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Anime, OCD, and Building Trust

OCD Center of Los Angeles May 6, 2025 4:50 pm No Comments

Tyler Tran, MSW, ACSW, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses the impact of anime in therapy and its impact in building rapport, trust, and fostering connection in young adults and teenagers. 

Anime can be a great medium to teach teens to externalize the OCD and normalize struggle and growth.

For many young adults and teenagers, managing OCD and anxiety can be overwhelming and isolating. But healing doesn’t always come in the form of medication or talk therapy. Healing to these individuals may come from a heartfelt story, a journey overcoming all odds and challenges, and a fable that engenders courage and resilience. Anime has evolved throughout the years and made difficult topics such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief easily understandable and relatable to teenagers and young adults. Anime refers to Japanese created animation with themes ranging from action packed adventures, slices of life, romance, epic fantasies, and much more. Characters in anime that struggle with internal conflicts, self-doubt, and emotional stress can be extremely affirming to a teen with OCD. For therapists, anime can offer a unique opportunity to foster trust and meaningful communication.

Starting therapy for teens and young adults can be a daunting and scary experience. Teenagers are expected to show up, disclose embarrassing and uncomfortable thoughts and emotions to a person they’ve never met, and learn a myriad of new concepts to combat these feelings. Anime can open the door to connection and help the therapist build trust and rapport with teens and young adults (Yuanyuan et al., 2024). When a therapist asks, “tell me about this anime you enjoy,” it doesn’t feel like a test, but rather a conversation. When someone feels seen and trusted, they’re more willing to open up about their obsessions, compulsions, and trust their therapist when they engage in exposure therapy.

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Does This Look Like a Needle to You?

OCD Center of Los Angeles January 26, 2025 12:24 pm 2 Comments

Tyler Tran, MSW, ACSW, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, shares his personal experience navigating contamination OCD, the weight of cultural shame and stigma, and acceptance in a community where mental health is typically misunderstood.

I learned I was much stronger and braver than I imagined, and realized ERP was effective in overcoming my OCD.

I vividly remember being dragged out of the shower when I was 19 years old by my stepdad as I screamed at him to let me finish cleansing my body. I begged and pleaded as I assured him my body was contaminated. I could still feel the grime and germs across my body as I desperately scrubbed myself down. I was scratching and cutting my skin up due to my fear of being “contaminated.” If my father had not pulled me out, I was sure to have stayed another hour or so perfecting my shower routine to cleanse my body of being “contaminated.”

My life with this disorder has been an arduous, painful, long, and lonely journey. I felt trapped in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions that seemed foreign to others; not even my loved ones and family members could comprehend the shame, guilt, and pain I experienced. The stigma I suffered as an Asian American male struggling with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), made it all the more difficult to seek treatment and help. I’ve felt trapped in a cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that I couldn’t explain to anyone—not even my closest family members. The stigma surrounding mental health in Asian American communities, especially for men, has made it all the more difficult to seek help.

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Meet Our Social Media Manager Natalie Najera!

OCD Center of Los Angeles December 29, 2024 6:08 pm No Comments

Natalie Najera, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team as our Social Media Manager, as well as her own personal experience and recovery from OCD.

Natalie is passionate about spreading awareness of OCD and related anxiety disorders, sharing valuable resources, and fostering a supportive community online.

Hi, I’m Natalie Najera! I grew up in Laguna Hills, CA, with a childhood full of travel, studying for school, and soccer training and games taking up most of my free time. As a kid, I started noticing behaviors that felt a little “off,” like the urge to wash my hands after touching certain things, cleaning belongings excessively, or needing to shower after being in specific places. I would find myself in moments of hiding it as I was confused and didn’t quite understand how to explain what was happening. Despite this, life was pretty normal. It was more than manageable, and from the outside, you probably would never suspect a thing. It didn’t take up much time, so I continued on my way.

After graduating from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, I pursued a degree in marketing at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, changing life as I knew it. As a 2020 college grad, my paid internship was canceled, and I moved back home with my family, including my older brother, who also returned from NYC. Living under one roof as adults was fun but definitely stressful. With so much uncertainty about the future and what was happening in the world around us, I noticed my anxiety and compulsive behaviors—like handwashing, showering, and cleaning—intensify dramatically. While I had always suspected OCD, the pandemic brought everything to the forefront. With encouragement from my parents, I sought professional help and was diagnosed with emotional contamination OCD.

