Mindset | Blog

Trigger warning: this article discusses suicidal thoughts and self-harm. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call emergency services right now. In the U.S. call 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; if you are elsewhere, contact your local emergency number or crisis line. Carmen had a long day at work. Her husband was supposed to help her prepare for guests that evening, but he wasn’t home. Tired and irritated, she reached for a knife to cut vegetables — and an intrusive thought appeared: “I’m so tired. I could just kill myself right now.” The thought terrified her. She tried to push it away, but the harder she tried to ignore it, the more present it became. By the time her guests arrived she put on a smile, b

Just got back from the International OCD Foundation Conference. If you haven’t heard of it and you struggle with OCD—or love someone who does—make sure you check out their website. It’s filled with valuable information about OCD, OC-related disorders, and helpful resources not only for adults but also for kids, teens, and everyone in between! I had the opportunity to be part of the panel that opened the conference: The State of OCD 2025. We were asked a variety of questions related to our roles—whether as clinicians, individuals with lived experience, or caregivers. I shared my thoughts both as a clinician and also as a mother of someone diagnosed with OCD. And my message remains the same: There is always hope. There are evidence

Living with OCD can be mentally and emotionally exhausting. The intrusive thoughts and distressing feelings may make you feel like you should be able to “control” or eliminate them, leading to frustration and self-blame. Do you find yourself spending all day trying to manage OCD, only to feel completely drained by the evening? You might even think, “Who has time for self-compassion?” Quite often, it’s difficult to recognize that you are not at fault for the distress OCD brings. Whether you’re personally struggling with OCD or supporting a loved one who is, self-compassion can easily be the last thing on your mind. For parents, seeing a child suffer from OCD can be heartbreaking. Balancing their

Hearing about gratitude and joy can sometimes deepen your feelings of gloom, especially if you’re facing emotional and mental health challenges. You may find yourself asking: “Why do others seem so happy? Why do they appear to manage life better than I do? Don’t they have their own struggles? Am I the only one feeling this way?” When grappling with issues like depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, perfectionism, or other conditions, it can be tough to focus on life’s positive aspects. Although it may feel isolating, remember that you are not alone! The stigma surrounding mental health issues persists, often making you feel like you’re alone in your challenges because few people discuss them openly—especially when unpleasant

After Sally’s clinician conducted a comprehensive assessment of her clinical condition, she said, “Your symptoms suggest that your challenges are linked to religious scrupulosity OCD.” Sally’s immediate response was, “I’d rather have a faith crisis than OCD!” Sally’s reaction was completely understandable amidst the enduring stigma and misconceptions surrounding OCD. It was natural for her to feel upset and overwhelmed, and the next step was for her to decide whether to pursue therapy or take a different path. Can you relate to Sally’s predicament? When doubts arise, has your mind ever hinted that they might be linked to a faith crisis? When individuals are deeply devoted to thei

Going Upstream— Is It Worth It? The o’opu, a freshwater fish native to Hawaii, hatches in fresh water and literally goes with the flow, swimming downstream to reproduce. Its eggs are swept into the ocean, where they develop into young fish. Like salmon, these young fish instinctively return home. They measure less than three inches in size, but their determination to reach their birthplace and start another generation is huge. These fish don’t just swim upstream to get back home. They literally climb waterfalls by using suction disks.1 “How is this possible?” you might ask. Well, before they reenter fresh water to begin their journey home, their bodies are transformed. They develop mouth and pelvic suckers that help them climb.

By Kathleen Ririe “What if I should discover that…I myself stand in need of the alms of my own kindness– that I am the enemy who must be loved?” –C. G. Jung As Christmas approaches, in Christian religious traditions we look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, who is celebrated as the Savior of the World. According to the Bible, He was perfect and gave His life for humankind, that if they would come into relationship with Him and abide by His doctrine, they too would receive everlasting life through His gracious Atoning sacrifice. This is good news right?  Well, for those with Scrupulosity (a subtype of OCD involving religious or moral obsessions)  this message can at times feel like a two-edged sword. On

Challenges are certainly part of life, and expecting to be free of it all is not realistic, unless you are a kid. For example, one afternoon, my grandkids were doing art projects at my house. One of them decided to create something that was a little too ambitious for his age. When I realized he was no longer working on it, I asked: “What happened to your project?” He answered, “I quit. It was too hard.” I said, “Oh, that’s too bad.” His older sister quickly chimed in: “When things get tough; what do you do? Here are two steps:  You quit and then forget about it!” She likes to tease and be mischievous sometimes. Her parents often talk about doing hard things and to keep trying instead of quitting. So I said, “Sweetie, you can

Drew had been raised in a religious environment. He had been taught to love God, but when he was a teenager, he began to have doubts about his faith. When he did, he felt guilty. He truly loved God and wanted to have a close relationship with Him. However, the more he wished to be good and serve others perfectly, the more doubts he seemed to have about God’s existence. He was terrified to experience intrusive thoughts and doubts while participating in religious activities. He believed the thoughts were his fault for not completing his “spiritual to-do list.” There just didn’t seem to be enough time to do what he believed had to be done so “God would be happy with him.”  The more he tried, the mo

In your darkest times… Stay hopeful. Stay faithful. Even when you think God is not there. God is there and your scrupulous mind might just be getting in the way. Remember that your scrupulous mind is not in charge of your life or what you choose to do and believe. You are imperfectly good and God loves you unconditionally. You are enough. Keep the hope!