jo joins Penny and Angie for a beautiful conversation about what she found the most helpful in her recovery and how she ended up turning her pain into a way to help so many others, through her counselling practice called Living Proof Therapy.   The Melbourne Clinic OCD Program 

Tess very generously talks to Penny and Angie about: when her hair pulling symptoms began her religious upbringing and the intense feelings of shame and perfectionism the various treatments she’s tried in order to stop pulling out her eyelashes accepting how life pans out (regardless of the condition) what she wishes people knew about trich what she'll do if her kids show signs

In this episode Penny and Ange are joined by young emerging performer and theatre-maker, Gryff Connah. He talks to them about how intrusive thoughts and compulsions have woven their way throughout his life and how his dad helped him to identify what was really going on. Together they discuss: the early signs of OCD as a young kid the obsessive thoughts intensifying during lockdown when Gryff was a teenager the validation and relief that came with a diagnosis some of the more taboo themes of OCD that are so common but rarely talked about the play ‘Flicker’ that Gryff is involved with producing for the Melbourne fringe festival, which delves into the complex themes of OCD

Do you find it tough to parent whilst drowning in OCD overwhelm? Well, Penny and Ange do, so they sat down for a candid chat about it.  They talk about their own experiences as parents to young kids and read out anonymous comments that listeners sent in describing what parts they find the toughest. They also talk about some of the silver linings and include some practical tips for parents who might be struggling with their mental health.    Shownotes:  This Way Up: https://thiswayup.org.au/ The Brain Forest https://www.dymocks.com.au/the-brain-forest-by-sandhya-menon-and-kushla-ross-9780646856094    

Penny talks to acclaimed contemporary painter, Emily Ferretti about her experience with magical thinking OCD. Em talks so generously about:  - Some of her early OCD symptoms that arose when she was at primary school - Seeing a counsellor early on but not receiving the right treatment until she was an adult - Having certain obsessions triggered by specific life moments  - How OCD can wax and wane throughout someone's lifetime  - Going on medication and finally seeing a psychologist who had experience with treating OCD - The catharsis of group therapy  - Becoming a mum who has OCD    Shownotes: Up - documentary  

Alison steps in for Angie today and joins Penny in welcoming back Dr Andrea Wallace to discuss EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). EMDR is an evidence-backed therapy that uses bilateral stimulation (for example side to side eye movements) alongside the recollection of memories to help the brain reprocess memories of events or feelings. Penny and Alison discuss: How the body/mind is wired to heal itself What EMDR is and how it started How and why it can be useful to help treat people with OCD What EMDR sessions might look like How it’s been helpful for Penny How it can help people who might be resistant to trying ERP

Leading Australian TV producer, Chris Walker talks to Penny and Angie about the devastating intersection of OCD and childhood trauma.  When Chris was a young kid he witnessed a devastating event which left him and his family reeling. A few years later, Chris experienced OCD symptoms which started to take over his life.  In this very raw and honest episode, Chris talks so generously about: The role religion and moral scrupulosity played in his OCD The exhaustion of dealing with OCD at school when it’s so often invisible/hidden The continuing misunderstanding around OCD and mental illness in general Getting treatment for PTSD and ocd and how ERP therapy helped his compulsions Seeing OCD symptoms in one of his children and his optimism for early intervention. 

Award-winning ABC journalist and independent filmmaker, Adelaide Miller has a lot going on. Over the last five years she's been diagnosed with OCD, an eating disorder, mild tourettes and ADHD.    Adelaide talks to Penny and Alison about the symptoms she experienced as a child, the painful and awkward lengths she would go to, to make others feel happy and loved and how she's worked to unpack the different components of her neurodivergence and mental health.    We discuss eating disorders in this episode, so if you need help please contact The Butterfly Foundation   Show notes:  The Man Who Couldn't Stop by David Adam 

Season 3 is here! We're kicking things off with a relaxed catch-up between the girls-  chatting about Angie's recent ADHD diagnosis, Penny's honest account of an OCD relapse and Alison's mental gymnastics in the holidays. We also give you a little taste of the incredible guests we have lined up for the season ahead. 

