Erin Davis

01/09/2026

Let's talk about something painful: OCD and pet loss

If you've lost a pet and you have OCD, you know this grief hits different.

Not because you loved your pet more than other people love theirs.

But because OCD won't let you grieve like a normal person.

I want to break down what's happening in your brain - because understanding this can help you stop torturing yourself.

When someone without OCD loses a pet:

They feel deep sadness. They cry. They miss their companion. They remember the good times and the hard times. They slowly accept that death is a natural part of life. The pain softens over time (though it never fully disappears).

That's normal, healthy grief.

When someone WITH OCD loses a pet:

The sadness is there, but it gets hijacked by obsessive thoughts:

"Did I take them to the vet soon enough?"
"Should I have noticed that symptom earlier?"
"What if I caused this by not being careful enough?"
"If I had just been more vigilant, they'd still be alive"

These thoughts loop endlessly.

And they create crushing guilt.

Because OCD is telling you that YOU are responsible for your pet's death.

This is called responsibility OCD.

And it's one of the cruelest forms of the disorder.

Here's what's really happening:

OCD hates uncertainty and lack of control.

Death is the ultimate loss of control.

So OCD creates a false narrative where you DID have control - you just didn't use it properly.

"If you had been more careful, this wouldn't have happened."

That narrative is a LIE.

But it feels true because it gives your brain a sense of control in a situation where you had none.

The reality:

→ You did not cause your pet's death
→ You could not have prevented it through vigilance
→ You were a good pet parent
→ You loved them well
→ Death is a natural part of life that no amount of checking or worrying can prevent

I know that's hard to accept.

Because accepting it means accepting that you didn't have control.

And OCD HATES that.

But that acceptance is the only way through.

You can't think your way out of grief.

You can't analyze your way to peace.

You can only feel the sadness, honor the love, and slowly let go of the false guilt.

If you're in this right now:

→ Your grief is valid
→ Your guilt is OCD, not reality
→ You deserve to remember your pet with love, not torture
→ You are not alone

And if someone you love is going through this:

Please don't say "just remember the good times."

Their brain won't let them.

Instead, say: "I know this is incredibly hard. Your love for them was real. And you did everything you could."

That's what they need to hear.

Sending so much love to anyone navigating this 💙

01/08/2026

Why pet loss is so much harder when you have OCD

I want to talk about something that doesn't get discussed enough: how devastating pet loss is for people with OCD.

Not because we love our pets more than other people do.

But because OCD hijacks the grieving process and turns it into torture.

Here's what happens:

Normal grief looks like this:
→ Sadness, crying, missing them
→ Remembering good times mixed with painful moments
→ Slowly accepting the loss over time
→ The pain softens (though it never fully goes away)

OCD grief looks like this:
→ Obsessive mental review of every decision you made
→ Constant "what if" thoughts about what you could have done differently
→ Overwhelming guilt and sense of responsibility
→ Belief that YOU caused their death by not being careful enough
→ Inability to accept that death is a natural part of life

The difference is crucial.

With OCD, you're not just grieving the loss of your beloved pet.

You're also fighting a brain that's telling you it's YOUR FAULT they're gone.

This is responsibility OCD at its cruelest.

It takes one of the most painful experiences in life - losing a pet you loved deeply - and adds a layer of false guilt that makes it almost unbearable.

"If I'd just taken them to the vet one day earlier..."
"If I'd noticed that symptom sooner..."
"If I'd been more careful about what they ate..."
"If I'd watched them more closely..."

These thoughts loop endlessly.

And here's the thing: OCD is LYING to you.

Your pet didn't die because you failed them.

They died because all living beings eventually die.

You didn't have the power to prevent it, no matter how vigilant you were.

But OCD doesn't want you to accept that.

Because acceptance means letting go of control.

And OCD is all about the illusion of control.

If you're grieving a pet right now and OCD is making it unbearable, please know:

→ You are not a bad pet parent
→ You did not cause their death
→ Your guilt is OCD, not reality
→ You deserve to grieve without torture
→ You are not alone in this

Sending love to anyone navigating this right now 💙

01/02/2026

Can I tell you something nobody warns you about when it comes to OCD?

It steals fun first.

Not your time (though it takes that too).
Not your energy (though that goes quickly).
Not even your relationships (though those suffer).

It steals your ability to enjoy ANYTHING.

You're at dinner with friends, but you're not really there. You're mentally reviewing whether you locked the door, turned off the stove, said the right thing earlier.

You're on vacation - the vacation you planned for months - but you're analyzing every single interaction with your partner, looking for signs that something's wrong.

You're playing with your kids, but you're checking your feelings to make sure they're "right," scanning for any thought that might mean you're a bad parent.

And here's the cruelest part of all:

You're doing ALL of this because you care so much.

You care about keeping people safe.
You care about your relationships.
You care about being a good person.

OCD takes that beautiful care and hijacks it. It turns your values into a weapon against you.

But I want you to hear this:

You can care deeply about things AND enjoy your life.

You can be a responsible person AND have fun.

You can be a good person AND relax.

These things are not opposites. OCD just convinced you they were.

So if you're starting 2026 already exhausted from trying to "stay on top of" everything...

What if this was the year you learned that you don't actually have to?

What if the way forward wasn't more vigilance, but less?

What if trust - in yourself, in reality, in the process - was actually the answer?

