The OCD & Anxiety Podcast

When Imagined Fears Feel Real: Imagination, OCD & You

September 19, 2026·15 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Ready for real help with OCD or anxiety? Book a free discovery call with me — no pressure, no obligation: robertjamescoaching.com/book-discovery-call Prefer to work at your own pace? My 12-week programs are available self-guided: Break Free from OCD: robertjamescoaching.com/self-guided Sensorimotor OCD: robertjamescoaching.com/sensorimotor-self-guided New here? Start with my free course: robertjamescoaching.com/free Robert James explores how imagination can both trigger and transform OCD and anxiety, drawing on ideas from Cassandra Vieten's Imagine That. He explains how spontaneous mental images and deep-diving thoughts create real emotions and fuel rumination. The episode offers practical ways to respond: notice and return to the present with mindfulness, practice deliberate visualization of small, realistic steps toward what you want, and accept anxiety as you move forward rather than trying to eliminate it first Disclaimer: Robert James Pizey (of Robert James Coaching) is not a medical professional and is also not providing therapy or medical treatment. Robert James Pizey recommends that anyone experiencing anxiety or OCD to seek professional medical help straight away to get a medical opinion and rule out other conditions or illnesses. The comments and opinions as written on this site are simply that and are not to be taken as professional medical opinions. Robert James Pizey provides coaching, education, accountability and peer support around Anxiety through his own personal experiences.

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