Understanding Mental Compulsions in OCD and Anxiety EP 337

Questions about what you've heard today? Want to interact with Drew and other listeners of this podcast? Check out the Disordered Community space . ----- When compulsions are behavioral, like hand washing or door checking, they are easy to identify. But when they are mental in nature, things get much fuzzier. In this episode, I’m joined by OCD specialist Lauren Rosen to take the mystery out of mental compulsions and explain why your "problem-solving" brain is actually keeping you stuck. We break down the critical difference between having an intrusive thought (the obsession) and what you intentionally do with that thought (the compulsion). Whether you are struggling with OCD, panic disorder, or health anxiety, learning to recognize internal behaviors like mental review, rumination, and self-flagellation is a vital step toward psychological flexibility. What We Discuss: Defining Mental Compulsions : Why internal behaviors like rumination, mental review, and rehearsing are active choices, not just "thoughts". The "No Equipment" Sport : How the ease and invisibility of mental compulsions make them particularly consuming and re-triggering. Thoughts vs. Thinking : Using the "square root of 17" analogy to identify when you have moved from a passive thought into an active mental behavior. The Identity Trap : Why we often mistake worrying and "thoughtfulness" for a core part of our identity or a tool for safety. Shifting Attention : How to stop compulsing without suppressing thoughts or getting into a perfectionistic battle with your own mind. About Lauren Rosen: Lauren is a licensed psychotherapist and the Director of The Center for the Obsessive Mind . She is the author of The Mental Compulsions Workbook for OCD and co-host of the Purely OCD podcast. Recovery is a journey of small, brave leaps of faith. You feel real fear, but you are not in real danger. Let’s get into it. For full show notes on this episode: Lauren's Instagram Lauren's Website The Mental Compulsions Workbook for OCD Send in a question or comment via text. Support The Anxious Truth: If you find the podcast helpful and want to support my work, you can buy me a coffee. Other ways to support my work like buying a book or signing up for a low cost workshop can be found on my website . None of this is never required, but always appreciated! Interested in doing therapy with me? For more information on working with me directly to overcome your anxiety, follow this link . Disclaimer : The Anxious Truth is not therapy or a replacement for therapy. Listening to The Anxious Truth does not create a therapeutic relationship between you and the host or guests of the podcast. Information here is provided for psychoeducational purposes. As always, when you have questions about your own well-being, please consult your mental health and/or medical care providers. If you are having a mental health crisis, always reach out immediately for in-person help.

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Understanding Mental Compulsions in OCD and Anxiety EP 337 is an episode from The Anxious Truth - REAL Help For Panic, Anxiety and Agoraphobia by Drew Linsalata.

This episode is 39:46 long.

This episode was published on Feb 11, 2026.

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