140. Living with OCD, Emetophobia, ADHD & PTSD: One Mom’s Journey to Find Balance

In this deeply personal and enlightening episode of the OCD Whisperer Podcast, host Kristina Orlova sits down with  Crystal  Propes—a wife, mother of three, and passionate mental health advocate.  Crystal  shares her lifelong experience with emetophobia (fear of vomiting), OCD, ADHD, and PTSD, offering a raw and honest look at what it’s like to live with intersecting conditions—and how healing is possible.

 

Crystal  opens up about the early onset of emetophobia and how it later intertwined with health and contamination OCD, particularly as a mother. She walks us through the long road to diagnosis, the gap between recognizing OCD and finally seeking help, and the breakthrough she experienced using Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT).

 

You’ll hear about how CBT modules, especially those on reality sensing and alternative narratives, helped her stop ruminating and reconnect with the present. Kristina and  Crystal  also dive into the nuanced differences between OCD and ADHD, offering clarity and validation for listeners who might be navigating both.

 

Whether you’re exploring treatment options, parenting with OCD, or trying to make peace with uncertainty, this episode is filled with hope, humor, and empowering insights.

The 3 things you’ll learn in  today’s episode:

• How emetophobia and OCD often intertwine—and why it can escalate during parenthood
• Why ERP isn’t one-size-fits-all, and how CBT reality-sensing exercises helped  Crystal  stop compulsive rumination
• The surprising differences between OCD-driven behaviors and ADHD tendencies—and how understanding both leads to self-compassion

In This Episode

• [00:03] Introduction and guest introduction
• [01:08]  Crystal ’s early experiences with OCD and phobia
• [02:04] Teenage years and OCD development
• [03:38] Realization and diagnosis of OCD
• [04:17] College years and OCD struggles
• [06:16] Seeking treatment and therapy journey
• [08:46] CBT modules and life-changing insights
• [12:05] Managing doubt and realistic fears
• [14:44] Acceptance and setting boundaries
• [16:28] OCD and ADHD intersection
• [18:32] ADHD symptoms and coping strategies
• [20:28] Conclusion and contact information

 

Our Guest

Crystal  Props is a wife, mom of three, and passionate advocate living with OCD, emetophobia, ADHD, and PTSD. Through her candid storytelling and social media presence, she helps others feel seen in their mental health journeys, breaking stigma and offering relatable, real-life tools for navigating anxiety, neurodivergence, and parenting.

 

Resources & Links

 

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

• Instagram
•  YouTube
•  OCD CBT Journal Tracker and Planner
•  Website

 

Crystal Propes

• Instagram

 

Mentioned

• Cognitive Therapy for OCD
• I-CBT Training Online
• Sneaky Rituals with Jenna Overbaugh 
• ICBT with Kristina Orlova and Christina Ennabe

Please note, while our host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

 

Stay tuned for weekly episodes filled with valuable insights and tips for managing OCD and anxiety. And remember, keep going in the meantime. See you in the next episode!