252: What Are Intrusive Thoughts and Why Do They Feel So Disturbing? with OCD Therapist Katey Olson

Have you ever had a thought pop into your head that felt so disturbing, so out of character, that you immediately wondered what it says about you?You are not broken. And you are not alone.Shannon sits down with OCD and anxiety therapist Katey Olson to finally break down intrusive thoughts in a way that actually makes sense. They cover what intrusive thoughts are, why some people get so stuck in them, and why trying to push them away or figure them out only makes things worse.They also get into the overlap between anxiety and OCD — including how to tell the difference, why the treatment isn't exactly the same, and what inference-based CBT is for the people who aren't ready or willing to do exposure therapy. Plus, the one thing that matters more than getting rid of intrusive thoughts entirely: your relationship with them.If intrusive thoughts have ever made you question your safety, your sanity, or who you are — this episode is going to help.Find Katey:Instagram: @kateyolsontherapyWebsite: kateyolsontherapy.comTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizPANIC TO PEACE STARTS SEPTEMBER 2026. GET ON THE WAITLIST HERE: https://www.ahealthypush.com/live-panic-to-peaceA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/ocd

What does real recovery from panic disorder actually look like?Today I'm joined by Tom: a musician, Panic to Peace student, and one of the most genuine humans I've had on this podcast. Tom's story isn't a cinematic highlight reel of overnight transformation. It's honest, messy, and exactly what recovery actually looks like.At 28, Tom had a near death experience that triggered debilitating panic attacks and completely derailed his life. For years, freeways, movies, and even simple daily tasks felt impossible. Then he did the work, slowly, consistently, one small step at a time. And now at 40, he's about to release the song he almost never got to record.We talk about what finally clicked for him, the blind faith it takes to keep going when progress feels invisible, why flare ups are part of the process and not a sign you're failing, and what it felt like to get on a freeway, drive four exits, and know everything had changed.This one is for anyone who wonders if recovery is actually possible. It is. Tom is proof.September 2026 is your last chance to enroll in Panic to Peace until September 2027.GET ON THE WAITLIST: https://www.ahealthypush.com/live-panic-to-peaceLISTEN TO THE PODCAST: https://www.ahealthypush.com/podcastFOLLOW ME: @ahealthypushGET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/p2psuccess-tom

Have you ever been told to "just face your fears" or "regulate your nervous system," only to feel more dysregulated and more like a failure when it didn't work?I spent 15 years in the trenches of panic disorder and agoraphobia, and I heard it all. Now, I’m sitting down to share the "hills I would die on," the non-negotiable truths about recovery that I’ve learned from my own life and from working with hundreds of students. We’re moving past the black-and-white, "all-or-nothing" advice you see on Instagram and getting into the nuance of what actually brings long-term peace.DOORS OPEN IN SEPTEMBER FOR PANIC TO PEACE. LAST TIME UNTIL SEPT 2027: https://www.ahealthypush.com/live-panic-to-peaceTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/hills

If you feel like you can’t go into grocery stores, drive on the highway, or sit in a restaurant without spiraling, you probably think those places are the problem. For years, I was convinced that traffic was my enemy and being far from home was "dangerous."But in this episode, I’m sharing the realization that changed everything for me: Panic disorder and agoraphobia aren't actually about places, they are about the fear of fear.I’m diving deep into why our brains create these false associations and how we can start to break the cycle of avoidance. If your world has felt like it's shrinking, this episode is for you.TAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizPANIC TO PEACE STARTS SEPTEMBER 2026. GET ON THE WAITLIST HERE: https://www.ahealthypush.com/live-panic-to-peaceA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/pd-and-agoraphobia

Are you doing nervous system regulation wrong or have you just been sold the wrong version of it?I sat down with somatic therapist and nervous system regulation coach Sarah Levy to finally break this down in a way that actually makes sense. We're talking about what regulation really means, why the goal was never to feel calm all the time, and why so many people feel like they're failing at this work even when they're trying so hard.We also get into the somatic side of things — what it looks like to reconnect with your body when body sensations feel scary, why your favorite grounding tools might not be working, and the one place Sarah always recommends starting when everything else feels like too much.This one is practical, validating, and so incredibly needed.TAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizPANIC TO PEACE STARTS SEPTEMBER 2026. GET ON THE WAITLIST HERE: https://www.ahealthypush.com/live-panic-to-peaceA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/sarah-levy

