Can you imagine a nightly battle where the battleground isn't just your bed, but your own mind? Welcome to the sleepless world of individuals wrestling with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), where intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and the haunting spectre of false memories turn the quest for rest into a Herculean task.

In today’s episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, we sit down with mental health counsellor Alnardo Martinez to discuss the difficulties people with OCD encounter when trying to sleep, focusing on the impact of intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and particularly false memory OCD. Martinez offers strategies to manage rumination and improve sleep hygiene, such as using guided meditations and accepting uncertainty. He also emphasizes the importance of working with a therapist and tailoring treatment approaches like ERP, CBT, or ACT to individual needs. The episode concludes with resources for listeners and encouragement for those on their journey to overcoming OCD.

In This Episode

• [01:20] Understanding the impact of OCD on sleep.
• [02:23] Common issues with sleep and OCD.
• [03:52] Strategies for improving sleep hygiene.
• [06:01] Addressing intrusive thoughts and compulsions.
• [08:04] Supporting a loved one with OCD and sleep issues.
• [13:31] Understanding false memory OCD and its impact on sleep.
• [16:35] False memory OCD and sleep.
• [17:16] Neutralizing rumination.
• [18:50] Accepting uncertainty.

Notable Quotes

• [02:23] "I think a lot of the clients I work with will often say that sleep is a big factor. It's usually interrupted, they get poor sleep, or the quality of sleep isn't good."
• [08:04] "I think first you want to try to validate those feelings. You want to try to not be dismissive. You don't really want to say, 'Oh, it's not a big deal, just go to sleep.'"
• [14:24]"What tends to happen, more so like compulsion-wise, could be replaying situations over and over in their mind, trying to convince themselves, 'No, I remember checking out, I remember buying these things.'"
• [16:35]"This person could be an adult and have a false memory that something happened to them when they were six years old, and that's really not a situation you're going to be able to go back and find any evidence of happening or not happening."
• [17:16] "I recognize that this is an OCD thought. I may not ever have full understanding of whether this did or didn't happen, and I'm going to work on being accepting of that."
• [19:21] "If you're taking an ERP approach, it should be a gradual approach. Maybe you're not sitting with that feeling for something that's a really distressing false memory thought; maybe you've started with one that's a little less anxiety-producing."

Our Guest

Alnardo Martinez, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at the Child Mind Institute, brings over 10 years of expertise in diagnosing and treating OCD and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Certified in administering the ADOS-2, he employs tailored interventions such as CBT, ERP, mindfulness, and ACT techniques. Fluent in Spanish, Alnardo conducts workshops on children's mental health and provides bilingual neuropsychological evaluations, dedicated to empowering youth to thrive.

Resources & Links

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

• https://www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
• https://www.youtube.com/c/OCDWhispererChannel
• https://www.korresults.com/
• https://www.onlineocdacademy.com

Alnardo Martinez

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/alnardo/
• https://childmind.org/bio/alnardo-martinez-ms/

**Disclaimer**

Please note, while our host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

Stay tuned for bi-weekly episodes filled with valuable insights and tips for managing OCD and anxiety. And remember, keep going in the meantime. See you in the next episode!

In a society that is gradually breaking down the barriers surrounding mental health, it's disheartening to witness the lingering shadows of stigma that continue to hinder progress. Marginalized communities often struggle to access support and treatment for OCD despite the fact that it affects people from all walks of life.

In today’s episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, we are excited to speak with Alexandra Reynolds, a mental health graduate student and IOCDF Advocate.

During our conversation, Alexandra discusses the unique challenges faced by marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ community and people of color, in accessing OCD treatment and overcoming cultural stigma. She shares her personal journey of self-acceptance and the importance of finding supportive communities outside of family systems. The conversation also touches on the role of technology in building connections and the significance of prioritizing mental health. Alexandra offers hope to listeners, affirming that everyone is worthy of recovery and a fulfilling life beyond OCD.

In This Episode

• [00:42] Introduction to Alexandra
• [02:07] Stigma and access to treatment
• [04:27] Cultural differences in mental health
• [06:40] Family dynamics and acceptance
• [09:54] Navigating identity and acceptance
• [11:48] Seeking support and advocacy
• [16:43] Building supportive communities
• [18:12] Acceptance and building relationships
• [18:39] Challenges of being open about OCD
• [19:18] Encouragement to seek support
• [20:35] Alexandra’s word of hope: Worthiness of recovery

Notable Quotes

• [05:37] "I had people tell me that the reason I have mental illness is because I am possessed by a demon and that I just need an exorcism.” -Alexandra
• [17:14] “Life is still kind of unfair and I can't be out everywhere and not everyone accepts me or understands me, but also, I have some really amazing humans in my life who do.'" -Alexandra
• [18:39] "You may live in a place where you can't tell everyone you have OCD, or you may work at a place where you can't tell everyone you have OCD.” -Alexandra
• [20:35] “You are totally worthy of it. OCD, stigma, shame, societal expectations—they make us feel that we're not worthy for all these different reasons. But that's not true.” -Alexandra

Our Guest

Alexandra Reynolds is a dedicated IOCDF Advocate and mental health graduate student, committed to raising awareness of OCD and providing evidence-based support. Her personal journey with OCD fuels her mission, especially in advocating for marginalized communities. As a first-generation Latinx, she actively works to destigmatize mental health care.

Resources & Links

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

• https://www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
• https://www.youtube.com/c/OCDWhispererChannel
• https://www.korresults.com/
• https://www.onlineocdacademy.com

Alexandra Reynolds

• https://www.instagram.com/alexandraisobsessed/?hl=en
• https://www.tiktok.com/@alexandraisobsessed

**Disclaimer**

Please note, while our host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

Stay tuned for bi-weekly episodes filled with valuable insights and tips for managing OCD and anxiety. And remember, keep going in the meantime. See you in the next episode!