169. My OCD Was at Its Worst While My Baby Was Fighting for Her Life

🧠Can OCD trick even a trained medical professional? What happens when your worst fear actually comes true—and your OCD tells you it’s your fault?

In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Sarah Michelle Boes, nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, mother, and OCD advocate. Together, they explore what it’s like to live for decades with undiagnosed OCD, how pregnancy intensified obsessive thinking, and how recovery is possible even after hitting rock bottom.

Sarah opens up about: • Living with OCD symptoms since childhood without knowing it • Being misdiagnosed until adulthood • How pregnancy and motherhood intensified magical thinking OCD • The moment she realized OCD—not reality—was running the show • Entering intensive ERP treatment and rebuilding her life

This is an honest, vulnerable conversation about living through fear, uncertainty, and doubt—and learning how to move forward anyway. Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers hope, clarity, and practical insight into long-term recovery.

📲 About Sara Boes (guest): • NP, mental health advocate, author, Founder • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmichelleboes/?hl=en • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-michelle-boes/ • Web Page: https://sarahmichelleboes.com/

✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Meet Sarah Boes[01:10] The First Signs of OCD No One Recognized[03:31] Pregnancy Triggered My Worst OCD Ever[04:27] The Baby Shower That Broke My Brain[05:10] When OCD “Got It Right” About My Child[07:22] Life After a Severe OCD Diagnosis[10:08] Hitting Extreme OCD and Entering Intensive Treatment[11:52] What Actually Helped Me Recover From OCD[13:39] Losing the Constant Feeling of Urgency[15:39] Who Am I Without My OCD?[17:02] Doing the Things OCD Tried to Take Away[20:01] OCD Remission, Relapse, and Real Recovery[21:52] When OCD Targets What You Love Most[25:35] The Sneaky Ways OCD Comes Back[27:34] Reassurance, Relationships, and Setting Boundaries[30:09] Final Thoughts and Where to Find Sarah

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✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

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