In this episode of The OCD Confessional, we’re joined by writer and mental-health advocate Lisa McCarty to talk about postpartum OCD, intrusive thoughts in motherhood, infertility anxiety, the stigma surrounding maternal mental health, and being a caregiver while struggling with OCD.

Lisa shares her personal experience navigating fertility struggles, pregnancy, and postpartum mental health — including how OCD and anxiety showed up during one of the most vulnerable seasons of her life. We talk about intrusive thoughts in new parents, the shame that keeps people silent, and the difference between normal parental worry and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

In this episode, we explore:
• What postpartum OCD actually feels like
• Intrusive thoughts in motherhood
• Fertility struggles and anxiety
• The stigma around maternal mental health
• How storytelling can reduce shame
• What helped Lisa begin to heal

If you’ve ever felt afraid to say your thoughts out loud — especially as a parent — this conversation is for you.

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Supported by NOCD
If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, check out NOCD — a leading virtual health platform that connects people with licensed therapists specially trained in Evidence-Based ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy. NOCD offers live video sessions, between-session therapist messaging, access to in-app therapeutic tools, and a global peer community. Their goal: make expert OCD treatment accessible, effective, and affordable.

➤ Visit https://learn.nocd.com/ocdconfessional to learn more and get matched with an OCD-trained therapist.

🧠 The OCD Confessional is hosted by Liam Martin & Alicia Hill — real stories, intrusive thoughts, and the tools we use to cope (with plenty of laughter).

Disclaimer: The OCD Confessional is intended for education, awareness, and community support only. It does not provide therapy or professional mental-health advice. If you are struggling or in crisis, please seek help from a licensed mental-health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Lisa McCarty on Postpartum OCD & Intrusive Thoughts in Motherhood