Episode 112: Postpartum OCD, Intrusive Thoughts & Learning to Trust Yourself with Jenna Overbaugh

What happens when the thoughts that scare you most become the thoughts you can’t stop thinking about? In this episode, Rachael sits down with licensed professional counselor Jenna Overbaugh to talk about postpartum OCD, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and the ways sleep deprivation, perfectionism, and the need for control can fuel OCD symptoms.

Together, they unpack what separates common intrusive thoughts from OCD, why OCD often latches onto the things we care about most, and how parents can begin breaking the cycle of reassurance seeking, avoidance, and compulsions. Jenna also explains how exposure and response prevention (ERP) can help parents build confidence and learn to trust themselves again.

Inside this episode:

What postpartum OCD really looks like

The difference between intrusive thoughts and OCD

How sleep deprivation and anxiety can feed each other

Why OCD often latches onto what we care about most

How perfectionism and the need for control can fuel OCD

The role of reassurance seeking and why it can reinforce OCD

How social media can contribute to anxiety and compulsive behaviors

What exposure and response prevention (ERP) is and how it works

How compulsions and safety behaviors keep the OCD cycle going