Episode
176. The Hardest "No": Why I Stopped Fixing My Child’s OCD
- Published
- Mar 20, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1977
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Summary
Can you stop being a "fixer" and start building your feeling muscle? In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Dr. Jenn Rapkin, a Naturopathic Physician, bodyworker, and author of The Feeling Muscle. Together, they explore the powerful intersection of mindfulness, parenting a child with OCD, and learning how to sit with the "just right" discomfort that keeps so many of us stuck in rituals. Dr. Jenn opens up about: • Her hidden battle with OCD as an adolescent in the 70s and 80s • The heartbreaking moment her 8-year-old son was swallowed by "Just Right" OCD • Why she had to go against every motherly instinct to stop accommodating his rituals • The reality of residential treatment and finding the "recipe" for her son's recovery Whether you’re navigating OCD yourself, supporting a child through treatment, or struggling to sit with uncertainty, this episode offers a profound roadmap for building the emotional strength to outlast the storm. 📲 About Jenn Rapkin (guest): • Naturopathic physician & bodyworker • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennrapkin/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575991456912 • Web Page: https://drjennrapkin.com/ ✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – The Secret to Outlasting Pain: Can you build a "muscle" for your emotions? [01:57] – The 1970s Silent Struggle: Growing up in a "crowded" mind before OCD had a name. [04:38] – The Barcelona Nightmare: How COVID triggered an 8-year-old’s "Just Right" trap. [06:33] – The Resistance: Why adults (and kids) would rather ritual than feel. [08:49] – The Nuclear Option: When outpatient care fails and residential is the only way out. [10:32] – The Nurturer’s Dilemma: Why "helping" your child is keeping the OCD alive. [12:53] – The Grief of Parenting: Admitting your…