OCD can take so much from people, and a devastating effect of this illness is that it can complicate friendships. In this last episode of season 2, Alison Cosker joins Penny and Ange again to talk about how and why this is the case. They touch on: - How hard it can be to tell friends about an OCD diagnosis  - The strain a mental illness, with no end-date can put on friendships - The boundaries that people with mental illness often have to put in place to look after themselves, and how this can be misconstrued - How friends can get entangled in the reassurance web - Trying to take the ego out of friendship where possible  They end by giving tips for trying to maintain precious friendships; from the point of views of the person with and without OCD 

  The guest this week is Monique Mitchelson, a neurodivergent clinical psychologist and co- host of the very popular Neurodivergent Woman podcast.    Monique very generously shares her story about growing up in Queensland as an undiagnosed autistic adhd’er with OCD and learning more about her brain (and her family’s brains) once she became a psychologist. In this ep the following subjects are discussed: - Why Monique decided to get into psychology  - How so much changed once she received her diagnoses as an adult  - Being a neurodivergent clinician and being open about being on medication  - The interplay of symptoms when you have ASD, adhd and ocd with chronic health conditions  - The motivations that drive the behaviour of people with neurotypical vs neurodivergent brains - The risk of burnout for neurodivergent women - Some of the differences behind the motivations that drive behaviours of kids with ocd and ASD    The Neurodivergent Woman podcast 

Did you know that Tourette Syndrome (TS) and OCD frequently co-occur? Penny and Angie talk to Jason McCurry who has TS and OCD. Jason talks so generously about: - Experiencing both TS and OCD symptoms as a kid in a country town - How OCD and TS interrelate  - What actually happens physically when he starts ticking - How physically arduous constant ticking can be for someone with TS - His trepidation about coming onto the podcast, particularly with his TS flaring up a bit recently - How he would like people to react if his TS symptoms flare up in public  - How and why he now helps young people experiencing disability    CYDA For more info about Tourette Syndrome: Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia

This week is all about perinatal OCD, and it’s a biggie. Penny and Ange chat to perinatal and reproductive psychiatrist Dr Edna Lekgabe and clinical psychologist Dr kit Casey. In the discussion they talk about: What perinatal OCD is How the brain fundamentally changes during matrescence Who gets perinatal OCD and why Some of the common ( and extremely difficult obsessions that come up with perinatal OCD) The ‘professionalisation of parenthood’ The loneliness of experiencing perinatal OCD Why it’s so commonly misdiagnosed/missed altogether Medication throughout the perinatal period   Matrescence by Lucy jones  Self compassion episode with Andrea  Pharmacist Rodney White at Monash medical centre; 03 9594 2361 Royal women’s hospital medicines information service:03 8345 3190 PANDA 1300 726 306 Lifeline https://www.lifeline.org.au/ 13 11 14 Pregnancy birth and baby 1800 882 436 COPE centre of perinatal excellence  SANDS miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn death support  OCD Bounce  So OCD  Health direct(info for service around Australia) 

This week Penny and Angie talk to Bailey MacDonald, an 18 year old who has OCD. Bailey has been suffering with OCD for many years, but it was a few years ago that a particular OCD theme entered Bailey’s life and completely upended it. Whilst Bailey isn’t comfortable to go into the content of the obsessions, she bravely talks to Penny and Angie about:  ⁃Her first encounter with the mental health system and why it put her ff seeking help for years after ⁃How exhausting it is to be at school whilst dealing with debilitating OCD ⁃When she first told her mum about the obsessions  ⁃How dark things became because she just wanted to go back to the time ‘before’ ⁃Starting a podcast about OCD for a school project, which quickly became a passion project  ⁃How much hope she now has that things can get better    🔗 Listen to Bailey's podcast

This week Penny and Ange welcome their dear friend and unofficial producer, Alison Cosker, into the studio for a conversation about multiple diagnoses, doubting the doubt, and how grief can be impacted by OCD (and vice versa).    They also introduce the first Obsession Confession segment sent in by a dear listener.

