Dopamine + Doubt: Untangling ADHD and OCD Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:36:36 -0400 en-us © 2026 Dopamine + Doubt: Untangling ADHD and OCD yes ee294378-c098-5e02-9b18-23525abf9b09 dopamineanddoubtpod@gmail.com Rachel episodic false Helping you understand where ADHD and OCD overlap-and where they don't.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Rachel dopamineanddoubtpod@gmail.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/rzm8oprp0dfqelfr6qsyjtyhxmax?.jpg Dopamine + Doubt: Untangling ADHD and OCD ERP: Learning to Live With Uncertainty ERP: Learning to Live With Uncertainty If you have ever felt trapped in a cycle of intrusive thoughts, anxiety, checking, reassurance seeking, or avoiding situations that feel uncomfortable, you may have heard of ERP. 

ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is considered one of the most effective treatments for OCD, but it is also commonly misunderstood. 

In this episode of Dopamine + Doubt, we break down what ERP actually is, why it works, and how it helps us change our relationship with uncertainty. 

ERP is not about forcing yourself to "just stop thinking about it" or convincing yourself that everything will be okay. Instead, its about practicing facing discomfort while choosing not to engage in the bheaviors that keep the OCD cycle going. 

In this episode we discuss: 

  • What Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is and is not
  • The difference between exposure and response prevention
  • Why reassurance and rituals can unintentionally strengthen OCD
  • How avoidance keeps anxiety feeling powerful
  • Why the goal of ERP is not certainty, but learning to tolerate uncertainty
  • What acceptance has to do with recovery
  • Why ERP is challenging-but empowering

If OCD has ever convinced you that you need to feel 100% certain before moving forward, this episode is for you. 

Listen to Dopamine + Doubt wherever you get your podcasts. 

]]> If you have ever felt trapped in a cycle of intrusive thoughts, anxiety, checking, reassurance seeking, or avoiding situations that feel uncomfortable, you may have heard of ERP. 

ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is considered one of the most effective treatments for OCD, but it is also commonly misunderstood. 

In this episode of Dopamine + Doubt, we break down what ERP actually is, why it works, and how it helps us change our relationship with uncertainty. 

ERP is not about forcing yourself to "just stop thinking about it" or convincing yourself that everything will be okay. Instead, its about practicing facing discomfort while choosing not to engage in the bheaviors that keep the OCD cycle going. 

In this episode we discuss: 

  • What Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is and is not
  • The difference between exposure and response prevention
  • Why reassurance and rituals can unintentionally strengthen OCD
  • How avoidance keeps anxiety feeling powerful
  • Why the goal of ERP is not certainty, but learning to tolerate uncertainty
  • What acceptance has to do with recovery
  • Why ERP is challenging-but empowering

If OCD has ever convinced you that you need to feel 100% certain before moving forward, this episode is for you. 

Listen to Dopamine + Doubt wherever you get your podcasts. 

]]> Rachel Buzzsprout-19498632 Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:00:00 -0400 799 #ADHD, #OCD, #mentalhealthpodcast, #Dopamine+Doubt, #Neurodiversity 1 3 full false ADHD and OCD: When They Look the Same but Aren't ADHD and OCD: When They Look the Same but Aren't ADHD and OCD can sometimes look surprisingly similar from the outside. Both can involve feeling stuck, needing systems, struggling with routines, overthinking, or repeating behaviors-but the reason behind those behaviors may be very different. 

In this episdoe of Dopamine + Doubt, we explore the overlap between ADHD and OCD and why understanding the function behind a behavior matters. 

I share part of my own experience recognizing the difference between ADHD-related challenges and OCD-driven patterns, including how the same action can be motivated by very different things. 

