Amanda Petrik-Gardner, LCPC, LPC, LIMHP

Here’s a common question in the #OCD world:

How do you know if your doubt is obsessional (OCD) or reasonable (something you really should do something about)?

Luckily there is a way to distinguish between the two! Come learn more about I-CBT; check out the link on my profile for upcoming webinars.

What beliefs about thoughts (aka metacognitions) do you have? And how do they contribute to perpetual worry and rumination?

Come learn more about Metacognitive Therapy with me! I’m offering an introduction, available to EVERYONE! Check out the link on my profile for more info.

#anxiety #depression

FOUR EVENTS! One every month for the next four months.

Check out all of these upcoming events I’m either speaking at or helping to organize, because there is something for everyone.

Links for registrations in my bio 💜

#anxiety #depression #OCD

REMINDER 🎉

We can choose to do nothing with our thoughts.

Seems incredibly hard, huh? Come learn more about detached mindfulness and letting our thoughts just exist.

I will discuss this concept and more in my next Metacognitive Therapy webinar. More info at the link on my profile.

#anxiety

Let’s hone in on how OCD misapplies facts to fit its narrative.

Info that may be true on paper, but does not apply to our doubt. OCD will misapply it or use it out-of-context to make our obsession sound real and scary.

Does #OCD use any ‘facts’ to confuse you into believing your obsession is real?

OCD loves to distort information. Misapply it. Twist it. Use it out-of-context.

Whether that be past experiences. Stories that have happened to someone else. Facts. Your own values or rules you have learned.

So notice next time if #OCD is using information correctly or not.

An old post but a goodie! Reminding us what #OCD ACTUALLY is…

Happy Pride.
If your initial reaction to Pride is discomfort or disdain, that’s exactly why it’s necessary. Pride was born out of protest; so no one is shamed into silence. It’s a reminder that everyone deserves to live openly, safely, & without fear of being treated as “less than” for who they are.

Where do I like to go to find an OCD specialist?
iocdf.org
adaa.org
icbt.online

#ocd #therapy #mentalhealth

A few of the most common questions (and answers) I receive about Inference-Based CBT for OCD!

#icbt #ocd

Happy Tuesday, Happy Spring, Happy end of the semester for a lot of students…

Here are a few tips for loved ones who are asking how they can help someone with #OCD 💜

OCD plays so many tricks to make its obsessional doubts feel real… I might have to do a Part 2 to just name them all!

Do any of these feel familiar to you?! Has #OCD used any of these to pull you in?

Compulsions are sneaky…

They may feel like they are helping. However they are only fueling the OCD cycle. Worsening our anxiety and obsessions in the long-run.

Like putting gasoline on a fire.

What are your compulsions to be aware of?

#OCD #mentalhealth

See you all this summer at the IOCDF conference in Chicago!

Registration is now open. This conference is unique in that it’s open to providers (therapists, psychiatrists, etc), researchers AND individuals with #OCD and their families.

Check it out! I have two presentations on I-CBT!

What’s the difference between an obsessional doubt (OCD) and an ordinary, every day doubt (non-OCD)? I mean, all doubts are questioning information. But some are reasonable and some are imaginative.

Check out Resolving OCD by Dr Frederick Aardema for more information and icbt.online.

#OCD

What is #emetophobia and how is it treated? Well that depends on the details of the case and how it is conceptualized. Is it a true phobia, anxiety about anxiety (like we see with panic), OCD? A combination?

What questions do you have about emetophobia?!

#anxiety #ocd #phobia

Today we are sharing some tips for the common BFRBs (Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors) lip picking and lip biting.

Share in the comments what interventions helped you! You never know if one of your tools will help out another person 💜

#bfrb #mentalhealth #anxiety #ocd

Cheek biting is a lesser known BFRB (Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior). But you’re not the only one!

Here are a few of my fave interventions. What helps you?!

#BFRB #mentalhealth #OCD

Happy Friday!

How often do you get inferentially confused? What about? Can you tell when you are?

#OCD #mentalhealth

#OCD can create doubt about reality, existence, purpose and meaning of life and our time here on earth…

Compulsions may include checking, reassurance seeking, avoidance, ruminating and more.

Have you had experience with existential obsessions?

This is an important distinction to make as ‘liking something organized’ is common myth or stereotype for #OCD.

In reality, individuals with actual ordering and arranging compulsions do not enjoy or want to do these rituals. They are distressing, time consuming and impair their functioning.

It’s important to find an OCD specialist that understands the nuances of treating your OCD and the subtle ways that could actually reinforce (worsen) it. They don’t do it maliciously, but it happens all too often because of improper training.

#OCD #mentalhealth

You may know about postpartum depression, but do you know about postpartum OCD?!

#OCD #postpartum #mentalhealth

Have you ever noticed you become less aware or distrusting of your senses when absorbed into the OCD bubble? Unfortunately this actually makes us less safe and more susceptible to risk.

What have you experienced?

#OCD #mentalhealth

As someone that used to go down the rabbit hole of #sleep #anxiety thoughts for about 2-3 hours every night for many years…
And now I fall asleep in about 20 minutes most nights…
These ACT skills (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) did it for me.
What helps you?!

#insomnia #mentalhealth #sleepanxiety

#OCD makes us question everything—even our own five senses, common sense, and sense of self.

It plants seeds of doubt, making us feel disconnected from what we know to be true in the here-and-now.

What does your OCD cause you to distrust?

Clearing up a few important misconceptions about some near and dear #OCD themes 💜

What other misconceptions have you heard?

#mentalhealth

This #BlackHistoryMonth, let’s talk about mental health in Black communities. OCD and anxiety, among other diagnoses, often go undiagnosed due to stigma, systemic barriers, and lack of access to specialized care. Everyone deserves support.

Let’s all do our part to help.

Struggling with OCD? You’re not alone.

Managing obsessions and compulsions is possible, and here are a few small tips to help. In addition to treatment of course.

For more information on evidence based treatment options, check out:
adaa.org
iocdf.org
icbt.online

#OCD #mentalhealth

OCD ❌Myths vs ✅Facts!

Let’s break down some of the misconceptions about OCD.

What else would you add to the list? What other myths have you heard?

#OCD #mentalhealth