3/n communication, often spoken. Eventually I even had to start lecturing to undergraduates. As discussed (at huge length) in a separate thread today, ERP training helped me to overcome this, but for well over a decade it seemed to rule my life. LMK if you want further details #OCDTalkHour

2/n presentation. Formal seminars, informal work-in-progress updates, journal-clubs, teaching (as a T.A.), conference talks, visiting labs (whilst seeking post-doc positions) and the full-blown Academic job talk circuit. Science, a uniquely human activity—as far as we know, requires #OCDTalkHour

I feel seen. Some of you know that my panoply of OCD symptoms reached a pinnacle in grad school as emetophobia—an irrational fear of being physically ill in public (or even in private). This led to me avoiding eating for several (many?) hours before I had to give an oral 1/n #OCDTalkHour

5/n is frequently to counsel other adults to distrust whatever advice their parents are attempting to instil. Oh, there is only one “L” in that word. Who knew? BTW badgers?!? You can feed them like pets? I always think of “The Wind in the Willows”. I’ll just be quiet now. #OCDTalkHour

4/n Self-guided ERP exercises (e.g. using a workbook to build a fear ladder, etc). Also, full disclosure: while I loved my parents, I also tended to strongly distrust any advice they gave me the older I got (it’s a long story, they divorced when I was 7 in 1967) so my knee jerk reaction #OCDTalkHour

3/n (ERP) _can_ work (for some of us), and it helps to have support so that YOU push yourself out of your comfort zone, but I don’t think it can be forced or applied by others. Sorry for lecturing. I had success when I was in my 30’s but have recently struggled mightily with #OCDTalkHour

2/n You do you. ERP is not something to plunge into, and in my lived experience takes immense courage, courage that outsiders don’t even know how to measure. When Anxiety is peaking and fight/flight is activated this is not conducive to rewiring one’s nervous system circuitry. It #OCDTalkHour

Parents can be the worst (even when they swear their intentions are good). e.g. my wife consistently butting in with unsolicited advice for our 28 yr old daughter whose OCD really got worse during the pandemic. And this after being married to ME (“Mr. OCD” for 30 yrs(!) Stay strong 1/n #OCDTalkHour

Thank you for coming to #OCDTalkHour. Feel free to keep the conversations going between talk hours.

Take care and see you next week!