S3E145: Water Cooler Chats: When It Looks Like OCD… But Isn’t (Exactly)
In this Water Cooler Chat episode, we explore conditions that can mimic or overlap with OCD—but require different approaches. So join Nicole Morris, LMFT and Mental Health Correspondent, as she dives into conditions that look like or trigger OCD-like symptoms, including PANS/PANDAS, Lyme, Bartonella, and eating disorders. We also unpack how severe OCD can resemble psychosis—but isn’t the same. Learn why medical evaluation is key and when it might not be “just OCD.”
Resources:
New to OCD completely? Learn more about..
How OCD behaves and why we use Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) to treat it: Click here.
More about ERP: Click here.
How OCD doubts are constructed, and how we can use Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT) to resolve reasoning errors: Click here.
To learn more about PANS & PANDAS, check out one of the helpful, following resources:
The PANDAS Network: Click here.
The PANDAS Physician’s Network: Click here.
Brittany Goff, LCSW-C’s medical provider directory for US-based patients: Click here.
Please note, this is also a resource for Lyme-literate providers.
To learn more about Lyme Disease, click here.
To learn more about Bartonella and other tick-borne illnesses, click here.
To learn more about Eating Disorders, click here.
Please note: Malnourishment is not based on weight. A person can be malnourished and appear within normative or higher BMI ranges. Please follow up with a medical provider and/or a certified Eating Disorder Specialist for more help.
To get more help distinguishing true psychosis from OCD symptoms, click here.
Please note that IOP, partial and total hospitalization programs don’t always know the difference. Consultations between OCD providers and/or psychiatric OCD specialists are encouraged to best advocate for your loved ones.
To listen to any past episodes covering topics highlighted during this episode, check out the following:
S1E39: The Incredible Overlap Between Eating Disorder & OCD with Dr. Jenna DiLossi, Psy.D.
S2E67: OCRD Series II, Part III: PANS, PANDAS & Lyme, Oh my!
S2E82: The Bully That Is Perinatal OCD: Raising Awareness and Fostering Hope with Gina Abbondante, LCSW
Postpartum psychosis is discussed during the course of this episode.
S2E93: From Desperation To Hope: Questions & Answers For Families Battling PANS & PANDAS
S3E119: Food, Fear & Family: Tips for Surviving the Holidays with ED & OCD with Jenna Stone, LMSW
