OCD Family Podcast – S4E155: Cards Against OCD: Ho-Ho-Holiday Edition

Host: Nicole Morris, LMFT
Guests: Tracy Ibrahim (“Taboo Tracy”), Krista Reed, LSCSW, and Madison (@ObsessivelyStrong)
Date: December 8, 2025

Episode Overview

This special holiday episode brings together Nicole Morris and three vibrant guests—Tracy, Krista, and Madison—for a festive and irreverent game of "Cards Against OCD," a mental health and OCD-themed version of Cards Against Humanity. The game serves as both entertainment and education, using humor to break down stigma and openly discuss taboo topics related to OCD, exposure therapy, intrusive thoughts, and OCD recovery. The conversation also gives listeners tips for navigating the holidays as part of the OCD or mental health community.

Key Discussion Points and Highlights

1. Setting the Tone: Humor & Taboo in OCD (00:29 – 09:45)

• Trigger Warning & Community Mission: Nicole reminds listeners the episode will touch on various OCD themes, taboo topics, adult language, and possible emetophobia triggers. Her aim: to foster a supportive, judgment-free space for families and chosen families of those with OCD.
  • Nicole: "OCD is all about rules and distress and saying, you can't talk about this, you can't say that, it's so bossy. But good response prevention means we don’t follow OCD's rules, we follow our own value driven ones." (02:20)
• Game Format: The group uses a custom Google Form to submit answers to humorous OCD-related prompts, inspired by Cards Against Humanity, with each round judged anonymously. Chat GPT generated some of the game’s wildcard prompts.

2. Game On: Holiday "Cards Against OCD"—Memorable Rounds & Banter

Round 1: “My therapist said I couldn’t ___, so naturally I did it three times.” (10:17)

• Answers ranged from “stick an entire banana in my mouth,” “check,” and “use Dr. Google.” Nicole chooses “use Dr. Google,” tying it to pervasive OCD compulsions for reassurance-seeking.
  • Nicole: “My clients and sometimes others that shall not be named use Dr. Google, so I feel like that one hits me in the heartstrings.” (11:11)

Round 2: “ERP because exposure to ___ builds character.” (12:40)

• Options include “vomit,” “public restrooms,” and “disgust-based triggers,” sparking empathetic laughter about the realities of ERP (Exposure Response Prevention) and triggers.
  • Krista: “Public bathrooms have my disgust-based triggers inside of them.” (15:13)

Round 3: “Nothing ruins a dinner party faster than bringing up ___.” (16:12)

• Humorous, edgy responses: “intrusive sexual images of my father,” “vaginal smells,” “EMDR.”
  • Krista: "If I were to ever bring [up vaginal smells] around the holidays, I would be kicked out faster than a redheaded stepchild. And I am already that." (18:17)

Round 4: “I didn’t plan to confess ___ in session, but here we are.” (20:59)

• The group laughs over surprising confessions, including “how attractive Jesus is—his abs are ripped,” “attraction towards my therapist," and “I believe hot dogs are a sandwich.”
  • Tracy: “As a strong believer that hot dogs are not a sandwich...I might cancel that person's next appointment.” (23:30)

Round 5: “OCD said don’t do ___, I said bet.” (28:39)

• The hosts banter about the rebelliousness sometimes required to confront OCD, with playful answers like “murder” (hot dog murder), “hot dogs are sandwiches,” and “pour milk first, then cereal.”
  • Madison: "Why would I pick something that goes against my values of a hot dog sandwich?" (30:11)

Round 6: “The only thing more exhausting than obsessions is ___.” (32:58)

• Tongue-in-cheek responses include “waiting for IOCDF proposal decisions,” “current political climate,” and “more than three phallic-shaped machetes coming at me.”
  • Nicole: “The only thing more exhausting than obsessions is waiting for IOCDF proposal exceptions.” (34:27)

Continuing Banter: Hot Dog as Sandwich Debate (24:28, 25:08, 42:41)

• Extended, recurring debate: Is a hot dog a sandwich?
  • Nicole: “A hot dog, it’s a hot dog.” (24:40)
  • Madison: "So a hot dog's a sandwich?" (24:56)
  • Tracy: “If you make a hoagie, do you call it a hot dog?” (25:02)

OCD Recovery Starter Pack & Taboo Intrusive Thoughts (41:19, 43:04)

• “OCD Recovery Starter Pack: ERP, SSRIs, and ___” evokes both seriousness and joke responses: “being unbothered by taboo intrusive thoughts,” “a hike in the wilderness with Dr. Gray,” “Taco Tuesday.”
  • Krista: “Being unbothered by taboo intrusive thoughts...that's literally where you want to get.” (43:24)
  • Madison: “If only it could really be a part of the starter pack.” (45:05)

Final Rounds: Blending Surreal with Relatable

• From “If I avoid this one thing, I’ll definitely prevent ___” (herpes, hot dogs with ketchup, poop germs death), to “Intrusive thoughts are like ___ but spicier” (The Exorcist vomit scene, sweet pickle juice, walking down the street & blowing up a stadium full of sandwiches).

