Podcast Summary: OCD Recovery with Ali Greymond

Episode: Fear Of "What If It's Not OCD?"
Air Date: November 12, 2025
Host: Ali Greymond

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ali Greymond addresses a common fear among people recovering from OCD: the worry that their symptoms may not actually be OCD, but instead another condition, or perhaps something in addition to OCD. She brings her personal experience and coaching expertise to offer guidance, reassurance, and practical steps on how to navigate this anxiety. Ali stresses the importance of refusing compulsive research and rumination, and focusing steadfastly on recovery work.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The "What If It's Not OCD?" Fear

• Ali highlights that feeling unsure about whether symptoms are OCD is very common in recovery.
• Often, the mind fixates on doubts: "What if this isn't OCD?" or "What if I have something else too?"
• She emphasizes that these worries are just another manifestation of OCD.
  • Quote:

    "What if this is not really OCD? What if this is something else? ...That combination of the question 'what if?' is what? What if this is not OCD? Or what if I have something in addition to OCD?" (00:13)

2. Compulsions Around Seeking Certainty

• Many with OCD compulsively research symptoms or seek multiple medical opinions, hoping to get reassurance or a definitive diagnosis.
• This habit can actually prolong and intensify anxiety.
  • Quote:

    "...doing the research or trying to figure it out, or going to doctor after doctor... can actually fuel the situation further." (01:15)

3. Misdiagnosis and Clinician Knowledge Gaps

• Ali notes that most doctors, unless highly specialized, may not fully grasp the nuances of OCD—especially less common types (e.g., false memory OCD).
• This can lead to mixed messages and further uncertainty for sufferers.
  • Quote:

    "Most doctors don't have a really good grasp on OCD... If the person is dealing with false memory OCD, for example, they've never even heard of it most of the time..." (02:00)

4. The Dangers of Online Research

• Searching for information online is discouraged.
• Online resources may be inaccurate, misinformed, or even triggering to someone with OCD.
  • Quote:

    "...online, anybody can write anything. And as you know, as a person with OCD, that if you look at something and it's just written just a little bit off, it will trigger you..." (02:38)

5. Choosing to View It As OCD

• The core of Ali's advice: deliberately choose to view these fears as OCD symptoms and respond accordingly.
• Avoid falling into repetitive checking, analysis, or reassurance-seeking.
  • Quote:

    "Choose to view this as OCD. You will not be wrong. Choose to view it as OCD and choose to do the recovery work, meaning disregarding, not looking deeper into it, not seeing doctor after doctor..." (03:14)

6. The Recovery Process: What To Expect

• Recovery takes time (approximately six months of consistent effort).
• Fluctuations—bad days, setbacks—are normal and not evidence of a deeper problem.
  • Quote:

    "So you will have bad days, you will have setbacks. That's all normal. That doesn't mean that this is not OCD or that doesn't mean that it's not working." (04:19)

• Do not chase or monitor the feeling of progress too closely.
• Focus on pushing through intrusive thoughts and refraining from compulsions.

7. Practical Guidance

• Treat doubts about your diagnosis just like any other OCD thought: acknowledge, don’t engage, and move forward.
• Avoid repetitive checking, research, and analysis, as these only entrench the cycle.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On reassurance-seeking:

  "None of those behaviors [checking, research, seeing many doctors] will get you better. So refusing reaction and pushing forward..." (03:30)

• On lapses in recovery:

  "It just means that you’re having a bad day, and you need to get back on track." (04:26)

• Advice to listeners:

  "If you are in this situation, you have to treat it just like any other OCD. Push through, don’t research, don’t analyze..." (04:40)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–01:15 — Introduction of the "what if it’s not OCD?" fear
• 01:15–02:30 — Risks of reassurance-seeking and medical misdiagnosis
• 02:30–03:14 — Why online research is problematic
• 03:14–03:50 — Choosing to interpret symptoms as OCD and recovery behaviors
• 03:50–04:40 — Recovery timeline & managing setbacks
• 04:40–05:00 — Practical closing advice for listeners struggling with diagnostic doubt

Recap

Ali Greymond reassures listeners that doubt about whether symptoms are truly OCD is a common part of recovery—and itself an OCD symptom. The path forward is not in relentless reassurance or compulsive research but in acceptance, refusal to engage with the cycle, and persistent recovery work. Normalize setbacks, avoid seeking certainty, and trust in the process.