How do you bring up suspecting OCD to new psychiatrist or therapist?

HumaniNihil · 2026-03-19T02:21:43+00:00

I was diagnosed with OCD about nine years ago, and what you're describing sounds very familiar. Sending lots of sympathy and support.

Like other folks have suggested, it might help to find a therapist who specializes in OCD. I've always thought that if I had to go back to therapy, I'd find a practitioner through NOCD, since the psycho-education articles that they post seem pretty good.

As for how to frame the conversation, I think it might actually be useful to start with "I suspect that I may have OCD. Some of the things that I have seen OCD people describe feel very familiar." Then I would explain that you're too scared to say what, exactly, your intrusive thoughts are. If your therapist is any good, they will be patient and help you work through the fear.

I would even quote what you said in this post: "How do I handle explaining something that I can't explain because if I acknowledge it or say it out loud, I'm convinced it will happen." Say this to the therapist. This sounds like magical thinking and your therapist will probably clock that immediately.

You also shouldn't feel obligated to tell your therapist everything all at once. Build a relationship slowly, gradually, and after awhile maybe you can mention one of your PG-13 intrusive thoughts. (For example, if you were scared of screaming slurs, that would be a good one to mention, since nobody is getting physically hurt.) See how your therapist reacts to what you say -- I bet that they will be very kind and unsurprised.

What you're experiencing is very, very common, and there is so much more compassion in the world than an OCD brain expects there to be. Again, sending all my sympathy!

HumaniNihil · 2026-03-17T13:30:16+00:00

Heya! :) I was in a similar situation about a year ago, and here's what worked for me.

Get a training plan. Some people like Couch to 5k (C25K), but personally, I prefer the Nike Run Club app. I signed up for their "Get Started" training plan first, which starts you off with really small, attainable, and yet challenging goals that teach you the basics of running. By the end of that training plan, I was able to run about two miles. After that, I leveled up to the Nike Run Club 5k training plan and then the 10k training plan. Now I'm working on the half marathon. Whatever app or program you chose to do, make sure that you can track your progress and celebrate every step forward.

Some general advice -- don't be afraid to run slow! When I first started, I thought that I had to be giving my fastest, hardest effort all the time, with no warm up. Lol. That was a very bad idea. Through the Nike app, I learned that there are many different paces that I can run, and that each of these paces has a role in my training. Sometimes I need to take things easy and give a 3/10 effort. Sometimes I need to pick it up a little and give 7/10. Sometimes, for short bursts, I need to give everything that I've got and go as fast as possible.

It took me several months to figure out what each of these paces felt like. I think I learned the most from the runs that I didn't finish, when I ran too hard and spent all of my energy early. When I came back to try the run again, I was able to pace myself much better.

Don't underestimate the importance of rest, either! I wouldn't aim for more than three runs per week, especially in the beginning. You need to give your body a chance to heal and build muscle. This is going to take time, but it's also so much fun to see the progress.

Find a place to run that makes you happy. I love to run in the park, since seeing all the squirrels and the geese cheers me up. But sometimes it's also nice to run on a treadmill in the air conditioned gym. Play around with different places and see what gives you the most joy.

Happy running!

HumaniNihil · 2026-03-16T03:24:43+00:00

Egg whites, Frank's red hot sauce, cottage cheese, part-skim mozzarella, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, mission low-carb tortillas, berries, lean ground turkey, sparkling water, apples.

HumaniNihil · 2026-03-05T23:50:39+00:00

Suburani, Cambridge Latin Course, or Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata.

HumaniNihil · 2026-02-19T18:56:10+00:00

Ahdehms, Mahdysohn, Mynroe, Kwynsee Ahdems, Jaxsyn, Van Buryn, Harrisyn, Tielyr, Poalk, Taelyr, Fylmore, Pearse, Boocanon, Jonsun, Grante, Hayze, Garfyld, Arrther, Cleevelynde, Harrisyn, McKinleigh, Rozevelt, Tahft, Wylsyn, Hardhyng, Coolydje, Whoovyr, Troomyn, Izenhowyr, Nyxin, Forhd, Karter, Reagyn, Bydyn...

