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Sensorimotor OCD; where you get stuck noticing your breathing, blinking, thinking, or other automatic bodily processes. It can feel relentless and impossible to switch off.
In this episode of Just Checking, we're joined by Andy and Ferne from the Anxious Academy to explore what sensorimotor OCD is, why it can feel like the "worst" OCD theme, and how to treat it.
We cover common sensorimotor compulsions, when reassurance becomes a compulsion, and why loss of certainty and control drives the cycle. Andy and Ferne share their lived experience, and we look at why response prevention often matters more than exposure with this theme. We also discuss compassion work, dropping perfectionism, metacognitive therapy for OCD, exposures for metacognitive beliefs, and experiments for mental compulsions.
We also cover green and red flags in OCD programmes, neurodivergent considerations, what recovery really looks like, the biggest recovery roadblocks, and a common mistake therapists make with this presentation.
If you're living with OCD, supporting someone who is, or you're a therapist wanting to understand this theme better, this one's for you.
Podcast by:
Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist
and
Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist
Edited by Christian Nickson
Featuring Andrew Mellish and Ferne Manniex from Anxious Academy
Anxious Academy Website: https://theanxiousacademy.co.uk/
Time Stamps:
00:00 Anxious Academy introduction
02:45 Introduction to the episode
05:40 Brain Spam
11:10 What is sensorimotor OCD?
17:00 Losing a sense of certainty and control
18:05 Common sensorimotor compulsions
21:00 When validation and assurance changes to reassurance
23:45 Why Ferne struggled with sensorimotor themes
24:35 How sensorimotor OCD impacted Andy
25:25 Is this the 'worst' OCD theme?
28:05 Focusing more on response prevention than exposure
29:00 Compassion work
34:35 Dropping the perfectionism
36:20 Metacognitive therapy for OCD
39:30 Metacognitive awareness
40:25 Exposures for metacognitive beliefs
43:40 Experiments for mental compulsions
44:35 Metacognitive Training
45:55 Red flags in OCD programmes
47:40 OCD compulsions involving OCD research
48:35 Summary of what OCD therapy green flags are
49:50 Neurodivergent considerations
58:20 What does recovery look like?
1:01:25 Biggest recovery roadblocks
1:05:30 Jess Donald Trump toddler analogy
1:06:45 Common therapist mistake with this
1:12:26 Weekly Win
1:18:58 Exposure Lab
1:24:21 Goodbyes
Resources:
Andy's recommended Youtube attention videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx0h9GH33gV0ItzP_nOuJPVIXLzh3vDBo&si=YWLWilOUbGtx4VZX
Anxious Academy social media: @theanxiousacademy
Get in Touch:
Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us:
Email us at ocdcollectiveuk@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod
For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd
Please check out our privacy policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing
Content Warnings:
We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.
Disclaimer:
This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.
