This is part of the series of:
A Day In The Life of...

And today we are talking about what it's like to be hospitalized for OCD. This is an experience that is not uncommon but is hugely stigmatized. Hospitalization is a source of shame, stigma, and fear about how people will view us, what it means about us, and then the traumatization of what it is like to be in many of these centers/hospitals/institutions.

Being hospitalized can be an enormous source of shame, not to mention that many practitioners have NO idea what OCD is or how it can manifest, so the combination of being in a space that is terrifying PLUS not understanding what you are going through can be absolutely traumatizing.

Today, we are sharing our experiences of being hospitalized because of our experiences with OCD. Our hope is that if you have been hospitalized or if you are in the future, you know you aren't alone in this, that you can get through it, and that there are opportunities to find peace and joy, even in a place where that seems impossible!

Hospitalization can serve a vital function, and that is if you are in a space with your mental health that you need intervention for safety and security, please understand that it is imperative for you to seek that support. Personally, I am so grateful I had the opportunity to stabilize in a secure environment, despite it's flaws, in order to gain some insight, understanding, and knowledge about what can help while my nervous system was stabilizing. I have always known that if I needed to be hospitalized again, I could do it and I'd be okay. So, this episode is meant to help you see that if you have been or even in the future if you are hospitalized, it is NOT the end of the world! You will survive it, you will and can find hope and motivation, and you do have hope.

If you want to support or sponsor our podcast, please visit our patreon page at
https://www.patreon.com/intrusivethoughtsunmasked.com

If you are looking for an online community who understands, gets what you are going through, and you can connect to to feel less alone, check out my OCD online community at
http://the-ocd-support-community.mn.co

In this episode, we talk to Alie Garza. Alie lives with OCD and is an OCD Therapist and her story is filled with inspiration and resilience.

Alie disclosed her intrusions to a trusted community, and unfortunately received a response many of us dread and fear.

Rejection. Ostracization. Misunderstanding.

This is something that so many of us fear and keep us silent and behind the mask! The reason I feel Alie's experience is SO important is because she is a testament to going through what we are terrified of, and surviving AND now being in a position of disclosing without shame, fear, or rejection. Alie embodies exactly what advocacy is...and also owning her authentic story to help support others in how to change how they approach these situations.

We discuss her story, what we can do when we feel scared or threatened by sharing, and how to approach professionals who may misunderstand.

This is an important episode and topic. It may feel scary to listen to because trust me...I KNOW this is something so many of us worry about. But, by NOT talking about it, we just perpetuate the fears that we have no agency, right, or opportunity to shed light, education, or boundaries around who we tell and why.

I hope this episode helps support you if you are experiencing this or gives you some insight or tips if you are in this position.

If you are in need of a community that can help support you where you are at in your OCD experience, check out my online community for support at https://the-ocd-support-community.mn.co

If this podcast supports or inspires you, please consider supporting us as a patreon or sponsor at www.patreon.com/intrusivethoughtsunmasked

Why the mask made sense, and how I learned to live without it

In today's episode, Chrissie talks about the many scenarios we may not even realize we are wearing a mask, but yet we still feel the toll of it, whether that be with shame, feeling dismissed, or feeling unseen.

This episode is about storytelling the different times in life where OCD wasn't necessarily the driver, but definitely was controlling the GPS of how I felt like I was showing up in life, and still needing to hide. Learning how to connect and live by our values outside of our experience with OCD can feel conflicting at times, especially when stigma, shame and fear are present. Chrissie talks today about when the particular values of authenticity began to rear it's head, but was silenced many times by the mask. What had to happen in her life for her to finally embrace it? Listen to this episode to find out!

If you are moved, inspired, or feel connected to this podcast, please consider pledging monthly or sponsoring us at our Patreon page at www.patreon.com/intrusivethoughtsunmasked . Your contribution will help us keep these stories and other areas of connection available to those who are feeling alone, isolated and wanting more opportunities to connect! Anything helps us, so please consider donating today!

If you are looking for community connection with weekly support, monthly classes and events, and individuals who just get it - check out my online community at https://the-ocd-support-community.mn.co

And remember, when you're here, you don't have to wear the mask! We want you to feel seen, understood, and accepted...just as you are.

Acceptance can be both freeing and challenging, especially when living with OCD. There are many misconceptions around what it means, not only in our personal lives, but how it integrates into our lives on the recovery journey.

Today on Intrusive Thoughts Unmasked, four guests explore what acceptance means to them and some key factors in how they have gotten where they are today in that relationship of accepting themselves and who they are with OCD.

I hope this episode helps support you wherever you are in your life with OCD.

