The Truth of OCD: Therapist Alegra Kastens on Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

306. The Truth of OCD: Therapist Alegra Kastens on Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Therapist Alegra Kastens shares the truth about her lived experience with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that is vital for all of us to understand. Detailing her own struggle, and work as an OCD specialist, Alegra helps demystify the relentless cycle of ego-dystonic, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and compulsions that define this often-misunderstood and under-diagnosed disorder – sharing why so many people have OCD and do not know it, and ways to support people with OCD without enabling and reinforcing the compulsions. CW: Discussion of intrusive sexual and violent thoughts as well as suicidal ideation. About Alegra: Alegra Kastens is a licensed therapist, OCD specialist, writer, and the founder of the Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders in New York City. Fueled by lived experience with a lesser-known manifestation of OCD, education and advocacy about OCD are at the forefront of her career. IG: @AlegraKastens TikTok: @AlegraKastens To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You Are Not Your Thoughts

This podcast was revelatory. Informative, illuminating, clear. Alegra and Amanda were the perfect duo to put the spotlight on such a misunderstood condition. Thank you for presenting this topic on your podcast.

OCD with Alegra

I love this podcast, the issues that are brought to the surface are life events people normally do not want to talk about. I experienced OCD thoughts after having my child at 20 years old. I remember being so frightened of my thoughts after bringing my new born home, one day I sat outside my doctor’s office in my car and wouldn’t leave until he saw me. I am now 53 years old and two of my three children suffer with OCD thoughts. One child refuses medication and my other child takes meds and has a therapist. As a mother, I always feared that one of my children would suffer with compulsive thoughts, but having two children has been so heart breaking as I know their internal mental struggle. I have shared this podcast with both my children. Thank you for sharing WE CAN DO HARD THINGS.