# 174. STOP Treating Autism like OCD: The "Golden Rule" of Differential Diagnosis with Dr. Jeremy Shuman

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ocd-whisperer-podcast-with-kristina-orlova-1214844/174-stop-treating-autism-like-ocd-the-golden-rule-of-differential-diagnosis-with-dr-jeremy-shuman
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ocd-whisperer-podcast-with-kristina-orlova-1214844/174-stop-treating-autism-like-ocd-the-golden-rule-of-differential-diagnosis-with-dr-jeremy-shuman.md
Podcast: [The OCD Whisperer Podcast with Kristina Orlova](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ocd-whisperer-podcast-with-kristina-orlova-1214844)
Published: 2026-03-06T14:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://ocdwhisperer.podbean.com/e/174-i-will-edit-this-later/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/v7w9m6c5qvt4edps/ep_174_A_ONLYblo5m.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-ocd-whisperer-podcast-with-kristina-orlova-1214844/episodes/174-stop-treating-autism-like-ocd-the-golden-rule-of-differential-diagnosis-with-dr-jeremy-shuman
Duration seconds: 1744

## Resource

Is it OCD, or is your brain just wired differently?🧠 In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Jeremy Shuman, a psychologist and specialist in the intersection of Autism and OCD. Together, they explore the complex overlap between neurodevelopmental traits and obsessive-compulsive patterns. Dr. Shuman opens up about: • The definition of Autism and the shift toward the Neurodiversity Movement. • Why observable behaviors like "stimming" are often mistaken for OCD compulsions. • The internal experience of sensory seeking versus sensory rejecting. • The trait of Monotropism and how deep focus differs from clinical obsessions. Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself or supporting someone who is neurodivergent, this episode offers essential tools and insights to help you understand the "why" behind the rituals. 📲 About Dr. Jeremy Shuman (guest): • licensed psychologist, expert in OCD and anxiety disorders, autism and OCD • Web Page: https://mindfulstl.com/providers/jeremy-shuman-psy-d/ • OCD/Autism SIG Interest Form: https://www.tfaforms.com/5069768 ✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Why what you know about Autism is wrong [03:05] – The DSM Trap: Why Autism diagnosis was designed for "School-age White Boys" (and who gets left out). [05:16] – Hidden Clues: Common behaviors in school and social life that scream "A deeper look is needed." [06:52] – Is it OCD or Autism? The "Locked Door" vs. the "Body Motion" (Distinguishing the two). [09:32] – The Golden Rule of Diagnosis: Is your behavior "Neutralizing a Threat" or "Regulating your Body"? [11:32] – Beyond ERP: Why a "Standard" OCD treatment plan might fail an Autistic client. [14:42] – The Case of the Circular Mind: When "Rumination" is actually a neurological focus trait. [18:37] – The "Car Breakdown"…

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-ocd-whisperer-podcast-with-kristina-orlova-1214844/episodes/174-stop-treating-autism-like-ocd-the-golden-rule-of-differential-diagnosis-with-dr-jeremy-shuman/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ocd-whisperer-podcast-with-kristina-orlova-1214844/174-stop-treating-autism-like-ocd-the-golden-rule-of-differential-diagnosis-with-dr-jeremy-shuman.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.