Podcast Episode Summary

OCD Recovery with Ali Greymond

Episode: OCD Recovery Short - Ignore Vs. Disregard OCD Thoughts
Date: December 5, 2025
Host: Ali Greymond

Episode Overview

In this short episode, Ali Greymond addresses a common question in OCD recovery: is there a difference between ignoring OCD thoughts and disregarding them? Drawing from her expertise and personal experience with OCD, Ali explains the key concept of indifference towards intrusive thoughts and emphasizes its central role in the recovery process.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ignore vs. Disregard: No Real Difference

• Ali directly responds to frequent questions about whether "ignoring" and "disregarding" obsessive thoughts are different strategies.
• She asserts that they are essentially the same: both involve not attaching significance or importance to intrusive thoughts.

“There is no difference. It’s the same thing.”
— Ali Greymond [00:06]

2. Sending the Right Message to Your Brain

• The brain seeks efficiency and will stop generating unwanted thoughts if it perceives them as irrelevant or unimportant.
• If you react strongly to intrusive thoughts, you signal to your brain that these thoughts matter, which keeps the cycle going.

“You’re showing your brain that this is irrelevant, that it doesn’t need to waste energy on sending you these thoughts.”
— Ali Greymond [00:14]

3. Breaking the OCD Cycle with Indifference

• Ali emphasizes the power of showing indifference to break the cycle of obsessions and compulsions.
• The less importance you assign to OCD thoughts through your reactions, the less persistent they become.

“Show indifference.”
— Ali Greymond [00:34]

4. Encouragement and Resources

• Ali encourages listeners to use practical tools, such as the OCD Help app, to track their recovery progress and maintain this mindset daily.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the core similarity of ignore vs. disregard:

  “There is no difference. It’s the same thing.”
  — Ali Greymond [00:06]

• On what to communicate to your brain:

  “You’re showing your brain that this is irrelevant, that it doesn’t need to waste energy on sending you these thoughts.”
  — Ali Greymond [00:14]

• On the essence of the correct mindset:

  “Show indifference.”
  — Ali Greymond [00:34]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–00:09 – Introduction of the topic: Explaining the ignore vs. disregard question
• 00:10–00:25 – Explanation of how the brain responds to perceived importance of thoughts
• 00:26–00:35 – Emphasis on indifference as the key to recovery
• 00:36–end – Brief mention of resources for further support

Overall Summary

Ali Greymond succinctly demystifies a common confusion in OCD recovery language, clarifying that “ignore” and “disregard” mean the same thing: treating obsessive thoughts as unimportant. The episode is a reminder that indifference—not engagement—is what helps retrain the brain, ultimately diminishing the grip of intrusive thoughts. Ali’s confident, encouraging tone and personal authority as an OCD recovery coach make this message impactful and practical for listeners seeking actionable recovery guidance.