Have you ever felt like you’re working harder at recovery than anyone else, yet you’re still not getting anywhere?In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the mistakes I made during my own journey. For a long time, I thought that if I just "tried harder," I’d get better faster. But I eventually learned that anxiety recovery isn't about effort—it’s about the approach. I’m sharing these pitfalls today so you can stop blaming yourself and start finding a clearer, more compassionate path forward.HERE'S WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR BRAIN WHEN YOU'RE SPIRALING: https://ahealthypush.myflodesk.com/calmpanicTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/mistakes-i-made

Do you ever feel like you’re working at 110% capacity, yet you still end your day feeling like a failure because you didn't check every single box on your list?I know that feeling of being "stuck in the do" all too well. It’s a relentless cycle where we try to out-perform our insecurities, only to end up emotionally and physically exhausted. In this episode, I sit down with Shailyn Waites to deconstruct the Perfectionism-Shame-Burnout Cycle. Shai explains that perfectionism is often a defense mechanism—a way to gain control when we feel unsafe or unworthy.Whether you’re a retired athlete, a corporate climber, or someone navigating the high-pressure world of anxiety recovery, this conversation will help you understand why "trying harder" is usually the thing keeping you stuck.HERE'S WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR BRAIN WHEN YOU'RE SPIRALING: https://ahealthypush.myflodesk.com/calmpanicTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/burnout

Have you ever found yourself taking a 20-minute detour just to avoid a single bridge, or white-knuckling the steering wheel at a red light, convinced you won’t "make it" until it turns green?I spent years in that exact cycle. Living in Maine, I was surrounded by highway exits that were only two miles apart—yet even those two minutes felt like absolute torture. I would obsessively tell myself, "I just need to make it to the next exit," only to pass it and start the mental spiral all over again. If you’ve been avoiding certain routes, mapping out every pull-over spot, or needing a "safe person" in the car just to get to the store, this conversation is for you.In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why driving feels so life-limiting right now. Spoiler alert: It’s not actually about your ability to drive. It’s about the fear of being stuck, trapped, and unable to handle the anxiety if it shows up. Whether you struggle with highways, planes, or trains, the core mechanics are the same, and once you understand them, you can start taking the healthy steps to get your freedom back.HERE'S WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR BRAIN WHEN YOU'RE SPIRALING: https://ahealthypush.myflodesk.com/calmpanicTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/fixing-driving-anxiety

How is he a month old already?!I genuinely don't know. It has been over a month since I've sat down at this mic, and even longer since I've sat down with Brittany, and in this episode we're finally catching up on everything, my labor and delivery with Colin, the scary shoulder dystocia moment that I will genuinely never get out of my head, and what this last month of postpartum has actually been like.I get into how different this whole experience has felt going from one kid to two versus the sheer terror of going from zero to one. We talk about breastfeeding and oversupply (again) and sleep deprivation and the very real challenge of trying to take care of a newborn while also making sure Amelia doesn't feel like she got completely deprioritized.I also get honest about the boredom of these early newborn weeks, the identity shift, and how even a solid relationship gets tested when a baby enters the picture. And through basically all of it, I keep coming back to the same thing I talk about in my own recovery and with so many of you: control. What I can't control, what I don't need to control, and just how much more peaceful it is when I actually let that go.This one's a ramble in the best way. Grab your coffee, or your baby carrier, and let's catch up.Also in this episode: an update on my coaching community and Panic to Peace, which is opening again in a couple of months!Just a little reminder, even though I've been quieter on social, I'm still so here for you in all the ways that matter. Here's where to find me and get some support while I'm easing back in:HERE'S WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR BRAIN WHEN YOU'RE SPIRALING: https://ahealthypush.myflodesk.com/calmpanicTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/rr6

Do you pride yourself on being the capable one? The one who handles the house, the kids, and the career without ever asking for a hand? For a long time, I wore my independence like a badge of honor. But as I’ve learned through my own journey and therapy, there is a big difference between being independent and being hyper-independent.In today’s episode, I’m joined by therapist Kelsey Wood. Kelsey specializes in childhood trauma and works specifically with women who feel like they have to do it all on their own. We’re digging into the "Big V" word—vulnerability—and why, for so many of us, letting people in feels physically unsafe.If you are exhausted, burnt out, and tired of being "the strong one," this episode is for you.HERE'S WHAT TO SAY TO YOUR BRAIN WHEN YOU'RE SPIRALING: https://ahealthypush.myflodesk.com/calmpanicTAKE MY FREE QUIZ AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU TO STAY STUCK: https://www.ahealthypush.com/blocking-quizA HEALTHY PUSH INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ahealthypush/GET THIS EPISODE'S SHOW NOTES: https://www.ahealthypush.com/post/hyper-independence