Episode
169. My OCD Was at Its Worst While My Baby Was Fighting for Her Life
- Published
- Jan 30, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1873
- Processing state
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Summary
🧠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 Tr…