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Parenthood: From Overwhelm to Intuition - A Personal Journey

In this deeply personal episode, I (Jenna – founder of OT_Intuition) step out into the spotlight to share my own lived experience of Perinatal OCD. As a queer, neurodivergent parent and professional, I know what it’s like to feel like you’re losing yourself during the perinatal period. To be both a professional and someone navigating the crushing intensity of intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and shame.

This episode is a love letter to anyone who’s ever felt:

• Afraid to name their thoughts
• Buried under guilt and ‘shoulds’
• Desperate for peace, purpose, and permission to be human

I share how I moved from hiding my pain to honouring my intuition. Using ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), regulation strategies, and radical self acceptance to come home to myself.

Listen in NOW to hear about:

Living with Perinatal OCD as a parent and a professional

How intuition became my compass

Embracing authenticity from a place of lived healing and purpose

If you’ve ever whispered “Is this normal?” in the dark, this episode is for you.

You are not broken. You are not alone. You are welcome here.

Perinatal OCD is more than just an obsession with cleanliness or order. It manifests through intrusive thoughts and compulsions that can be debilitating. For me, it began with intrusive thoughts linked to trauma, spiraling into a cycle of anxiety and self-doubt. The shame and fear associated with these thoughts often made it difficult to seek help or even acknowledge the problem.

The Impact on parenthood is a profound experience, but when coupled with mental health challenges, it can become a source of anxiety. My journey involved grappling with thoughts that targeted my deepest values—my love and care for my children. The fear of causing harm, despite knowing it was irrational, was paralyzing. It affected my ability to be present with my children, leading to feelings of guilt and inadequacy.

Therapy played a crucial role in my recovery. Through exposure response prevention and acceptance and commitment therapy, I learned to unhook from intrusive thoughts and reconnect with my true self. These therapies helped me embrace uncertainty and focus on what truly matters—my values and the love I have for my family.

Balancing parenthood and mental health as a queer neurodivergent professional is an ongoing journey. It requires patience, self-compassion, and a willingness to seek help. By sharing my story, I hope to shed light on the realities of perinatal OCD and encourage others to seek support. Remember, you are not alone, and healing is possible.

Subscribe now to stay updated on more stories and insights into everything OT and my passion of living intuitively.

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Visit OCD ACTION for advice, support and online groups and webinars

Visit NoOCD for advice, treatment and signposting

Phone your local crisis line if you need support now! Emergency? Phone 999. Otherwise call NHS 111 Option 2

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A quick hello from your friendly OT and Coach - Founder of OT_Intuition Intuitive Living Podcast - Jenna Anderson-Frost. HELLO! :D

Listen for a weee round up on what’s to come. Get in touch if you would like to be considered as a guest to share your stories. Maybe it’s related to OT and how it may have supported you to live authentically. A journey you have had with your own identity and finding a way to embrace your authentic true self. A mental health crisis that you feel could shed light on an under discussed area, and/or just help others in relating to someone going through the same thing, someone who may not even have a name for what they’re experiencing yet. Sharing our journeys, insights and support tools can save lives. DM me or email: OT_intuition@outlook.com

Hi and thank you for spending time with me and listening to all the exciting and hopefully supportive (I like to think life saving or at least life altering) for many. If you like what you hear please do follow, share and continue to support me. I value your input and feedback. Requests for topic suggestions you want to hear about can be considered. So I am always a DM away. Otherwise Subscribe

Here ➡️ https://linktr.ee/ot_intuition?utm_source=linktree_admin_share

Support the show

Visit OCD ACTION for advice, support and online groups and webinars

Visit NoOCD for advice, treatment and signposting

Phone your local crisis line if you need support now! Emergency? Phone 999. Otherwise call NHS 111 Option 2

Send us a text

OT_Intuition Intuitive Living Podcast| Series 1: Perinatal OCD | Episode Two: Lisa

When the People Meant to Help… Don’t.

In this deeply personal episode, Lisa opens up about her experience with intense anxiety and harm OCD during the perinatal period; and the shame, fear, and judgement that followed.

She speaks bravely about the devastating impact of being misunderstood and dismissed by professionals, including a moment in an “anxious mums” group that took an unthinkable turn and felt like a living nightmare.

Through her own perseverance and self-led research, she found clarity and the right support and treatment.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt alone, ashamed, or failed by the systems meant to protect them.

You are not broken.

You are not dangerous.

You are not alone.

Follow @OT_Intuition and listen now.

#PerinatalOCD #HarmOCD #OCDAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #YouAreNotAlone #OTIntuitionPodcast

Support the show

Visit OCD ACTION for advice, support and online groups and webinars

Visit NoOCD for advice, treatment and signposting

Phone your local crisis line if you need support now! Emergency? Phone 999. Otherwise call NHS 111 Option 2

Send us a text

Trigger Warning. Some information shared in this podcast may be distressing to some listeners, please listen with caution and if you need to seek immediate support contact your local crisis line via 111 or Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org/branches/bristol/

https://bristolmind.org.uk/help-in-a-crisis/

Jules shares her experience of living with Pure OCD and its many distressing themes—including intrusive thoughts that deeply challenged her character and sense of self.

For years, her symptoms were misunderstood as generalised anxiety, and she was often given the wrong treatment. Professionals lacked training and awareness around OCD, particularly Pure and Somatic OCD, and even after receiving a diagnosis, access to appropriate support was limited. It took a long time, but eventually, through the right knowledge, support, and treatment, she discovered the path to resisting the compulsion to seek Certainty, Comfort, and Clarity.

Episode 2 Dropping Soon!

Resource Toolkit From Our Perinatal OCD Squad:

. OCD action Charity

. OCD stories podcasts

. Johnny say Therapy

. The book ‘Break free from OCD’

. My Anxiety Toolkit Kimberley Quinn

. Jenna Overbaugh

. Kimberly Nixon (From Freshmeat)

. Taming Olivia

. Alegra Kastens

And having a support network 🫶

Support the show

Visit OCD ACTION for advice, support and online groups and webinars

Visit NoOCD for advice, treatment and signposting

Phone your local crisis line if you need support now! Emergency? Phone 999. Otherwise call NHS 111 Option 2