Ep. 130: OCD, health anxiety, and bladder hypervigilance

If you've ever found yourself going to the bathroom "just in case," constantly checking your bladder, Googling your symptoms, or wondering why your bladder is always on your mind, this episode is for you.

I'm joined by OCD therapist Kaylee Bullen, LCSW, to talk about the surprising connection between OCD and bladder symptoms. We discuss how OCD differs from anxiety, why intrusive thoughts and compulsions can keep you stuck, and how bladder hypervigilance can become part of the cycle.

I also share my own experience being diagnosed with OCD at 28, how exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy changed my life, and why getting the right diagnosis made such a difference.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What OCD actually is (and why it's so much more than being organized)
• The difference between OCD and anxiety
• Somatic OCD and bladder hypervigilance
• Why reassurance seeking, body checking, Googling, and "just in case" peeing can become compulsions
• How avoidance keeps the OCD cycle going
• What ERP therapy is and why it's considered the gold standard treatment
• How to find an OCD therapist who truly understands the condition

Whether you have interstitial cystitis (IC), overactive bladder (OAB), pelvic pain, or unexplained urinary urgency and frequency, this episode may help you understand the role OCD can play in your symptoms.

Connect with Kaylee:Instagram: @kayleebullentherapyTikTok: @kayleebullentherapy

Kaylee's website

Connect with Callie:

Instagram: @callieknutrition

Tiktok: @callieknutrition

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