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Seeking a Spiritual Escape: Spiritual Bypass and Scrupulosity OCD

OCD Center of Los Angeles August 5, 2024 9:15 am 4 Comments

Brandi Roberts, MS, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, shares her personal experience and recovery from religious scrupulosity OCD and spiritual bypassing, as well as discusses the dynamics and treatment of this common OCD subtype.

When spiritual bypass is a component of OCD, the key is to tolerate the feelings that come up and sit with them, instead of placing blame on spiritual reasons, or using spirituality to avoid the emotions.

I was 12 years old, curled up in the fetal position on my bed as my tears fell onto my bedspread. I felt a pit in my stomach, and the heat of guilt, heavy in my chest as I had a desperate urge to confess to my mom that I might have accidentally lied yesterday, and that I had an inappropriate thought today. I believed that if I felt guilty, I must have done something wrong, and if I didn’t confess my mistakes or my thoughts to my parents, God would punish me, and eventually send me to hell. I didn’t know how to manage the guilt and fear that I felt, so I was convinced I was being spiritually attacked by demons. Based on what I learned from church and my religious parents, I was convinced I was caught up in a battle between good and evil and if I prayed and read the Bible enough, I might be able to rise above my bad thoughts and my feelings of guilt. This belief is what caused me to pray a very specific prayer every night out of fear of punishment from God. It wasn’t until years later, as an adult, I found out I actually had scrupulosity obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and what I was doing to escape my uncomfortable feelings, was called spiritual bypassing.

 

What is Spiritual Bypassing?

             Spiritual bypassing is a term created by psychologist John Welwood in 1984 to describe how religion and spirituality are used to bypass developmental needs and painful emotions (Stone, 2013). Many of us believe messages given to us by our families and religion or spirituality, that difficult emotions aren’t meant to be experienced and it becomes normalized to bypass emotions. This normalizing allows spiritual bypassing to go unnoticed because it’s not seen as a problem. Instead of working through difficult emotions or confronting internal conflicts by getting treatment for mental health, many people dismiss these emotions with spiritual explanations (Cherry, 2023). Spiritual bypass prevents emotional integration and keeps us from being immersed in the complex experience of being human. When we bypass our emotions, it impacts our mental health, including repression, emotional numbing, detachment, and developmental delays (Stone, 2013).

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What Is Contamination OCD? There’s More to It Than Meets the Eye…

OCD Center of Los Angeles July 21, 2024 1:11 pm 1 Comment

Mikayla Rodin, MA, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses a subtype of OCD called Contamination OCD, as well as sharing what the symptoms and treatment may look like for someone experiencing this condition. 

CBT focuses on retraining the brain to respond differently, more proactively, to the intrusive thoughts an individual experiences.

Contamination is a subtype category of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It is defined as the fear of becoming “contaminated.” This contamination can occur in numerous ways but is typically seen when an individual has obsessive fears circulating around sticky residues, bacteria-loaded surfaces, and dirt…to name a few. The general rule of thumb is that any obsession where you feel the need to compulsively wash your hands, clean yourself or the space around you, or keep everything perfectly sterile, would fall under this subgroup of OCD. OCD does not always categorize simply, however. The list goes on and on and can be extensive for an individual suffering from Contamination OCD.  

 

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Navigating Postpartum OCD: Making Space for Scary Thoughts

OCD Center of Los Angeles May 3, 2024 8:35 am 4 Comments

Erica Russell, LMFT,  LPCC, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses the symptoms and treatment of Postpartum OCD and reflects on her own personal experience with the postpartum anxiety journey as she returns from maternity leave.

Postpartum OCD can be effectively treated using the same evidence based interventions used with other OCD presentations 

 

My baby is lying so still in his crib.  Is he even breathing? 

Was that bottle too hot? What if it the milk burns his throat? 

Imagine if you just dropped him right now… 

Am I following the best sleep plan?… Maybe I need to do some more research! 

What if a car hits us while I’m pushing the stroller? 