From periods, pregnancy and beyond, hormones play a crucial role in your mental health. When you have OCD, you might notice that during certain times of the month, or throughout certain life stages, the OCD symptoms get significantly better or worse. Penny and Angie chat with Dr Louise Newson, GP and menopause specialist, to explore how natural hormone shifts interact with OCD and anxiety.    They also discuss: - how to advocate for yourself when you see a doctor and you might be curious about looking further into your hormones and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - the difference between natural and synthetic hormones - how histamine sensitivity can affect hormone- related OCD    The Doctor Louise Newson Podcast Balance app The Definitive Guide to the Perimenopause and Menopause by Louise Newson

Australian actor and writer Rick Davies joins us to talk candidly about living with OCD and his more recent diagnosis of ADHD. We chat about: How acting became a safe haven from the exhaustion of OCD The trepidation of talking so openly about mental illness as someone with a public profile How cathartic it is to hear other people talk about their ocd experiences The co morbidity of OCD and ADHD Feeling like a fraud when the ocd flares up How privilege plays into recovery   The imperfects episode with Rick Davies https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gkJmjH0evWzyJckThC5lk?si=f7bxsnpNTpaMe5GWPmuahw

We’re back for Season 2! In this return episode, Angie and Penny chat about : what they got up to over their holidays why OCD can get so much worse when the pressure is on to have a good time the complexities of ‘coming out’ with OCD.  Angie reveals how difficult it can be to talk about false memory OCD   Freedom From Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by Jonathan Grayson

In the season finale of Season 1, we're joined once again by clinical psychologist Andrea Wallace for a powerful discussion on the role of self-compassion in healing shame, especially for people living with OCD. Andrea breaks down why shame and OCD so often go hand in hand, and how cultivating self-kindness can be a transformative part of the recovery process. We also explore:     •    Why shame frequently accompanies OCD     •    What to do when withholding joy becomes a compulsion     •    How to help children release shame     •    A simple, guided self-compassion exercise you can try at home      Whether you're living with OCD, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about the link between self-compassion, shame, and mental health, this episode is for you.

Yes, we have the same psychologist, and to us, she is an OCD wizard. In this special two-part episode, Dr Andrea Wallace shares some of her wisdom around what it REALLY feels like to have OCD, busts some common OCD myths and talks a bit about her own imposter syndrome (apparently even the wizards gets it). 

This week Penny and Angie are joined by pediatrican Dr Annie Moulden and clinical psychologist Lauren Wetheimer. They dive into topics including who can diagnose a child with OCD and how this process unfolds, how and why parents play such a big and important role in OCD recovery, the advantages of early diagnosis and the role of medication.  Finding a psychologist in Australia: OCD Bounce Directory  Seeing a provisional psychologist: UTS Bond university Swinburne University  Online therapy options: OCD? Not Me! Books about OCD in kids for adults: Talking Back to OCD by John S. March  Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD by Eli R. Lebowitz Books about OCD for kids: Nobody’s Perfect by Ellen Burns  What to do when your brain gets stuck by Dawn Huebner

Hugh Van Cuylenburg has lived and loved someone with OCD for over 10 years. And that person happens to be co-host Penny Moodie. Penny and Angie talk to Hugh about why he thinks he’s still not great at always knowing what to do, why humour helps and why sometimes your instincts to help can fuel the OCD. They end the episode by offering their top tips on how to support someone you love who has this complex disorder. Our top 6 tips: 1. Learn as much as you can about OCD 2. Practice patience 3. Try to foster a loving and non-judgemental environment 4. Expect relapses  5. Try to see your loved one's psychologist together 6. Try to plan ahead and agree what you will do together when the OCD flares up The Man Who Couldn't Stop by David Adam  Othership app

Penny and Angie speak to Clinical Psychologist and Director of Melbourne Psychology and Counselling, Dr Claire Ahern about the often-bumpy road to getting an OCD diagnosis. They also pick Claire's brain about what to look for in a therapist, the question to ask someone who you suspect might have OCD and the differences between anxiety and OCD.  OCD Bounce  Mental Health Online MindSpot This Way Up  OCD? Not Me! Claire Ahern's Website: OCD Online 

In the very first ACTUAL episode Penny and Angie introduce themselves and talk about their own personal experiences with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, the light and the dark sides of this disorder and what's coming up on this first season of It's Not What You Think. 

OCD, it’s really not what you think. This is a podcast about the horrors and hilarities of living with OCD, hosted by author and mental health advocate Penny Moodie and CEO of Stand Up Events, Angie Greene.