What if the traits you've been praised for your whole life, the perfectionism, the rule following, the relentless work ethic, were actually symptoms of a diagnosis most people have never heard of?

In this episode, I sit down with Janice Russell, the Overwhelm Slayer, to unpack Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). Not OCD. OCPD. Janice spent decades building a life that looked incredibly productive and impressively accomplished, from special education to corporate to a 20-year career as a professional organizer, before a therapist handed her a questionnaire that finally explained the operating system her brain had been running the whole time.

We get into the difference between OCD and OCPD, why so many people go undiagnosed, what it feels like when you literally cannot turn your brain off, and how Janice has learned to leverage her wiring instead of fighting it. From planning her relaxation (yes, really) to a gratitude practice built around a two-inch notebook, this conversation is a masterclass in working with your brain, not against it.

What we cover:

The difference between OCD (an anxiety disorder) and OCPD (a personality disorder)
Why the traits society celebrates can be the same ones quietly depleting you
How Janice found out about her diagnosis while in therapy for depression
The exhaustion of a brain that never stops and why she has to plan her downtime
Building systems that honor your wiring: gratitude notebooks, mindfulness streaks, and scheduled recharge
Navigating interpersonal relationships when your brain defaults to "there's a right way"
"Done is better than perfect" and asking "what's the worst thing that could happen if I don't do this?"
How Janice now helps others optimize life after a medical diagnosis

More about Janice:

Janice Russell is the Overwhelm Slayer, helping people navigate life after a health diagnosis by building systems that make paperwork, to-dos, and time feel manageable. After 11 years in the classroom and time in the corporate world, they built a business grounded in decades of hands-on organizing and productivity experience. Today, Janice provides virtual coaching and accountability for clients managing brain-based, autoimmune, and other body-based conditions.

Connect with Janice:

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