OCD Recovery Short: Mimic The Behaviour Of a Person Without OCD

Host: Ali Greymond
Date: November 19, 2025

Episode Overview

In this concise episode, Ali Greymond delivers a powerful message for individuals working toward OCD recovery: mimic the behavioral patterns of people without OCD in response to intrusive thoughts. Drawing from her own experiences and coaching insights, Ali urges listeners to adopt the reactions of those they perceive as "normal," asserting that repetition of healthy behaviors can lead to genuine change.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Modeling Non-OCD Responses

• Ali encourages listeners to observe how their non-OCD family members or friends react to intrusive or irrational thoughts.
• She emphasizes that most people without OCD simply brush off such thoughts, often with humor or indifference:
  • "If they would have got this thought, they would have laughed. They wouldn't have taken it seriously." (Ali, 00:05)

2. Adopting Healthy Behaviors—Even If It Feels Unnatural

• Ali acknowledges that acting "normal" may feel unnatural or forced for someone with OCD, but repetition is vital:
  • "Whether you feel it's right or not. You're following the normal pattern, and eventually that pattern will become your pattern as well." (Ali, 00:32)
• The act of imitation, even before it feels internalized, builds new habits and responses over time.

3. The Concept of “Normal”

• Ali recognizes that the concept of "normal" is subjective:
  • "No one is really normal, but who you view as normal." (Ali, 00:18)
• The focus is on modeling healthier, more functional coping strategies as seen in others, not achieving some abstract ideal.

Notable Quotes

• On how non-OCD people respond to intrusive thoughts:
  "If they would have got this thought, they would have laughed. They wouldn't have taken it seriously. So act like they would."
  — Ali Greymond (00:05)

• On adopting new behavioral patterns:
  "If they're going to laugh at it, step over it and go on with their day. That is what you need to do."
  — Ali Greymond (00:15)

• On following healthy patterns even if they feel wrong at first:
  "Whether you feel it's right or not. You're following the normal pattern, and eventually that pattern will become your pattern as well."
  — Ali Greymond (00:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 00:10: Introduction to mimicking non-OCD behavior
• 00:11 – 00:24: Example of how family or friends might respond to intrusive thoughts
• 00:25 – 00:41: The importance of imitation, even if it feels unnatural
• 00:42 – END: Reiterating that repeated healthy behaviors become your own pattern

Memorable Moments

• Ali’s practical and relatable advice: Encouraging listeners to literally “step over” OCD thoughts like a non-OCD person would, reinforcing a direct, actionable method.
• Her compassionate humor in the phrase "no one is really normal," making the advice feel approachable and less intimidating.

This episode’s clear, actionable message provides listeners with a simple yet powerful tool for their recovery journey: observe and imitate the attitudes and behaviors of trusted people who don’t have OCD. By consciously practicing these responses, listeners can gradually rewire their own habits—a core principle in The Greymond Method.