It’s been a while since we’ve had a guest on the podcast to open up about their experiences, and this conversation feels particularly timely and important. I’m excited to introduce a guest known as CHH. Who shares their powerful story and unique perspective on living with OCD, anxiety, and motherhood.

Whether you’re a mom navigating the complexities of motherhood, someone living with OCD or anxiety, or even just curious about how these challenges play out in today’s online world, there’s something here for you. We’re going to be talking about: 

• The nuances of mom-related OCD struggles
• How being online can sometimes amplify OCD tendencies

I couldn’t be more excited to share this conversation with you—let’s get into it.

Who is Cartoons Hate Her?

Meet CHH, the writer behind Cartoons Hate Her. She shares her unique perspective on social dynamics, parenting, and internet culture on her website. As a 30-something mom and self-described “terminally online” individual, CHH blends relatable parenting experiences with a deep dive into the quirks of the digital world.

Living with OCD since her teen years, CHH writes candidly about how it shapes both her role as a mom and her online habits. From endless Googling to navigating forums. Her work explores the intersection of parenting, OCD, and the wild ride of internet culture. Creating a space where readers can find connection, insight, and a touch of humor.

When did you realize you had OCD, and what have been the biggest lessons from managing it and working with a therapist?

I consider myself in the midst of recovery, not at rock bottom. My lowest point was in my late teens when I was diagnosed, but my OCD symptoms likely started around nine or ten. I’d get stuck on intrusive “would you rather” scenarios, like “Would you rather die or have someone kill your parents?” These morbid thoughts didn’t seem abnormal to me at the time—I just thought, “That’s a strange thought.”

I agonized over these scenarios, and the thoughts became unsettling. I also became fixated on my mom’s safety, constantly worrying when she left the house. Over time, my fears grew into hypochondria and germaphobia. I developed strict routines, like washing my hands nine times after using the bathroom.

It took years to get diagnosed. Before that, people assumed I was just a quirky kid overly attached to my mom. It wasn’t until my hand-washing rituals and refusal to use public restrooms became extreme that my OCD became clear.

Before my diagnosis, I thought everyone had these thoughts and behaviors. I started therapy, but it wasn’t CBT or ERP, and I avoided exposure exercises out of fear. I genuinely believed I could get seriously ill from everyday activities, like using a public bathroom or a gym locker room.

At 19, I met my husband and shifted my obsessions to his safety. Later, when I had kids, the focus moved to their health, safety, and attachment to me. I’d worry about letting grandparents watch them or whether I was bonding enough.

When I had kids, I started working with a great ERP therapist. We focused on exposure exercises and ignoring intrusive thoughts. Since then, I’ve been managing my OCD and living much more normally—and it’s been going well.

Tell us more about how you have been able to leverage creativity of thought that can stem from OCD, anxiety, and motherhood into your work? 

My experience with OCD directly impacts my writing, especially because I’ve written about it in detail. I haven’t published a book in the normal sense. It’s more like a manuscript I’ve been working on and post a chapter every week on my Substack. We were talking about misdiagnosis, and it got me thinking about the worst therapist I’ve ever had.

To be fair, some therapists misdiagnose or don’t fully understand certain conditions, but this therapist was genuinely awful. I aim to make my writing funny, even when tackling heavy topics like mental health or parenting. If you’re curious about that story, it’s in Chapter 4 of my manuscript, titled Will There Be Free Food. You can find it on my Substack, where I post comedic, true stories—stories that often poke fun at myself.

I also wrote an article called I Keep Getting Fired that did really well. I’ve been fired countless times. Not because I’m bad, unethical, or evil, but because of my OCD. And honestly, I’m a creator who was always meant to be a writer. One thing that’s always been non-negotiable for me is not traveling for work. But a big part of it is that I’ve always worried that if I travel, something might happen to my husband, and I won’t be there to help him.

I think it was my own struggle with OCD that made it so difficult for me to thrive in a corporate setting. OCD pushed me out of corporate life and steered me straight into writing. So while I’m not exactly saying “thank you, OCD,” there’s a small part of me that does see how it led me here.

