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
Crystal Propes
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!
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