Get to Know OCD – Episode Summary

Podcast: Get to Know OCD
Host: Dr. Patrick McGrath (NOCD Chief Clinical Officer)
Guest: Paige D’Angelo (Professional NHL Team Dancer, Entrepreneur, OCD Advocate)
Episode: “I Thought OCD Was Fueling My Success… It Wasn’t”
Date: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features Paige D’Angelo sharing her lived experience with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)—from childhood symptoms through diagnosis, treatment, and the liberation that followed. Paige reflects on how OCD shaped her achievements and how, contrary to her old beliefs, managing OCD allowed her to reclaim joy and real success. Dr. McGrath guides a raw, engaging conversation touching on stigma, treatment, and advocacy. Paige’s candor offers hope and solidarity for anyone facing OCD.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Paige’s Background and OCD Emergence

• [02:59] Paige’s Introduction: Paige is a pro dancer for an NHL team in Philadelphia and the founder of Air Cosmetics, a refillable mascara line.
• [04:00] Early Memories: Paige’s earliest OCD memory is as a child in elementary school, touching the railing “just right” before going downstairs.
  • “I remember my dad telling me... you got to stop doing that or you’re going to drive yourself a little bit insane.” (Paige, 04:20)
• [05:02] Childhood to College: Intrusive thoughts started in middle school; Paige kept them private for years and was only diagnosed with OCD at age 22 after seeing a NOCD video describing relationship OCD.

Diagnosis and Therapy

• [06:02] Initial Therapy Attempts: Paige tried talk therapy and EMDR but her OCD went unrecognized; she was uncomfortable disclosing intrusive thoughts.
  • “A lot of the intrusive thoughts are... something that, you know, people feel super overwhelmed and uncomfortable by.” (Paige, 06:45)
• [07:43] Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): Paige describes her fear that losing OCD would undermine her achievements; her first ERP session was filled with tears but brought relief and symptom reduction by 76% after a year.
  • “My whole life, my OCD was like magical powers. I was so scared to lose it.” (Paige, 07:48)

The Myth of "Helpful" OCD

• [08:18] Misconceptions: Dr. McGrath addresses the romanticizing of OCD as a driver for success. Paige now sees OCD as a barrier, not a superpower.
  • “It was protecting me from positive experiences and possibilities... I wouldn’t let myself fully experience what I love without this fear and anxiety.” (Paige, 08:46)
  • “So you weren’t successful because of OCD, you were successful despite having OCD?” (Dr. McGrath, 10:03)
    “Absolutely.” (Paige, 10:08)

OCD in Entrepreneurship and Performance

• [10:38] Business Impact: The uncertainty of entrepreneurship and passion for her work provided fertile ground for OCD. Paige describes intense compulsions and what-if intrusive thoughts relating to her mascara product’s safety.
  • “Entrepreneurship is just all uncertainty... OCD was having a field day.” (Paige, 10:38)
• [13:09] OCD in Dance & Social Situations: OCD interfered more in communication and fan interaction than in the act of dancing, which for Paige served as a positive and controlled outlet.

The Power and Pain of Progress

• [14:47] Looking Back: Paige expresses relief at not having lost more years to untreated OCD, and describes cognitive and emotional liberation post-treatment.
• [15:38] Facing ERP: Giving up compulsions was scary but liberating. Paige, who also has Dissociative Identity Disorder, recalls the first time she truly allowed herself to feel difficult emotions, describing it as an overwhelming but freeing moment.
  • “I just stared at [a bag of cat food] for... however long that session was and just allowed myself to experience the feelings.” (Paige, 16:09)

Relationship OCD and Stigma

• [20:25] Relationship OCD: Paige details how intrusive thoughts and doubts threatened her long-term romantic relationship—until therapy helped her distinguish OCD from real relationship concerns.
  • “I had this awakening, like, OCD attaches to the things you love the most.” (Paige, 22:32)
• [23:40] Media Portrayal: Paige and Dr. McGrath note the gap between OCD’s stereotypical TV depiction (handwashing, touching) and the internal rumination most sufferers experience.

Advocacy and Breaking the Silence

• [24:13] Breaking Stigma: Inspired by seeing relatable content herself, Paige is now committed to sharing her story publicly to help others.
  • “I may be an OCD conqueror and I may have graduated, but the journey’s not done here.” (Paige, 24:35)
• [29:56] The Real Goal of Therapy: Dr. McGrath explains that ERP’s aim isn’t to eliminate thoughts, but to live alongside them with reduced power—and Paige reflects on coming to terms with that.
  • “Our goal is you’re going to learn to live with this... as of yet, we haven’t figured out how to have people stop having thoughts.” (Dr. McGrath, 29:56)
• [32:18] The ‘Snowball Effect’ of Healing: Initial reluctance subsided as Paige saw progress, enabling her to speak up more and reclaim her life.

Trauma and OCD

• [35:36] Trauma Therapy: Paige completed PTSD treatment and reflects on how trauma and OCD are intertwined, with compulsions masquerading as protection from further harm.

Advice and Hope for Others

• [37:29] For the Hesitant: Paige, referencing her own initial resistance, urges listeners who feel 49% ready for change to let go—even gently—of OCD’s grip in favor of a fuller life.
  • “The sooner you start now, the more life that you get to enjoy feeling things and experiencing them without as much fear.” (Paige, 38:15)
• [40:35] Living With Choice: On letting go: “I have a choice to get there in a relaxed, positive way, or I can get there in a terrified, anxious, controlled way... Why not choose the route where I can just enjoy the feelings?”

Where to Find Paige and Final Thoughts

• [40:53] Connect with Paige:
  • Instagram: @paigediangelo
  • TikTok: @paige.d’angelo
  • Company: Air Cosmetics (find via her socials)
• [41:49] Closing Reflections: Both host and guest share gratitude for openness about OCD, affirming that a rich, successful life is possible beyond OCD’s grip.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I thought that my OCD was like magical powers. I thought it was something that helped me achieve things... I was so scared to lose it.”
  —Paige (07:48)

• “You weren’t successful because of OCD, you were successful despite having OCD.”
  —Dr. McGrath (10:03)

• “OCD attaches to the things you love the most.”
  —Paige (22:32)

• “The goal isn’t to make this go away. It is to learn to live with this.”
  —Dr. McGrath (29:56)

• “Coming on here today was even scary for me, because I’ve never publicly talked about having OCD... and I plan to from today on.”
  —Paige (28:03)

Important Timestamps

• [04:00] – Paige’s first OCD memories
• [06:37] – Early therapy attempts and missing diagnosis
• [07:43] – First ERP session and fear of “losing” OCD
• [10:38] – OCD’s impact on entrepreneurship
• [14:47] – Relief and gratitude for beginning treatment
• [16:09] – Liberating experience of feeling emotions in ERP
• [20:25] – Relationship OCD and how it masked itself
• [29:56] – The real goal of OCD treatment
• [35:36] – PTSD, trauma, and OCD interplay
• [37:29] – Advice for those hesitant to begin treatment
• [40:53] – Where to find Paige and her business

Tone and Language

The conversation is candid, supportive, and empathetic, sprinkled with humor and vulnerability. Both speakers encourage honest reflection, cheer small wins, and challenge stigma, making the episode relatable and approachable for those affected by OCD.

Summary prepared for those seeking to understand the episode’s core stories and messages without listening in full.