Podcast Summary:

The OCD Whisperer Podcast with Kristina Orlova
Episode: OCD Exposed: 10 Myths and Misconceptions about OCD (and what people get wrong)
Release Date: October 21, 2025
Guests: Kristina Orlova (Host), Elise (Author and OCD advocate)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kristina Orlova is joined by Elise—an author, advocate, and previous guest on the show. Together, they delve into the most persistent myths and misconceptions about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Elise discusses her personal journey with OCD, the inspiration behind her upcoming book “OCD Exposed: 10 Myths and Misconceptions about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder,” and the importance of humanizing the OCD experience. Both host and guest share insights, practical tips, and hope for recovery, making this episode a blend of expert advice and lived experience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Elise’s Personal Story and Motivation for the Book

• Late Diagnosis and Childhood Memories:

  • Elise recounts her first OCD memory from age five—obsessively monitoring her younger brother’s safety. Later, her OCD became entirely internal, composed of “mental compulsions.”
  • She describes her turning point while traveling in Europe, where compulsions ceased providing relief, leading to a mental health crisis and, ultimately, a life-changing diagnosis ([00:39–03:58]).
  • Quote: “I thought my brain was just broken...I didn’t think there was any help to be had.” – Elise ([01:28])

• Bravery in Seeking Help:

  • After opening up to an ER doctor, Elise was first asked if she’d considered OCD, marking what she calls the pivotal “before and after” moment in her life.
  • Discovery and ongoing use of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) not just for OCD, but for daily life.

• Book Inspiration & Survivor Stories:

  • Elise wanted to create an accessible, myth-busting resource that also featured diverse personal accounts from the OCD community.
  • “...there wasn’t really one place that you could necessarily go to and pick up...a primer on what is OCD? Who is struggling with this?” – Elise ([03:38])

2. Most Common OCD Myths Debunked

• Myth #1: OCD is just about being neat, tidy, or orderly

  • Elise explains how popular media perpetuates this stereotype, often for comedic effect, overshadowing the diversity of OCD experiences.
  • Many survivors (herself included) have never been affected by contamination or order-centered compulsions ([04:47–06:28]).
  • Quote: “For so many others, they get caught in this trap of thinking, ‘Oh, I can’t have OCD, because it’s only just that,’ when...it is so many other things.” – Elise ([05:32])

• Myth #2: Obsessive thoughts reflect your true values and desires

  • The belief that intrusive thoughts reveal one’s real self leads to immense guilt and compulsive attempts to neutralize them.
  • “If we knew that these things are not actually a reflection of us, it would be a lot easier to just let them roll off our back.” – Elise ([06:11])

• Other Misconceptions:

  • The assumption that all OCD is visible and will always be obvious to others.
  • Not understanding the internal, mental rituals that are part of many people’s OCD.

3. Current Understanding of OCD: Topics, Triggers, and Internal Experience

• OCD Isn’t Topic-Specific:

  • Kristina adds that OCD isn’t limited to contamination or checking. It can attach to any topic, often those prominent in current culture ([07:14–09:32]).
  • Focus should be on understanding “how an OCD brain works” rather than on disorder content.

• The Invisible Struggle:

  • Much of OCD, especially mental rituals, remains hidden and difficult to explain, increasing the sense of isolation for sufferers.

4. About the Book: Release and Hopes

• Release Details:
  • The book will be released on October 14 (OCD Awareness Week), self-published via Amazon ([09:32–10:00]).
• Purpose and Takeaways:
  • Elise emphasizes “understanding OCD at a human level,” going beyond data to capture lived experiences and provide hope for recovery ([10:12–12:48]).
  • Quote: “It’s not this casual thing, it’s actually very serious and...has a great deal of...negative impact on people’s day to day lives. But also, it’s a story of recovery and hope.” – Elise ([11:28])
  • The book features both debunked myths and stories from survivors illustrating that OCD manifests in numerous ways and recovery is possible.