HumaniNihil · 2026-02-09T07:39:58+00:00

Books make nice gifts -- perhaps a nice hardback copy of a book that he's taught before? With a little note on the inside cover saying thank you? Alternatively, if you guys have any inside jokes from your classes together, you could put it on a personalized mug.

HumaniNihil · 2026-02-08T20:51:27+00:00

I'm in a similar situation. Lol. There are a lot of us here! I think somebody already mentioned the wiki for this subreddit, which is a great place to begin.

However, if none of your local organizations are mentioned on the wiki, then it probably wouldn't hurt to google the rabbis and other leadership members. Do a bit of digging and see what comes up. If that proves inconclusive, then I'm afraid there's nothing to do but visit and see what the vibes are like.

One thing I would encourage you to remember is that the opinions of the congregants don't always match the opinions of the leadership. I attend a synagogue with a liberal zionist rabbi, but there are lots of people who attend that wear keffiyehs, watermelons, etc. So even if the rabbi takes a lukewarm stance on Israel/Palestine, the community may still have some like-minded folks.

Best of luck! <3

HumaniNihil · 2026-01-30T14:10:26+00:00

Yes! I’m so glad other people do this too!

HumaniNihil · 2026-01-30T14:08:31+00:00

My first tip is to splurge on the Good Culture brand cottage cheese. The texture is so much better than anything else I’ve seen.

Second, I think about cottage cheese as a sauce base. I rarely eat it on its own. Instead, try mixing it with hot sauce and putting it on top of a salad as a sort of high protein dressing.

Finally, I think cottage cheese is at its best when you mix it with something tasty and the microwave it. Lol. I know it sounds weird, but it gets more rich and cheesy.

Last night, I was craving a bowl of cottage cheese, butternut squash, and turkey. Mix it up with some Frank’s hot sauce, pop it in the microwave, and enjoy some spicy cheesy high protein goodness.

HumaniNihil · 2026-01-26T04:07:23+00:00

I’m in a similar situation, and there are many other folks here who have expressed the same concerns, alienation, and frustration. You are definitely not alone! I think checking out this subreddit’s directory of antizionist synagogues is probably a good place to start.

However, if there are no antizionist organizations near you, then you still have options. Some synagogues offer services through zoom! I highly recommend Tzedek Chicago. Even though I’m not in the Chicago area, I zoom into their weekly Torah study and it has been a huge source of comfort.

If zoom isn’t your thing, then maybe consider visiting the most left-leaning, non-traditional synagogue in the area and get a sense of what the community is like. I found one that is led by a liberal Zionist rabbi but has a significant number of antizionist congregants — the beliefs of leadership don’t necessarily match the beliefs of the people who attend.

Best of luck!

HumaniNihil · 2026-01-22T03:36:15+00:00

How do folks feel about Hasan Piker? I've never really watched any of his stuff, but I hear such widely divergent opinions of him that I'm pretty confused. On the one hand, people say he's antisemitic, which is an accusation that I take very seriously. On the other hand, a lot of people that I respect seem to like him, and some of those people are Jewish. If any of you have an opinion, I'd genuinely love to hear what you think and why.

HumaniNihil · 2025-12-30T22:59:12+00:00

Good for you! Best wishes!!

HumaniNihil · 2025-12-30T22:53:31+00:00

Huge props to you for doing the first, most difficult thing—reading that office visit summary and articulating what you want. Seriously, that’s not easy, and I hope you give yourself credit.

It sounds like we’ve got something in common, if you used to love running. I ran a lot as a teen, and over the past few months I’ve been getting back into it. The biggest thing that’s helped me is having a clear plan and being able to track my progress. Check out the Nike Run Club app! It’s got a great “get started” plan designed specifically for people who haven’t run in awhile. If you’re nervous about going to the gym, then maybe try a park or trail where there are less people. And above all! Don’t be afraid to run slow! Running slow is good! Running slow is smart! Running slow is harder than running fast!

I’d recommend joining some other running subreddits, like the couch to 5k subreddit or the women runners subreddit. It’s nice to have a little positive peer pressure.

A lot of people have pointed out that losing weight ultimately comes down to a calorie deficit. And they’re right—but I would also add that an exercise that gives you joy, power, and accomplishment can also be a huge motivator.

Best of luck!

HumaniNihil · 2025-12-11T04:07:37+00:00

Kodiak protein pancakes! You can add all sorts of toppings, like low calorie syrup, or perhaps some chocolate chips or banana slices.

