Exposure Therapy in a Public Bathroom
About this episode
The episode explores the intersection of clean girl culture and OCD patterns, discussing how social media trends can influence mental health.
In this episode of Breaking the Rules , we record from an unusual location — the bathroom floor of a public restroom — as we explore an increasingly popular social media trend: “clean girl culture.” Across platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the clean girl aesthetic promotes a polished, minimalist lifestyle — natural makeup, tidy wardrobes, “clean” eating, and curated routines that appear effortless and healthy. But when does a healthy routine become rigidity, anxiety, or compulsive behavior ? In this conversation we unpack how trends like clean girl culture can blur the line between wellbeing and preoccupation , and how certain aspects of the aesthetic can overlap with OCD patterns , particularly around contamination, checking, perfectionism, and the need for control. We also explore the broader question clinicians and individuals often face: how do we know when something has gone too far? In this episode we discuss: What “clean girl culture” is and why it’s trending on social media The appeal of curated lifestyles and polished aesthetics When healthy habits start becoming rigid or anxiety-driven Parallels with orthorexia and other wellness trends How social media trends can…
More episodes of Breaking the Rules: A Clinician's Guide to Treating OCD
- What Exposure Therapy Actually Feels Like (The Mentos/Jelly Bean Exercise)
- OCD and Productivity: The Struggle Behind the Scenes
- Perfectionism, Process-Based Therapy & The Anxious Perfectionist
- Developmental Patterns in OCD Onset and Flare-Ups
- Contamination OCD Isn’t Quirky
- Readiness, Uncertainty, and Behaviour Change in OCD Treatment
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