Bonus – Living Beyond the OCD Loop with Ally Kristan (302)
6/16/202619 min
Patreon/Supercast Special Release –
Bonus – Living Beyond the OCD Loop with Ally Kristan (302)
This is a sneak peek of our episode with Ally Kristan, and part two of our three part series on OCD – available only on our Premium Supercast and Patreon platforms. For as little as $5/month you can have access to special releases like this one, first-to-know about upcoming events and discounts and an ad-free feed.
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What is OCD really like beyond the stereotypes?
In part two of our three part series on deepening the understanding OCD, Marine biologist and author Ally Kristan shares her lifelong experience living with OCD, challenging common misconceptions that reduce the disorder to cleanliness or organization. Ally discusses the intrusive thoughts, compulsions, shame, and relentless search for certainty that characterize OCD, as well as the relief of finally receiving a diagnosis and effective support. Together, Ally and Dr. Ann Kelley explore themes of control, uncertainty, mindfulness, relationships, self-compassion, and how healing can come from understanding—not fighting—the parts of ourselves that struggle. The episode offers an honest, hopeful look at
living with OCD and finding ways to transform fear into meaning and connection.
“We’re not out of touch with reality. We know that what we’re doing doesn’t make sense, but we just can’t help doing it anyway.” – Ally Kristan
Time Stamps for Bonus – Living Beyond the OCD Loop with Ally Kristan (302)
06:34 Personal journey: Discovering my OCD
11:34 Therapeutic insights: The role of specialists
16:19 The OCD loop: Understanding the cycle
23:01 Transforming OCD: Finding positive outlets
31:03 Radical acceptance and its challenges
35:10 Finding Authenticity in Confrontation
42:23 Transforming compulsions into positive rituals
52:28 The balance of reassurance in relationships
55:59 The intersection of OCD and career choices
58:00 Lessons from penguins: Resilience and love
01:00:54 Conservation concerns: The krill catastrophe
01:07:28 Coping tools and resources for OCD
About our Guest – Ally Kristan
Ally Kristan is a marine conservation biologist, Antarctic expert and OCD advocate originally from Raleigh, North Carolina. She holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from UNC Wilmington and an M.S. in Oceanography & Coastal Sciences from Louisiana State University. A salient voice for wildlife protection, Ally has appeared in National Public Radio (NPR), National Audubon Society and Hakai Magazine. Her work has brought her from a sea turtle hospital in North Carolina to whale watch boats in Maui to raucous seabird colonies in Florida, then from the U.S. National Science Foundation in Washington D.C. to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Ally now resides on the North Carolina coast where, when not working in the lab, she can be found amongst animals.
Resources for Living Beyond the OCD Loop with Ally Kristan (302)
Ally Kristan’s website – Additional resources & information
Get your copy of her book, “Braving the Waves” here!!
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsAlly Kristan· Guest0:02
A lot of times you, you can feel shut down if you're having intense emotions about things and everyone is telling you it's really not that big a deal. I'm not sure why you can't let it go, so on and so forth. So to just know that, to understand about yourself and give yourself the self-love of, "Yeah, I don't normally... If things are bothering me, if I feel it's unjust, I can't really let it go. But what I can do, instead of combating that feeling with very illogical compulsions or actions that might embarrass me or make me feel ostracized from myself and from people around me, what's an action that I can take that feels good in my own body and mind?" Because that, that helped me a lot on my journey with OCD towards self-compassion, is just trying to really understand the root of where it came from and how wonderful that root is and all the ways it can serve me, instead of just, I think the tendency when you have any sort of mental health diagnosis is just to imagine it as, like, this sickly part of your brain, but, like, the real you is actually the other 75% of your brain and you're just figuring out how to live with this disorder or illness, if you wanna call it that. But learning that you are one entire whole being, and that part of your mind comes from somewhere and can have some sort of a purpose, so how do you understand that and work with it so you can love that part of yourself, too?
Sue Marriott· Host1:19
[gentle music] Hope you enjoy a preview of this full episode, published exclusively as a bonus for our incredible online Neuro Nerd community. This group is the backbone that keeps