 

Welcome to my postpartum brain!  Being away on maternity leave for the past four months has given me an amazing opportunity to bond with my new baby boy, but like most moms and dads out there, it has also brought on a spike in anxiety.  The statements above are examples of obsessive thoughts, which refers to any intrusive and distressing thoughts, images, or impulses that repeatedly enter our mind.  These kinds of thoughts feel unwelcome and difficult to control.  Research has shown that about 90% of new mothers (and fathers!) experience obsessive thoughts about their baby following their birth, and unfortunately, being an anxiety disorder therapist has not made me immune (bummer, right?!). The postpartum period, which can be defined as the first twelve months after a baby is delivered, presents a perfect storm for anxiety to grow.  The combination of shifting hormones, sleep deprivation, difficulty with feeding, cultural/ social expectations, and the huge responsibility of caring for a newborn are just some of the factors that contribute to this being a more tumultuous period for parents.  While experiencing some degree of anxiety and obsessive thoughts postpartum is very normal, sometimes the level of distress and impairment in functioning associated with these symptoms can signify something more.  (more…)

Connecting Vasovagal Syncope to Anxiety Reactions

OCD Center of Los Angeles April 23, 2024 10:59 am 1 Comment

Mikayla Rodin, MA, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses the connection between Vasovagal Syncope and Anxiety, as well as sharing what the symptoms and treatment may look like for someone with this condition.

Research reports have found that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been the most useful in helping treat clients who are suffering from anxiety and have a history of Vasovagal Syncope.

What is Vasovagal Syncope?

Vasovagal Syncope is medically described as a condition where an individual experiences a rapid drop in their heart rate and blood pressure. This sudden rapid decrease leads an individual to having feelings of lightheadedness, a rapid heartbeat, nausea, rapid changes in body temperature, loss of color in their complexion, and blurred vision. These symptoms typically result in an individual feeling faint and/or fainting. Experts have found that Vasovagal Syncope, also known as Reflex Syncope or neurocardiogenic syncope, can be brought on by the body when triggered by high feelings of emotional distress and sometimes pain.

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OCD: The Invisible Disorder

OCD Center of Los Angeles October 1, 2023 11:12 am 6 Comments

Daniel Safavi, MA, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses how social stigmas and misconceptions can pose unique challenges to interpersonal connection for someone with OCD. Also included are some helpful guidelines to consider when determining whether to self-disclose.

OCD and the Basic Human Need for Connection

Social connection is a basic human need, and a big part of connecting with others is being vulnerable from time to time. Being vulnerable produces some distress. This is true for all of us. However, those with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), have the added challenge of their condition often being misconstrued by others. In other words, even when someone with OCD musters up the courage to open up about OCD-related challenges, others may respond with invalidating comments, even if they didn’t intend to do so. This is often due to their ignorance around the subject. This can leave the person with OCD feeling alienated, which is very unfortunate, since a pain unseen is a constant fiend. 

Different Levels of Understanding 

We all have things we are embarrassed or ashamed about. But most of those things can at least be intellectually understood, and perhaps even emotionally understood, by another person. In fact, the listener may share a similar experience or may know of someone else who did. For example, let’s say that one of your friends feels shame around not going to graduate school and getting an advanced degree. Even if you yourself don’t experience that same trigger, you can probably at least understand that shame and empathize with the experience of feeling inadequate or being self-critical. You may even know of other people who struggle with similar issues that your friend has. 

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Relationship OCD: Accepting the Unknown in Relationships

OCD Center of Los Angeles May 8, 2023 8:14 pm 18 Comments

Brandi Roberts, MS, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, shares her personal experience and recovery from relationship OCD (ROCD), as well as discusses the dynamics and treatment of this very common OCD subtype.

Relationship OCD: Accepting the Unknown in RelationshipsThree months into my first romantic relationship, I was on a date with my boyfriend, and suddenly I was hit with a tightness in my chest that felt unbearable, and a suffocating desire to end the relationship. I had no idea why I felt this sudden anxiety, because he was a sweet guy who treated me well. After a lot of tears and confusion I broke up with him. The only explanation I could give was that, “It just didn’t feel right.” My next few short relationships ended in the same way and I couldn’t figure out why dating caused me so much anxiety. It was so emotionally exhausting, I didn’t date for a long time. Many years later, I met someone I truly could see a future with, and although I was very emotionally vigilant and always waiting for the anxiety to show up, I didn’t feel it for a while. Shortly after a year of dating, I was experiencing many stressful events in my life, and my partner was my main source of comfort and security during that time.

Then it happened, seemingly out of nowhere: The tightness in my chest, the feeling of wanting to break up, and fear that he wasn’t the right one. I tried to quiet the thoughts, but my intrusive thoughts jumped to thinking my partner was cheating on me, but there was no reason to think so. Then my thoughts jumped again to thinking I might hurt my partner, my family, or myself, followed by feeling shame and guilt. I was scared and this anxiety was impeding my ability to function, so I began researching my symptoms and it turns out, my experience was common for Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (ROCD). This experience was the beginning of a challenging journey through healing from ROCD, and eventually led me to becoming an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) therapist.

