In this episode of Anxiety Fitness, I sit down with Katherine Ripley, a somatic therapist from New York City, to explore the transformative power of somatic therapy. Our conversation touches on the challenges of confronting emotions, the significant role parents play in shaping our emotional responses, and the delicate balance required for healthy emotional expression. Katherine provides insightful perspectives on emotional maturity, the impact of emotionally immature parents, and the importance of reclaiming emotions like anger. We wrap up with practical advice on finding safety within ourselves and the therapeutic potential of somatic practices.
I sit down with Dr. Jennifer Siegel, a psychiatrist based in Los Angeles, to have a deep and honest conversation about OCD and anxiety. Dr. Siegel brings both her clinical expertise and her own lived experience to the discussion, which allows us to explore these topics with nuance, clarity, and compassion.We talk about the key differences between OCD and generalized anxiety disorder, and why OCD is so often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. Dr. Siegel explains how OCD is driven by intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, how it can show up in many different subtypes, and why treatments like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) are so different from standard anxiety approaches.We also discuss the stigma around certain OCD themes, including harm OCD, and how shame and fear can stop people from seeking help or speaking openly about what they’re experiencing. Dr. Siegel shares what to look for in a knowledgeable provider, why specialized care matters, and how treatment plans should be tailored to the individual rather than forced into a one-size-fits-all model.We wrap up with practical advice on how to advocate for yourself within the mental health system, how to communicate more effectively with healthcare providers, and where to find trustworthy resources, including the International OCD Foundation.This one is for anyone who’s ever felt confused about their diagnosis, misunderstood in treatment, or unsure where anxiety ends and OCD begins.