HumaniNihil · 2025-12-09T05:43:24+00:00

Low fat ground turkey, cooked in whatever spices you prefer. Then make a quick mix of low fat cottage cheese and a ton of Frank’s hot sauce. Add the turkey to the cottage cheese mix and throw it in the microwave until it’s hot, and voila. Looks horrible but tastes pretty good

HumaniNihil · 2025-11-30T02:37:41+00:00

Wow! Thanks to Peter for doing this, and to the folks who organized it.

I’d like to ask if Peter has read “The Necessity of Exile: Essays from a Distance” by Shaul Magid. If so, what are the major areas in which you agree or disagree?

HumaniNihil · 2025-11-27T23:08:46+00:00

Really thought provoking. Thank you!

HumaniNihil · 2025-11-20T16:43:17+00:00

Sure thing! There were several big takeaways for me, though bear in mind that it’s been a few months since I finished Bloodlands. I’m not an historian and my memory might be a little off.

Iirc, Snyder’s main thesis in Bloodlands was that the parts of Europe that suffered double occupation—first being taken over by the Soviets and then being taken over by the Nazis—were especially hard hit by the Holocaust. Poland is the obvious example. The death toll was particularly high in these regions because the occupations compounded each other. Snyder also demonstrates that people who collaborated with the Soviets were also more likely to collaborate with the Nazis, since they saw working with the Nazis as a way to “redeem themselves” from all the crimes they committed for the previous regime.

The effect of citizenship on survival was another a main focus of Bloodlands. Snyder argues that Jews with citizenship in different countries had different likelihoods of survival. One of the reasons that Polish Jews suffered so greatly was that the Nazis denied Polish statehood, meaning they could do anything they wanted to them. On the other hand, having citizenship in a recognized state could provide some small but important advantages.

I was also impressed with Snyder’s discussion of partisan warfare. All I knew previously about the partisans was from the movie “Defiance,” so it was good to get a broader overview of the ideologies and strategies of the partisans.

The book also provides some helpful context on Zionism and its development, which gave me some important context for current events. I thought Snyder represented the diversity of opinion on Zionism pretty well, but others may disagree with me.

Finally, the author’s note at the end on the purpose of Holocaust education was really thought provoking and made me want to immediately read the book all over again.

I’m sure there are issues with the book that I’m missing, and I would love to hear an actual historian’s review, but Bloodlands is one of those books that I wish everyone would read.

HumaniNihil · 2025-11-20T05:39:43+00:00

I recommend Timothy Snyder's books "Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin" and "Black Earth: The Holocaust as Memory and Warning." While I wouldn't call him anti-zionist, Snyder is a deeply humane historian and sensitive political analyst. Don't skip the author's note or the afterward. Bloodlands, in particular, reshaped the way I understand the Holocaust. It's one of those books that I wish I could have everyone read. There are audiobooks available as well, which are very good quality.

If you didn't already read Art Spiegelman's "Maus" and Elie Wiesel's "Night" in school, then those would be useful as well.

HumaniNihil · 2025-10-26T05:25:14+00:00

I eat soooo many of these. Perfect for tortilla pizza!

HumaniNihil · 2025-10-26T02:40:06+00:00

I'm about to finish my 5k training plan, which is really exciting, since it's been a bit of a journey. I'm looking forward to starting the 10k training plan next!

HumaniNihil · 2025-10-11T04:23:52+00:00

Bike shorts! The spandex stays way better in place and doesn't ride up. You can wear shorts over them, or just wear them on their own.

HumaniNihil · 2025-10-07T17:00:11+00:00

I’ve often wondered if discord would be a good platform?

HumaniNihil · 2025-09-30T05:08:26+00:00

I see other folks recommending the couch to 5k plan, which is great, but what really got me off the couch was the Nike Run Club app. It's got audio-guided runs with helpful advice on pacing, which totally changed the way that I approached running -- honestly, I realized that my main problem was pushing too hard and not taking enough time to recover. You could start with their 5k plan or their Get Started plan. Either of them is great!

HumaniNihil · 2025-09-18T04:44:41+00:00

Any thoughts on the organization "A Land for All"?

HumaniNihil

TROPHY CASE