How have you been able to embrace your OCD through creativity of thought? 

It’s actually interesting, so my husband has OCD too. The funny thing is, his OCD has completely different triggers and obsessions from mine. It’s actually a good thing because it means we’re not reinforcing each other’s maladaptive beliefs. He started two businesses and writes as well, so he’s actually very creative.

He and I are currently co-writing a piece about his OCD, which centers on a time we hired a contractor, and everything that could go wrong, did. It triggered him so much until he was completely losing his mind by the end. And so while I would say he hasn’t been writing as long as I have, his creativity is on par. I do think his OCD might contribute to it. We both also have ADHD, and I know they’re often comorbid, so it’s kind of interesting. It is kind of weird. We didn’t filter for these things when we met each other. In fact, he didn’t even know he had OCD until his mid-thirties.

But I did hear, I don’t know if it’s true, that people with ADHD often end up connecting with each other without even realizing it, because they have similar struggles, even if their triggers are different. The funny part is that our different triggers really help us. When I’m obsessing over something ridiculous, he can laugh it off and say, “You’ve got to be kidding me, get over yourself.” It helps snap me out of it. And when it’s him obsessing over a scratch on the floor and Googling the best floor polish at the best price, I can take the phone away and say, “We’re not doing this. We’re having dinner.”

How do you think online culture has impacted your OCD, anxiety, and motherhood experience?

I think there’s a really vicious cycle between OCD and the internet, at least for me. I don’t think it’s true for everyone with OCD, but I wrote a piece a while back that did pretty well called Does Everyone on Reddit Have OCD? And while it might not be true for everyone on Reddit, I do think it’s the ultimate OCD vortex. You can read about literally anything. For example, if your baby has a weird rash—whether it’s a diaper rash or just normal eczema—you could go on Reddit and find someone telling you to rush to the ER in two minutes. It takes no effort at all to trigger your OCD. And, of course, no one does this on purpose and no one wants to feel anxious.

If you’re concerned about a behavior, symptom, or issue with your child, Reddit can be a risky place. Most of the responses come from people who are probably there for the same reason you are. Because they also have OCD or some degree of anxiety. They will likely reinforce whatever irrational thought you’re having because they share the same fears. For example, if your child says their stomach hurts and they don’t want to go to school, that’s pretty normal behavior.

But on Reddit, someone might jump in and say, “They could have an intestinal blockage and die within the hour if you don’t get them to the ER immediately“. That kind of thinking can pull you in so quickly. And the internet is the perfect storm. No one’s fault, no one did anything evil, but it’s the perfect storm for OCD.

Sign Up For My 7 Day Breakthrough Challenge!

Struggling with intrusive thoughts and anxiety? Join my Seven-Day Breakthrough Challenge starting January 1, 2025! For just $17, you’ll get daily video and email guidance to break free from OCD and anxiety cycles. Register by December 30th to join an exclusive live Q&A session and kickstart your success. Don’t wait—secure your spot and step into 2025 with confidence!

OCD, Anxiety, and Motherhood: Wrapping Up Candid Conversation With Cartoons Hate Her

A huge thank you to CHH for sharing her story on OCD, anxiety, and motherhood. Her insights, and humor is deeply relatable and it was such an enlightening conversation. Whether you’re navigating OCD, parenting, or just trying to find balance in our hyperconnected world, her perspective reminds us we’re not alone in the struggle—or the growth.

If you want to dive deeper into CHH’s work, you can find her on her website. Or follow her creative journey on Instagram.

Keep doing all the hard things. Bye for now.

💥 Ready to break free from anxiety and intrusive thoughts? Join my Seven-Day Breakthrough Challenge!: https://jennaoverbaughlpc.com/breakthrough

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👏 Unlock your free 40-minute video on “5 Must-Know Strategies for Handling Anxiety and Intrusive Thoughts”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jennaoverbaughlpc.com/strategies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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