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Go Big or Go Home: The Difference Between OCD and GAD (and My Experience with Both)

OCD Center of Los Angeles February 22, 2023 5:13 pm 8 Comments

Kristen Taylor-Ladd, MA, AMFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses the differences between, and often co-occurring, afflictions of OCD and GAD, as well as shares her personal experience with and way to recovery from both of these conditions.

Both Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can often exist together simultaneously. It is also common for individuals struggling with OCD to be diagnosed with or assume they have Generalized Anxiety Disorder instead, which can be a frequent misdiagnosis. When this misdiagnosis happened to me, I felt unheard. I didn’t understand the obsessive thoughts and compulsions I was experiencing, especially when those symptoms didn’t fit in with my diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and what I understood that to be. Learning that both OCD and GAD can occur together can be a powerful and validating tool. While most people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) don’t have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), it may be common for individuals with OCD to also have GAD.

It took time, treatment in therapy, and a lot of self-reflection to come to terms with the understanding that I struggled with both Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Gaining an understanding of these conditions provided much-needed clarification and validation for my experiences, which helped immensely in my management and overall treatment.

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Recent Articles

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    Tyler Tran, MSW, ACSW, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses the impact of anime in therapy and its impact in building rapport, trust, and fostering connection in young adults and teenagers. […]
    No Comments
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    2 Comments
  • Meet Our Social Media Manager Natalie Najera!
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  • Seeking a Spiritual Escape: Spiritual Bypass and Scrupulosity OCD
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    4 Comments
  • What Is Contamination OCD? There’s More to It Than Meets the Eye…
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  • Connecting Vasovagal Syncope to Anxiety Reactions
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    1 Comment
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    No Comments
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    1 Comment
  • Treatment of OCD and OC Spectrum Disorders in Children
    The OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of OCD and anxiety in children and adolescents. […]
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  • Trichotillomania, Skin Picking Disorder, and the Resistor’s High
    The OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses treatment of Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder) and Dermatillomania (Skin Picking Disorder). […]
    8 Comments
  • Memory Hoarding in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
    Many people with OCD engage in 'memory hoarding', a mental compulsion to over-attend to the details of an event, person, or object. Memory hoarding is done with the belief that the event, person, or object carries a special significance, and may be important to recall exactly as-is at a later date. […]
    266 Comments
  • OCD and the Law – Part 3
    An Australian pro boxer assaults a 70-year old man on a ferry boat and claims his OCD made him do it. Last of a three part series on OCD and the law. […]
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  • OCD and the Law – Part 2
    A Kentucky man murdered his wife and then tried to claim that his OCD led him to kill her. Part 2 of a 3 part series. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    4 Comments
  • OCD and the Law – Part 1
    A Scottish man claims his massive child pornography collection is due to OCD. Part 1 of a 3 part series from the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    1 Comment
  • OCD Stockholm Syndrome
    Something akin to the Stockholm Syndrome occurs in some people who struggle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ( OCD ). […]
    2 Comments
  • Athletes With Anxiety
    Mental health has long been shrouded in secrecy and shame. So when public figures like professional athletes actively seek help for anxiety, it is a sign of cultural progress. Here are some who have gone public with their struggles. […]
    1 Comment
  • Social Anxiety in Baseball Revisted
    This past week marked the arrival of the 2010 Major League baseball season. And as with last year, this season already has three developing stories of athletes dealing with Social Anxiety. […]
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  • Treatment of OCD and Anxiety: A Brief History
    A look at how the treatment of OCD and related anxiety disorders has changed over time, especially the development of CBT and mindfulness for OCD. […]
    3 Comments
  • Tiger Woods, Sex Addiction, and OCD – Part 2
    Sex addiction is misconstrued by many to be a type of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This article reviews various factors relevant to determining what diagnosis might be more appropriate. Second of a two part series. […]
    4 Comments
  • Tiger Woods, Sex Addiction, and OCD
    Many people, including professional psychotherapists, incorrectly think of sex addiction as a type of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This article reviews the essential differences between these two conditions and, how therapeutic strategies used for the treatment of OCD are unlikely to be successful when treating sex addiction. First of a two part series. […]
    18 Comments
