Dr Alex George

OCD Explained: Intrusive Thoughts, Compulsions & Causes

2K views · today · 1:09:51

Welcome to the Figuring It Out podcast. What does OCD really feel like? Is it just about being tidy and organised, or is there much more going on beneath the surface? And why do OCD and autism so often overlap? In this episode of Figuring It Out, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates explore what obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) really is, why it's so often misunderstood, and what living with intrusive thoughts and compulsions can actually feel like.

Topics: OCD And Autism: Are They Different? · What Is OCD Really? (It's Not A Personality Quirk) · Why "Just Stop" Doesn't Work: The OCD Cycle · What Causes OCD? Genes, Brain Circuits And Life Experiences · What Support Exists For OCD? · Is It Okay To Say "I'm A Bit OCD"?

I Have ADHD & Autism. These 5 Things Had to Go

77K views · 3d ago · 23:32

Just because I have time doesn’t mean I have the capacity. Understanding my ADHD and autism has made me rethink what I say yes to, what I push through and what I expect of myself. In this video, I share five things I no longer do, why I’ve stopped and what I’m learning to do instead.

Topics: When I was diagnosed · Video about conversations · A big thank you · Recent news headlines · We are massively undiagnosed · My trusty green book

📖 Mentioned books: 1. The Power of Eckhart Tolle · 2. Atomic Habits - James Clear · 3. The Mind Manual - Dr Alex George (sorry not sorry) · 4. Feel Good Productivity - Ali Abdaal

Why Do I Act Before I Think? ADHD & Impulsivity Explained

6K views · 7d ago · 1:23:34

Welcome to the Figuring It Out podcast. Why do people with ADHD act before they think? Is impulsivity really about a lack of self-control, or is something different happening in the ADHD brain? In this episode of Figuring It Out, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates explore the science behind ADHD and impulsivity, from genetics and dopamine to why some people find it so difficult to resist immediate rewards.

Topics: What Drives Impulsivity In ADHD? · "A Lack Of Brakes": What Impulsivity Really Looks Like · Is ADHD Really Just Low Dopamine? · Food Noise: What The Evidence Shows and What It Doesn’t · Weight Loss Jabs, Food Noise And Alcohol · Menopause And ADHD: The Shocking Lack Of Research

This Is What An OCD Flare-Up Actually Feels Like.

80K views · 8d ago · 12:54

I’m in the middle of an OCD flare-up, and I wasn’t sure I could make this video, let alone share it. I sat down on my bed and talked honestly about what living with obsessive-compulsive disorder feels like for me when things are difficult. The doubt, the guilt, and how hard it can be to explain what’s happening in your head.

Signs of Autism I Didn’t Recognise in Myself

62K views · 10d ago · 19:01

“You don’t look autistic.” But there’s a lot you can’t see from the outside. I was diagnosed with autism at 34. In this video, I share experiences I didn’t recognise as part of being autistic, from sensory overload and overwhelming airports to changes in routine, friendships and trusting people.

Topics: A great quote · What does autism look like? · The stereotypes of autism · The stigma of autism · Autistic spectrum disorder · Accepting the diagnosis

📖 Mentioned books: 1. The Power of Eckhart Tolle · 2. Atomic Habits - James Clear · 3. The Mind Manual - Dr Alex George (sorry not sorry) · 4. Feel Good Productivity - Ali Abdaal

Late Autism & ADHD Diagnosis: Why You've Always Felt Different

10K views · 14d ago · 1:09:58

Welcome to the Figuring It Out podcast. Have you always felt different without really understanding why? And what happens when a late autism or ADHD diagnosis changes the way you've always seen yourself? In this episode, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates explore how we develop our sense of identity, why it continues to change throughout our lives, and how a late diagnosis can bring a complicated mix of relief, grief and self-discovery.

Topics: "All My Life I Just Felt Different" · Why Do We Sometimes Feel So Different? · How Our Identity Develops: Why Knowing Who You Are Makes It Easier To Explore · Grief, Relief, Belief: What Happens After A Late Diagnosis · Diagnosed, Now What? The Support Gap · Why Does Emotional Pain Last Longer?

