We recently had a great conversation with Stu from the OCD Stories, a brilliant resource to learn more about overcoming OCD, and are excited to share our exchange with our readers.
Stu is a smart, informed, and passionate person who has conquered OCD in many ways; he’s sharing his story and the wisdom of so many others in the field through his podcast interviews and blog. Stu’s interviewed dozens of people from news anchors and psychologists to his girlfriend regarding OCD and mental health. He had a lot of empowering things to say about mental health, mindfulness and recovery.
What’s a day in the life of Stu like?
Stu keeps really busy. He’s created and is running OCD stories all on his own, from production and interviews to marketing and social media. Beyond OCD Stories, he has another marketing job and is going to graduate school to get his masters in mental health. “I’ve learned how to deal with stress” is how he responds to my awe of all that he’s got going on. No kidding, he’s conquered OCD in a sense, and that doesn’t mean he never feels it, it means he’s able to manage it, learn as much as he can about it, take control of his own life and be in service to help others get through it. He even has a “Book of Thanks” which he hopes to fill with words from viewers of OCD Stories; he’s already heard that the site has helped others realize they had OCD, realize they needed help, change their therapy or truly commit to ERP, because it works.
Stu also practices mindfulness daily as best he can, while walking or washing up.
Out of all the people you’ve interviewed, who were you the most nervous about?
Stu mentioned a few of his first interviews that had him the most nervous. He spoke to Steve Hayes for his 4th interview and Stu quoted him by saying, “if you have the mental illness, you’re the lucky ones.” Explaining that our mental illness offer great lessons in recovery and mindfulness.
Do you ever get tired of talking and reading about OCD?
Stu recognized about the importance to detach, to work and then allow himself to play. “I get my new ideas while in play-mode.” Stu paid value to the impact of a therapist who instills hope about recovery. He mentioned the significance of spending time with other people, and searching out others with OCD, through social media for example.
Can you be cured from OCD, anxiety or depression?
Stu says the word “cure” actually “paralyzes people” into thinking that there needs to be an absence of intrusive thoughts. RECOVERY is a word he prefers because we can overcome and recover from OCD, depression and even anxiety if we maintain our self-care, self-esteem and our confidence, and if we do the work to expose ourselves to small things daily, and even big things.
Find more OCD stories here.
