It's my pleasure to bring on Alex Bishop, a registered counsellor and IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapist, onto the podcast today. Alex has struggled with Relationship OCD/Relationship Anxiety, and disorganized attachment, and can speak deeply on the experience of pushing a partner away.
In this episode, we discuss his story with overcoming ROCD, how parts work relates to relationship anxiety, the IFS model for overcoming doubts, fears, and "the ick" associated with ROCD, and some of the limitations of ERP therapy for overcoming ROCD specifically.
If you have been feeling stuck, this episode will be SO validating for you, and can help you get on the path to free yourself from the overwhelming shame and anxiety!
Find Alex over at @forloveweheal on Instagram.
Links:
Time Stamps:
3:00 - Alex's experience with ROCD
16:42 - The importance of knowing your patterns when you have relationship anxiety
19:00 - How Alex used parts work/CBT
23:00 - How psychedelics can help with relationship anxiety
26:12 - Creating aliveness for yourself in your relationship
31:00 -Therapeutic routes to help with ROCD
42:50 - The causes of attraction obsessions
56:10 - Having different experiences that we label the same thing
57:50 - The limitation of ERP: Exposure and Response Prevention