5. Recovery: What It Means and Addressing Doubt

• Psychoeducation and Mechanisms of Change:

  • Elise explains the OCD cycle (obsession → discomfort → compulsion → reinforcement) and how treatments like ERP, ACT, and Inference-Based CBT (ICBT) break this cycle ([14:06–18:21]).
  • The brain’s plasticity allows for genuine change—recovery means learning to live well even if intrusive thoughts persist.

• Notable Quotes on Recovery:

  • “That is what happens when you do [ERP/ACT]: your brain actually rewires itself.” – Elise ([17:40])
  • “It doesn't let you be free from OCD…and that’s... a difficult concept to kind of hold at the same time... now I can live my life even with those thoughts...” – Elise ([17:54])
  • Shifting Perspective: Recovery is not about erasing OCD, but living a values-aligned, empowered life even when symptoms show up.

• Importance of Agency:

  • Kristina reminds listeners that just as OCD requires participation, so does recovery. Understanding one’s role is vital ([18:21–20:24]).
  • “It does require...people to participate in that. Right? Just like OCD requires your participation, so does getting out of that cycle.” – Kristina ([19:54])

6. Broader Applications: Life Skills From OCD Recovery

• Both speakers share how skills learned through OCD recovery generalize to everyday struggles—be it self-esteem challenges, grief, or any intense emotional experience ([20:24–22:09]).
  • “The really cool thing about learning these concepts...is you can then apply them not just to your traditional diagnosable OCD, but to your day-to-day life and your day-to-day struggles.” – Elise ([21:10])
  • Kristina relates using ERP skills to process her mother’s passing, emphasizing that learning to sit with discomfort benefits many facets of life ([22:09–23:41]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:28] Elise on living with undiagnosed OCD:
  “I thought my brain was just broken...I didn't think that there was any help to be had, and there was no sort of point in telling anyone.”

• [03:38] Elise on why she wrote her book:
  “There wasn't really one place that you could necessarily go to and pick up...a quick book to...get a primer on, like, what is OCD? Who is struggling with this? What does that look like in reality?”

• [05:32] Elise on the stereotypes:
  “For so many others, they get caught in this trap of thinking, ‘Oh, I can’t have OCD, because it’s only just that,’ when...it is so many other things.”

• [11:28] Elise:
  “It’s not this casual thing, it’s actually very serious...But also it’s a story of recovery and hope.”

• [17:40] Elise on neuroplasticity:
  “That is what happens when you do [the therapies]: your brain actually rewires itself. It’s very plastic and it learns new things...and it lets you live your life.”

• [19:54] Kristina on empowerment:
  “It does require...people to participate in that. Right? Just like OCD requires your participation, so does getting out of that cycle.”

• [21:10] Elise on life skills:
  “You can then apply them not just to your traditional diagnosable OCD, but to your day-to-day life and your day-to-day struggles.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:39–03:58 – Elise’s diagnostic journey and first OCD memories
• 04:47–06:28 – The top myths: neatness/order and intrusive thoughts reflecting values
• 07:14–09:32 – How OCD goes beyond the “classic symptoms” and molds itself to any topic
• 09:32–10:00 – Book release information
• 10:12–12:48 – Humanizing OCD and the importance of survivor stories
• 14:06–18:21 – Recovery: how treatments work and the role of brain plasticity
• 18:21–20:24 – Agency, empowerment, and real-life application of recovery skills
• 20:24–23:41 – Broadening recovery skills to everyday life and personal experiences

Connect with Elise

• Instagram: @ocd.or.just.me
• Website: ocdorjustme.com
• Book: “OCD Exposed” available via Amazon and through her website after October 14.

Tone & Language:
This episode is a balance of candid storytelling and expert advice, delivered in a hopeful, empowering, and empathetic voice. Both Kristina and Elise emphasize the seriousness of OCD alongside real, practical hope for recovery.

For Listeners:
If you’re navigating OCD or supporting someone who is, this episode offers validation, myth-busting knowledge, and a sense of community—plus practical pathways toward living a meaningful life with or beyond OCD.