115. The Strength to Defeat OCD: Insights from a Young Author’s Journey with Ella Kim

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a loved one - your sister, brother, or daughter - battling with intrusive thoughts and engaging in relentless rituals due to OCD? How can families effectively provide the necessary support to help them navigate OCD's grip on their daily lives? 

In today’s episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast,  we have the pleasure of conversing with an extraordinary young author, Ella Kim, whose personal story and literary contributions are making waves in the world of mental health advocacy. Ella Kim is a high school student who has authored "How to Defeat Bully Brain," a book that serves as a beacon of hope for children and families grappling with OCD.Ella's motivation to pen this book was deeply personal; her brother's diagnosis with OCD at a tender age was the catalyst that propelled her into action.

In our conversation, Ella discusses her brother's struggle with OCD, the impact on her family, and the importance of proper support and understanding. She shares her family's journey, including her brother's improvement after a gap year program abroad. Ella also talks about her nonprofit, “OCD Detectives” and her upcoming book on various OCD manifestations. 

 

In This Episode

• [01:35] - The idea behind writing the book.
• [02:04] - Navigating OCD as a family
• [03:11] - Challenges and frustration
• [06:12] - Impact on the family
• [08:02] - Creating a story about OCD
• [09:59] - The staircase method
• [11:15] - Spreading awareness through a book
• [12:11] - Different types of obsessions and compulsions
• [14:31] - Understanding the changing nature of OCD
• [15:30] - Defining OCD
• [16:43] - Recovery and struggle
• [18:06] - Tools and understanding
• [18:30] - Contact information

 

Notable Quotes

• [02:07]” I went into this deep dive and I kind of looked at OCD resources out there, and I found that there weren't that many children's books that were like workbooks that kind of went into how to deal with your OCD.” -Ella
• [05:16] “There's times when your OCD is worse and when it's better. And so sometimes when just OCD would be worse, it would kind of impact the entire family." -Ella
• [06:12] "Initially, everyone got frustrated because of the mess, but then you have to look past that and realize that he just needs more help rather than getting mad at him." Ella
• [07:14] "Remind them constantly to say no to OCD and give them reasons why, like not having to spend hours a day washing your hands or not feeling uncomfortable for over half the day." -Ella
• [17:36] "During his gap year, even without active therapy, being preoccupied with volunteer work abroad helped him improve significantly."-Ella

 

Our Guest

Ella Kim, a high school student from New York City, has a keen interest in psychology and the treatment of mental and behavioral disorders. Motivated by her brother's diagnosis of OCD at a young age, she decided to write "How to Defeat Bully Brain" to assist young children and their families in combating OCD.

 

Resources & Links

Kristina Orlova, LMFT

• https://www.instagram.com/ocdwhisperer/
• https://www.youtube.com/c/OCDWhispererChannel
• https://www.korresults.com/
• https://www.onlineocdacademy.com

 

Ella Kim

• https://defeatbullybrain.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/ocd_detectives/

 

Mentioned

• Book: How to Defeat Bully Brain: A Story About OCD

**Disclaimer**

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 bi-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!