97. OCD and Intimacy: Can Perfectionism Ruin the Mood? with Dr. Patrick McGrath

All Episodes

September 19, 2023 • 23 mins

Did you ever stop to consider the intricate challenges individuals with OCD face when they embark on their journey towards treatment? Or perhaps, have you thought about the profound ways in which perfectionism can affect their experiences of intimacy and sex? Alternatively, have you explored the complicated links between hoarding behaviours and OCD?

In today’s episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, I’m thrilled to have Dr. Patrick McGrath, a renowned expert in treating OCD and author of "The OCD Answer Book" and "Don't Try Harder, Try Different"

During our conversation, we explore the main obstacles that hinder progress in OCD treatment. Dr. McGrath mentions "wussy exposures" and the importance of practicing exposure response prevention (ERP) techniques outside of therapy sessions. He also highlights the challenge of recognizing OCD's tricks even after making progress in treatment. We also touch on the impact of perfectionism on intimacy and sex, with Dr. McGrath providing strategies for handling intrusive thoughts. We conclude our conversation with a discussion on hoarding and associations with OCD.

In This Episode

[01:07] The number one thing that gets in the way of recovery
[05:39] Perfectionism and its impact on intimacy and sex
[08:14] How to deal with the intensity of OCD attacks
[08:47] The importance of stepping out of a situation and taking a break to collect oneself without giving in to compulsions.
[10:00] Setting attainable goals for dealing with intrusive thoughts
[11:15] Exposing yourself to intrusive thoughts and practising response prevention
[16:48] Recognizing the importance of memory
[17:22] Associations and moving forward.
[18:03] The concept of emotional contaminants in OCD

Notable Quotes

[02:08] “Doing ERP without safety behaviours, even the subtlest of safety behaviours are going to be some of the things that aren't going or that are going to really interfere with your ability to get better.” - Dr. McGrath
[03:54] “OCD is always going to try to bring you back into the realm of OCD and doing compulsions. Because remember, OCD eats compulsions for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's the koala of disorders.” - Dr. McGrath
[06:13] “OCD likes to tell you it's your best friend and it's ultimately out there for your best interests. So hey, don't go into this situation until you go 100% that everything's going to be okay.” - Dr. McGrath
[18:05] “OCD loves to put emotional contaminants on things. You know, there's something bad about this thing or this area and how much then that emotional contamination can spread as well, too.”- Dr. McGrath

Our Guest

Dr. Patrick McGrath, a renowned expert in treating OCD and author of "The OCD Answer Book" and "Don't Try Harder, Try Different," presently serves as the Head of Clinical Services at NOCD. He leads therapist recruitment and drives the development of treatment and training protocols, drawing from his extensive experience as the former Assistant Vice President at AMITA Health's Foglia Family Foundation Residential Treatment Center.

Resources & Links

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

Dr. Patrick McGrath