  • Latisse and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
    The drug Latisse is prescribed to lengthen eyelashes, but it has significant, under-reported side effects. This raises two questions - is Latisse safe, and does its marketing exploit women's body image concerns? […]
    2 Comments
  • Proposed DSM-5 Changes for OCD and Anxiety Disorders
    The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has proposed significant revisions to its "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition" (DSM-IV). Tom Corboy of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses changes planned for the new DSM-5, specifically those relevant to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related anxiety-based conditions. […]
    7 Comments
  • Reassurance Seeking in OCD and Anxiety
    Those with OCD and other anxiety based conditions often seek reassurance that their unwanted thoughts and feelings are not a threat. The OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses the problem of using reassurance seeking as an anxiety management strategy. […]
    92 Comments
  • Phobia Treatment in Unconventional Settings
    Traditionally, phobias have been treated in a therapist's office. But effective help for phobias can now be found in some very unexpected places. […]
    No Comments
  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Cosmetic Surgery
    Many with Body Dysmorphic Disorder turn to cosmetic surgery in an attempt to alleviate their insecurities. Unfortunately, there are plenty of cosmetic surgeons who are more than willing to cash in on those with this serious psychiatric condition. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD & Anxiety: The Year 2009 in Review
    OCD and anxiety were in the news throughout 2009. Here are our votes for the top stories of the year about OCD and related anxiety based conditions. […]
    2 Comments
  • Bizarre, Disturbing, Weird, and Unwanted Thoughts in OCD
    Everybody has bizarre thoughts. But people with OCD respond differently to these thoughts. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    26 Comments
  • Emetophobia treatment at the OCD Center of Los Angeles with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emetophobia and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
    Emetophobia is the fear of vomit and/or vomiting. Tom Corboy, MFT, Executive Director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses Emetophobia and its treatment. […]
    85 Comments
  • OCD and Mental Checking
    People with OCD often struggle with 'mental compulsions'. The OCD Center of Los Angeles explores how to manage this sometimes baffling problem. […]
    186 Comments
  • Cyberchondria: Health Anxiety in the 21st Century
    The twin explosions of television and the internet have spawned a sharp increase in Hypochondria, and spawned a new mental health issue - 'Cyberchondria'. […]
    8 Comments
  • Is Compulsive Overeating OCD?
    A discussion of compulsive overeating (aka binge eating) and how it differs from OCD. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. Serving clients internationally. […]
    No Comments
  • Cy Young, Zack Greinke, and Social Anxiety
    Zack Greinke has overcome his Social Anxiety to become a superstar in major league baseball. […]
    No Comments
  • Exposure Therapy for OCD and AnxietyExposure Therapy for OCD and Anxiety
    Exposure therapy for OCD and other anxiety conditions is discussed by Tom Corboy, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    46 Comments
  • Social Anxiety Research
    Recent Social Anxiety research is discussed by Tom Corboy, MFT, executive director of the CD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD Awareness Week
         […]
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  • CBT and Evidence Based Psychotherapy
    Unfortunately, many psychotherapists dismiss evidence-based treatments such as CBT, instead choosing to do what feels comfortable for them. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD, Mental Health, and the National Health Care Debate
    A look at the national health care debate, especially as it pertains to OCD and related anxiety based conditions. […]
    No Comments
  • Childhood OCD, Strep Infections, and PANDAS
    There is a growing body of research that indicates strep infections are related to rapid-onset OCD in children. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD and the Swine Flu – Part 2
    Panic about the Swine Flu continues, despite facts that suggest there is no cause for increased concern. […]
    No Comments
  • 2009 Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation Conference
    A review of the 2009 Obsessive Compulsive Foundation conference. […]
    No Comments
  • New Trichotillomania Research
    A look at recent research related to Trichotillomania. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    No Comments
  • Parenting a Child With OCD
    Parenting any child is a full-time job. But parenting a child with OCD can be particularly challenging. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    No Comments
  • Social Anxiety in Baseball
    A look at the recent rash of pro baseball players struggling with Social Anxiety Disorder. […]
    No Comments
  • Michael Jackson and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
    A look at the sad tale of Michael Jackson and his mental health issues. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD and the Swine Flu
    The past few months have seen an avalanche of news stories on the Swine Flu, despite its relatively low impact in the US. […]
    No Comments
  • Meet the OCD Center of Los Angeles Staff
    Meet the OCD Center of Los Angeles Staff […]
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  • Welcome to the OCD Center of Los Angeles Blog
    Welcome to the OCD Center of Los Angeles Blog […]
    No Comments

    

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