Notable Absurd, Edgy, and Endearing Quotes:

• Tracy: “I will say as a strong believer that hot dogs are NOT a sandwich...I might cancel that person’s next appointment.” (23:30)
• Nicole: “You’ll hear us reference [Google Form] a little bit as we dive in...make sure you stick through the end...they also left the fam here with their holiday tip of the season.” (06:09)
• Madison: “I like to have my cereal and have milk on the side. I don’t like soggy cereal.” (30:39)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Rule Breaking for Recovery:
  “Good response prevention means that we don’t follow OCD’s rules, we follow our own value-driven ones.” —Nicole (02:37)

• Debunking OCD Taboos Together:
  "It is important to talk about [taboo topics] in a non-judgmental fashion and help people feel more comfortable." —Tracy (64:02)

• On the Challenging Holidays:
  “If you are feeling forced or pressured to celebrate a holiday a particular way and it doesn’t feel like it fits you…start your own traditions.” —Krista (63:11)

• Navigating Difficult Family Gatherings:
  “…if your family doesn’t kind of understand your diagnosis…know that that doesn’t mean anything about you. That means more about their maybe inability to learn…” —Madison (67:11)

• Holiday Encouragement:
  “Honor what you’re feeling...grief itself doesn’t define you. Look around, and if you don’t see anybody in that trench, reach out for help...you are not alone.” —Nicole (69:04)

Important Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:51] – Introduction and game explanation
• [10:17] – Game begins: “My therapist said I couldn’t ___, so naturally I did it three times.”
• [13:16] – “ERP because exposure to ___ builds character.”
• [16:12] – “Nothing ruins a dinner party faster than bringing up ___.”
• [20:59] – “I didn’t plan to confess ___ in session, but here we are.”
• [28:39] – “OCD said don’t do ___, I said bet.”
• [32:58] – “The only thing more exhausting than obsessions is ___.”
• [41:19] – OCD recovery starter pack prompt
• [62:17] – Closing: Guest plugs, holiday survival tips, and affirmations

Closing Section: Where to Find the Guests & Holiday Tips (62:17–end)

Krista (@christaruthreed / readocd.com):

• Encourages listeners to “find your own traditions,” especially if pressured to celebrate in ways that don’t fit your needs or values.
• “It doesn’t matter how old you are. It's never too early to start a tradition.” (63:11)

Tracy (@tabootracy / SPFtherapy.com):

• Reminds listeners that holidays don’t need to be elaborate and that it’s okay to celebrate with just one other person or in your own unique way.
• "It doesn't have to be crazy or like, feel like, oh my gosh, I didn't have a whole thing. Don't worry about it." (66:31)

Madison (@obsessivelystrong):

• Offers validation for those from families who don’t understand or acknowledge OCD: "Give yourself a lot of grace before you go...What are we gonna do that's gonna brighten or lift you up after you leave a space that maybe doesn't feel super, super positive." (67:11)

Final Encouragement from Nicole:

• On social comparison and grief during the holidays: “Honor what you’re feeling. …if you don’t see anybody in that trench, reach out for help. …you are not alone. There are thrice people out there, times however many, ready to join you.” (69:04–71:11)

Tone and Takeaway

The episode’s playful, irreverent, and deeply empathetic tone serves to normalize taboo thoughts and rituals central to OCD, using humor and candidness to chip away at stigma. The warmth and camaraderie between the guests—and their willingness to "go there" with the silliest and most uncomfortable topics—make for a supportive virtual family gathering for anyone affected by OCD during the holidays.

"Perfection isn’t the goal, honey…wherever you’re at, if you’re kind of feeling sad and in your feels, honor it. Grief itself doesn’t define you." —Nicole (70:44)

This episode is rich in laughter, frank community, and practical support—a must-listen for those navigating OCD, mental health, and the holiday season.