I Thought I Was Just Overthinking. It Was OCD.

579K views · 17d ago · 19:15

I thought I was just overthinking. It took me a long time to understand that what I was experiencing was obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this video, I open up about my diagnosis, why it took so long, and the experience of feeling trapped in my own head. I discuss the stereotypes surrounding OCD, its relationship with anxiety and depression, and navigating it alongside ADHD and autism, including the question of autistic rumination versus OCD.

Topics: Why it took so long to get my OCD diagnosis · A turning point · The stereotype of OCD · Is it depression or OCD? · How OCD is linked with anxiety · OCD in the context of ADHD and autism

📖 Mentioned books: 1. The Power of Eckhart Tolle · 2. Atomic Habits - James Clear · 3. The Mind Manual - Dr Alex George (sorry not sorry) · 4. Feel Good Productivity - Ali Abdaal

Why Socialising Is So Exhausting (ADHD & Autism)

19K views · 21d ago · 1:21:32

Why is socialising so exhausting when you have ADHD or autism? From masking your natural behaviours to experiencing sensory overload, everyday interactions can leave you feeling completely drained. But why does this happen?

Topics: Welcome back! · What Is Masking, and Why Do Experts Disagree? · Why Recovery After Socialising Is So Important · Listener Question: Can I Work in Management With Autism Without Burning Out? · Sensory Overload: When The World Is Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Much · Autistic Burnout: More Than Being Tired

I Quit Alcohol. I Was Tired of Watching My Life Go By

8K views · 24d ago · 11:11

Guest: Dr Kathryn Mannix

I’m out fishing for this one, although it’s not a video about fishing. Good or bad news, depending on whether you’re a fan! I hadn’t planned to film this, but I found myself reflecting on how much time I’d spent worrying about what other people thought and doing what I felt was expected of me. I’m so much happier now I’m making choices for myself, and I’ve never looked back since quitting alcohol.

Topics: The good news and the bad news · What living alcohol free is really like · Pretending to be something you’re not · Do I miss alcohol? · It’s never too late to change your life · Why I love fishing

📖 Mentioned books: 1. The Power of Eckhart Tolle · 2. Atomic Habits - James Clear · 3. The Mind Manual - Dr Alex George (sorry not sorry) · 4. Feel Good Productivity - Ali Abdaal

The Truth About Chronic Pain: What the Research Actually Shows

2K views · 28d ago · 1:04:08

Welcome to the Figuring It Out podcast. Why is chronic pain so misunderstood? And why are some people’s pain believed more than others’? This week on the Figuring It Out podcast, Dr Alex George and research scientist Dr Kathryn Bates explore what chronic pain is, why it can be real even when nothing shows up on a scan, and what the evidence says about the gender pain gap and who gets believed.

Topics: Why Is Chronic Pain So Misunderstood? · The Definition of Pain Was Just Rewritten · Feeling Pain in a Limb That Isn't There · How Runners Keep Going on an Injured Ankle · What Is Chronic Pain? 1 in 5 People Live With It · The Gender Pain Gap

Answering Your Questions About ADHD and Autism

17K views · 1mo ago · 20:24

Thank you, friends, for your support on my previous videos about ADHD and autism. It really means a lot. Many of you left questions in the comments, so I’m back on a park bench with my trusty green book to answer some of them.

Topics: How did you manage working in A&E with ADHD and autism? · How do you get assessed for ADHD and autism? · How do you navigate relationships with autism? · What do food impulses actually look like? · How do you enjoy travelling with autism and ADHD? · When ADHD medication helps one thing but worsens another

📖 Mentioned books: 1. The Power of Eckhart Tolle · 2. Atomic Habits - James Clear · 3. The Mind Manual - Dr Alex George (sorry not sorry) · 4. Feel Good Productivity - Ali Abdaal

My reaction to today’s headlines about the ‘risk of overdiagnosis in ADHD and autism’. Thoughts?

5K views · 1mo ago · 1:59