Podcast Summary: OCD Recovery with Ali Greymond

Episode: Full OCD Recovery: Stop Chasing The Feeling Of Trust
Date: January 11, 2026
Host: Ali Greymond

Overview

In this episode, Ali Greymond delves into a crucial but often overlooked aspect of OCD recovery: the trap of chasing the feeling of trust or certainty that one's intrusive thoughts are “just OCD.” Ali explains why pursuing reassurance or the internal sensation of trust is counterproductive, how it perpetuates the cycle of OCD, and what genuine recovery actually looks like. The episode delivers practical insights for individuals struggling with different types of OCD—including Pure-O, Relationship OCD, Harm OCD, and more—emphasizing real-world strategies and mindset shifts from Ali’s decades of experience in recovery and coaching.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Trap of Seeking “Trust” in OCD Recovery

• Main Problem Discussed (00:00):
  Many OCD sufferers express a strong desire to “trust” or fully believe that a distressing thought is just OCD, hoping this certainty will allow them to disregard the thought.
  • Ali: “A common thing clients will say, especially when they're first starting out, is they'll say, but I just want to trust that this is OCD. I just want to achieve the feeling of trust.” [00:00]

The Cycle of Reassurance

• Chasing Trust Becomes a Compulsion:
  Ali clarifies that this pursuit of “feeling trust” is itself a form of reassurance—a compulsion that feeds OCD’s grip.
  • Ali: “That feeling of trust is reassurance. You want to get reassurance that this is an OCD thought, and then from there you will disregard. What exactly will you be disregarding at that point? Right, because at that point you have nothing to disregard because you're already reassured.” [00:13]
• Why Reassurance Fails:
  Achieving a sensation of certainty does not lead to progress, but rather strengthens the compulsion loop by telling the brain these thoughts warrant attention.

The Path to Real Recovery

• Ignoring the Thought:
  The real pathway to overcoming OCD is to ignore intrusive thoughts without engaging in reassurance or compulsions.
  • Ali: “That's not how OCD recovery works. You need to ignore the thought. By that, you send the message to the brain that this stuff is no longer important.” [00:37]
• What Happens Over Time:
  With consistent practice, the brain learns that these thoughts are irrelevant and gradually reduces their frequency and intensity. This process is gradual, not instantaneous.
  • Ali: “The brain stops sending you not only this thought, but other thoughts as time goes by. Not all in one day, not the second you made the decision, but over time, the brain sends this to you less and less. That's full recovery.” [00:46]

The Key Message: Stop Feeding OCD

• Compulsion Recognition:
  Ali emphasizes that craving the feeling of trust or absolute certainty is just another compulsion and must be resisted as part of the recovery journey.
  • Ali: “Getting the feeling of trust, getting the feeling of understanding, it's just a compulsion. It's actually feeding the disorder and sending you further back into it.” [01:04]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You want to get reassurance that this is an OCD thought. What exactly will you be disregarding at that point? Right, because at that point you have nothing to disregard because you're already reassured.” — Ali Greymond [00:13]
• “That's not how OCD recovery works. You need to ignore the thought. By that, you send the message to the brain that this stuff is no longer important.” — Ali Greymond [00:37]
• “Getting the feeling of trust, getting the feeling of understanding, it's just a compulsion. It's actually feeding the disorder and sending you further back into it.” — Ali Greymond [01:04]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 — Introduction to the “trust” trap in OCD recovery
• 00:13 — The reassurance cycle explained
• 00:37 — The importance of ignoring intrusive thoughts
• 00:46 — How the brain responds over time to ignoring OCD
• 01:04 — The key message: why chasing trust is counterproductive

This concise episode arms listeners with a pivotal insight: real OCD recovery isn’t about chasing feelings of certainty, but learning to sit with doubt and refusing to perform compulsions—even ones disguised as “seeking trust.”