Please consider supporting this podcast either with a monthly pledge or as a sponsor. We have different tiers of support on our Patreon page where you can contribute what fits your life. Check it out at www.patreon.com/intrusivethoughtsunmasked

If you are looking for support or connection with others who just get it, join my online community where we have individuals from all around the world in different stages of recovery! We have weekly support groups and one on one sessions with certified peer support specialists. We also have classes on OCD recovery and psychoeducation and monthly events with therapists and advocates. Our monthly subscription is $35 and you can join whenever you need the extra support!

Https:the-ocd-support-community.mn.co

I hope you enjoy the show - and remember that here, you can take the mask off and we want you to feel seen, understood, and accepted exactly as you are.

In episode 3, we introduce a regular contributor, and one who is very well known throughout the world in the OCD community, Dr. Steven Phillipson.

Steve is the founder of The Center for Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy in New York City, New York. He is the author of many articles bringing awareness to individuals living with intrusions with mental rituals which describes the community name that he coined 'Pure O /Pure OCD'.

In this episode, we have no agenda - which is just like our normal conversations! And the discussion took us in the directions of a few misunderstandings about OCD and OCD treatment, the role of distress tolerance, how emotions play a role in our OCD experience, and of course the controversy around the term Pure O.

Steve was my therapist 28 years ago when I had struggled with debilitating OCD for over 12 years. I found his website on AOL dialup! I emailed him and we began sessions doing Exposure Response Prevention therapy over the phone within a week of making contact. I will forever be grateful for his understanding, compassion, and guidance in my journey toward symptom recovery. I knew immediately Steve really cares about his patients and his desire to do what he can to help them find relief from the crippling symptoms of OCD. I reconnected with Steve many years ago, inviting him to speak at one of my nonprofit - OCD Gamechangers - events in Denver, Colorado. It was full circle for me to stand on the stage and present with this incredible therapist who has helped me shape the life I have now. I am honored to have him as a regular contributor on this podcast through 2026.

I hope you enjoy the discussion we have. If you are interested in contacting Steve and his center, please visit www.ocdonline.com or reach out to him at ocdzone@aol.com (literally the same email he had in 1998 haha!)

If this podcast speaks to you, helps you feel less alone, and helps you to finally take off that mask you have to wear to hide OCD from the world, please consider supporting or sponsoring the podcast through our Patreon account! Find out more about what you can receive as a supporter and how you will help ensure we continue producing these incredible episodes at www.patreon.com/intrusivethoughtsunmasked.com

If you are in need of a supportive community that provides connection and assurance you are not alone in your journey, please check out my online community of international members! We have weekly support groups, weekly peer support by certified peer support specialists, and events and educational and recovery classes monthly. Get your monthly subscription today at https://the-ocd-support-community.mn.co

Living with taboo intrusions brings added layers of shame, guilt, and self-loathing - and living with POCD - intrusions about pedophilia with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - is a theme that can be tormenting and isolating. This theme keeps people silent. It keeps people frozen in fear of the 'what if people knew I had these intrusions?'

So, they stay silent. They stay alone in these thoughts, images, and sensations out of fear of being misunderstood, arrested, ostracized, or found to be a monster.

In this episode, three individuals share their stories of 'A Day in the Life of POCD' in hopes you will learn more about what it is like to live in the brain of someone with POCD, and also that if you are experiencing these intrusions, you are not alone and it is OKAY to reach out for help and support.

For more information on POCD - please refer to my videos on Youtube at Chrissie Hodges or any one of these websites:

www.ocdonline.com, www.nocd.com, www.ocdbaltimore.com, www.ocdla.com, www.madeofmillions.com

This is not an uncommon theme, but can be greatly stigmatized and misunderstood. Please reach out for help and support if you are living with POCD or any taboo themes because you deserve to be understood, and accepted despite what your brain is telling you!

If you are looking for community, connection, and a place where others just get it. Join my online community for weekly support through groups and one-on-one peer support, monthly events and classes. https://the-ocd-support-community.mn.co

*Important Disclosure:

This podcast is for psycho-educational purposes only and it’s not intended to replace the guidance of a qualified professional.

"Hiding the Truth I Couldn't Allow the World to See"

In the debut episode of Intrusive Thoughts Unmasked, host and creator Chrissie Hodges shares two pivotal chapters of her life, the times when the mask she wore felt like the only way to survive. Believing she had to hide her true self to be accepted, Chrissie built personas that promised safety but delivered isolation.

Through raw storytelling and honest reflection, Chrissie explores how those masks shaped her identity, how they eventually cracked, and how stepping into her authentic self led to connection, community, and a sense of belonging she never thought possible.

This episode invites listeners to consider the masks they wear and what becomes possible when we finally take them off.

Visit our website to learn more about Intrusive Thoughts Unmasked at:

www.intrusivethoughtsunmasked.com

And support, pledge, or sponsor our podcast at our Patreon account at

https://www.patreon.com/c/intrusivethoughtsunmasked