Podcast Summary: OCD Recovery with Ali Greymond
Episode Title: Full OCD Recovery: OCD Fear - What If I'm Doing OCD Avoidance?
Release Date: December 8, 2025
Host: Ali Greymond, OCD Specialist & Author

Overview

This episode zeroes in on a pervasive OCD fear: “What if I'm doing OCD avoidance without realizing it?” Ali Greymond addresses this anxiety head-on, explaining why this worry is itself a form of OCD (known as “meta OCD” — obsessing about the process of recovery). Drawing on years of experience and her personal journey to recovery, Ali frames this fear as a common mental compulsion and offers direct, practical guidance for listeners experiencing it.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Fear of “Unconscious” Avoidance (00:00–01:08)

• Host addresses the listener’s worry that they might be unknowingly engaging in avoidance behaviors, thereby sabotaging their recovery.
• Ali reassures listeners that this is a classic OCD trick — a form of “meta OCD,” where the obsession focuses on the process rather than the original topic.
• Practical advice: If you are obsessively worried about avoidance, it’s very likely just another OCD symptom, not a reflection of actual avoidance.

Notable Quote:

• Ali Greymond [00:12]:
  “A common fear is ‘What if I’m avoiding?’ And if you have that fear, I give you 99% chance that you are not avoiding because that's a common OCD fear connected to meta OCD.”

The Cycle of Compulsions and Meta OCD (01:09–02:45)

• Ali describes how OCD can latch onto the process of recovery itself:
  • People fear that if they're not “doing recovery right”—for instance, if they're secretly avoiding—they won't get better.
  • This creates a new layer of compulsion: obsessively checking if they're avoiding or not.
• Key message: This “fear about not recovering” should be treated as any other OCD thought—by resisting the urge to analyze or seek reassurance.

Notable Quote:

• Ali Greymond [01:28]:
  "If you're experiencing something like this, treat it as OCD. You don’t need to analyze every behavior — that’s just compulsion in disguise."

Exposure and Acceptance (02:46–04:00)

• Ali encourages listeners to focus on genuine exposure and to avoid falling into the meta trap:
  • Obsessing about “doing it perfectly” is a sneaky compulsion.
  • Instead, put your energy into consistent exposure and dropping rituals — even those rituals that are about “not avoiding.”
• Reframing uncertainty: Accept you might never have perfect certainty — and that’s okay.

Notable Quote:

• Ali Greymond [03:10]: “You won’t get 100% certainty that you’re not avoiding — and that’s the work: to accept that and keep moving forward.”

Takeaway & Encouragement (04:01–End)

• Reassures listeners that feeling uncertain is universal in recovery, and urges them not to get sidetracked by “meta OCD.”
• Ends with a supportive call to treat these worries as OCD symptoms, not real indicators of failing at recovery.
• Mention of emergency sessions available for those who need extra support (ad skipped, per instructions).

Highlighted Segments & Timestamps

• 00:00–01:08 — Introduction to the “OCD avoidance” fear and why it’s likely just another OCD manifestation.
• 01:09–02:45 — How OCD shifts focus to the recovery process and creates new, hidden compulsions.
• 02:46–04:00 — The importance of resisting perfectionism in recovery; embracing exposure and letting go of the need for certainty.
• 04:01–End — Final encouragement and advice to treat these fears as part of the OCD cycle.

Notable Quotes

• Ali Greymond [00:12]:
  “A common fear is ‘What if I’m avoiding?’ And if you have that fear, I give you 99% chance that you are not avoiding because that's a common OCD fear connected to meta OCD.”
• Ali Greymond [01:28]:
  "If you're experiencing something like this, treat it as OCD. You don’t need to analyze every behavior — that’s just compulsion in disguise."
• Ali Greymond [03:10]: “You won’t get 100% certainty that you’re not avoiding — and that’s the work: to accept that and keep moving forward.”

Final Thoughts

This episode demystifies a common recovery stumbling block: the obsession with avoiding avoidance. Ali Greymond’s straightforward, empathetic style offers listeners reassurance and actionable steps, encouraging them to relinquish the need for certainty and avoid turning the recovery process itself into another OCD compulsion. The key message: Treat your fears about “doing it wrong” just like other OCD thoughts—by refusing to give in to analysis, and by embracing purposeful exposure.

This episode is a valuable listen for anyone in OCD recovery who finds themselves obsessively second-guessing their progress.