In this episode, we discuss: 

  • Why ADHD and OCD are often confused
  • How teh same behavior can come from different processes
  • ADHD, executive functioning, attention regulation, and working memory differences 
  • OCD, uncertainty, responsibility, and attempts to gain relief
  • Why understanding the function of a behavior is more helpful than judging the behavior itself
  • What it can feel like to live with both ADHD and OCD
  • How to start asking "What is driving this behavior?"
  • Why people with both ADHD and OCD may feel like they are constantly pulled in opposite directions

Understanding the difference isnt about labeling every behavior as "ADHD" or "OCD"- it is about finding strategies that actually match what is happening underneath

Listen to Dopamine + Doubt wherever you get your podcasts

]]> ADHD and OCD can sometimes look surprisingly similar from the outside. Both can involve feeling stuck, needing systems, struggling with routines, overthinking, or repeating behaviors-but the reason behind those behaviors may be very different. 

In this episdoe of Dopamine + Doubt, we explore the overlap between ADHD and OCD and why understanding the function behind a behavior matters. 

I share part of my own experience recognizing the difference between ADHD-related challenges and OCD-driven patterns, including how the same action can be motivated by very different things. 

In this episode, we discuss: 

  • Why ADHD and OCD are often confused
  • How teh same behavior can come from different processes
  • ADHD, executive functioning, attention regulation, and working memory differences 
  • OCD, uncertainty, responsibility, and attempts to gain relief
  • Why understanding the function of a behavior is more helpful than judging the behavior itself
  • What it can feel like to live with both ADHD and OCD
  • How to start asking "What is driving this behavior?"
  • Why people with both ADHD and OCD may feel like they are constantly pulled in opposite directions

Understanding the difference isnt about labeling every behavior as "ADHD" or "OCD"- it is about finding strategies that actually match what is happening underneath

Listen to Dopamine + Doubt wherever you get your podcasts

]]> Rachel Buzzsprout-19498612 Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:00:00 -0400 752 #ADHD, #OCD, #mentalhealthpodcast, #Dopamine+Doubt, #Neurodiversity 1 2 full false Why I Started Dopamine and Doubt Why I Started Dopamine and Doubt Why did I start Dopamine and Doubt?

Welcome to the very first episode of Dopamine + Doubt! In this episode, I share the personal story behind the podcast, how discovering my own ADHD and OCD changed the way I understood myself, and why these two conditions are so often confused. 

Whether you are navigating your own mental health, supporting someone you love, or you are simply curious about the overlap between ADHD and OCD, my hope is that this podcast offers practical tools, relatable stores, and compassionate conversations. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Why I decided to start Dopamine and Doubt
  • My journey with ADHD and OCD
  • Why these diagnoses are commonly misunderstood
  • What you can expect from future episodes
  • Why understanding the "why" behind behavior matters

Thanks fo rlistneing! If this episode resonated with you, I would love fo ryou to follow the show and share it with someone who might find it helpful. 

Next episode: ADHD and OCD: When They Look the Same but Aren't

]]> Why did I start Dopamine and Doubt?

Welcome to the very first episode of Dopamine + Doubt! In this episode, I share the personal story behind the podcast, how discovering my own ADHD and OCD changed the way I understood myself, and why these two conditions are so often confused. 

Whether you are navigating your own mental health, supporting someone you love, or you are simply curious about the overlap between ADHD and OCD, my hope is that this podcast offers practical tools, relatable stores, and compassionate conversations. 

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Why I decided to start Dopamine and Doubt
  • My journey with ADHD and OCD
  • Why these diagnoses are commonly misunderstood
  • What you can expect from future episodes
  • Why understanding the "why" behind behavior matters

Thanks fo rlistneing! If this episode resonated with you, I would love fo ryou to follow the show and share it with someone who might find it helpful. 

Next episode: ADHD and OCD: When They Look the Same but Aren't

]]> Rachel Buzzsprout-19498488 Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:00:00 -0400 792 #ADHD, #OCD, #mentalhealthpodcast, #Dopamine+Doubt, #Neurodiversity 1 1 full false