I know that sounds terrifying if you're in the thick of it.

But I promise you: it's possible.

And it's so, so worth it.

01/01/2026

2026 is here.

And I'm done with resolutions that make me feel like I'm not enough.

"Be more productive."
"Work harder."
"Finally get it together."

Nope.

This year, I'm asking a better question:

What would make life ridiculously fun?

For those of us with OCD, this feels almost rebellious.

We're so used to:
→ Following rules that don't make sense
→ Doing rituals that steal our time
→ Trying to feel certain before we take action
→ Waiting until we're "better" to enjoy life

But what if we didn't wait?

What if we decided that THIS year, we're going to have fun DESPITE OCD?

Not because we've beaten it.
Not because we're perfect.
Not because we finally feel ready.

But because we deserve to enjoy our lives.

So tell me: What would make 2026 ridiculously fun for YOU?

I want to hear your ideas. Comment below! 👇

01/01/2026

New year, same struggle?

If you're starting 2026 thinking you need to try harder, be more disciplined, finally get control of your OCD...

I want you to pause.

Because that's not the answer.

I've worked with hundreds of people with OCD, and here's what I know:

The problem isn't that you're not trying hard enough.

The problem is that you're trying to solve OCD with the same thinking that feeds it.

So here's a different question for 2026:

What would make life ridiculously fun?

Not perfect. Not anxiety-free. Not "fixed."

Fun.

Because recovery isn't about white-knuckling your way through life.

It's about learning to LIVE again.

It's about choosing joy over certainty.

It's about doing things that matter to you, even when OCD says it's not safe.

So what does that look like for you?

What would make 2026 ridiculously fun?

Share below - I'd love to hear your thoughts. 💙

01/01/2026

Happy New Year, friends 💙

I'm starting 2026 with a different kind of resolution.

Instead of asking "What do I need to fix about myself?" I'm asking:

"What would make life ridiculously fun?"

Because here's what I've learned after years of living with OCD:

You can spend your whole life trying to feel certain, trying to be perfect, trying to get rid of anxiety...

Or you can start living NOW.

Not when OCD is gone.
Not when you feel ready.
Not when everything is perfect.

Now.

So what would make YOUR life ridiculously fun in 2026?

Maybe it's:
• Taking that trip you've been putting off
• Trying something new that scares you
• Spending more time with people who make you laugh
• Doing less of what drains you and more of what lights you up

I'd love to hear what you're thinking.

Drop a comment below and let's make 2026 about JOY, not just survival. 🎉

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! 🎊

I want to ask you something different today.

Not "What are your goals for 2026?"

But: What would make 2026 ridiculously FUN for you?

I'm asking because I work with a lot of high-achieving women with OCD, and here's what I notice:

We're incredible at setting goals.
We're incredible at achieving them.
We're absolutely terrible at enjoying any of it.

OCD turns life into a constant test. Every moment becomes something you have to "get right."

But what if this year wasn't about getting things right?

What if it was about:

→ Actually enjoying dinner with your family instead of mentally reviewing your entire day

→ Saying yes to spontaneous plans without the 2-hour "what if" spiral

→ Trusting yourself enough to relax (like, actually relax)

→ Laughing without immediately analyzing whether you laughed at the right time or in the right way

→ Being present in your relationships instead of constantly checking if they're "okay"

Recovery isn't just about reducing your symptoms by 30-50%.

It's about reclaiming JOY.

It's about remembering what it feels like to be fully alive in your own life.

So I'm genuinely curious:

What would make YOUR life ridiculously fun in 2026?

Not what you think you "should" want.
Not what would make you more productive.
Not what would impress anyone else.

What would actually light YOU up?

Comment below - I'd love to hear what you come up with. 💙

12/23/2025

12/21/2025

POV: It’s December and you’re trying to enjoy the holidays but your brain is screaming about everything that needs to be “fixed” first 🎄😅

You know that feeling when everyone’s posting their picture-perfect Christmas decor, but you’re over here spiraling because:

✨ The tree touched the garage floor before it came inside
✨ Someone walked through the house in their outside shoes (again)
✨ The holiday guests are coming and you KNOW they don’t follow your protocols
✨ You’ve already vacuumed the couch twice but it still doesn’t feel like enough

And somehow you’re supposed to be just…

enjoy hot cocoa and Hallmark movies?

While your military spouse is deployed/TDY/at work and doesn’t fully get why you’re rewashing every single dish in the cabinet before Christmas dinner?

Girl, I SEE YOU. 💜

The mental load is REAL.

The contamination fears don’t take a holiday break.

And you’re not “too much” for wanting your home to feel safe during what’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year.

I’m sharing exactly how I navigate this (the accommodations that actually help + what makes it worse) in my private podcast.

Real talk, no toxic positivity, just practical support from someone who gets it.

Link in bio🎧 Let’s get through this season together.

12/15/2025

Is your anger linked to perfectionism? It's more common than you think. When life gets busy and goals are crushing, therapy can help you graduate to a healthier mindset. Ready to take that step?

12/14/2025

Anger often shows up for those who struggle with perfectionism. The TIPP technique gives your body and brain a chance to shift gears. Try it!

12/14/2025

Intense exercise doesn't mean the gym. Got little ones or home responsibilities? No problem. Jumping jacks, stairs, high knees, or a stationary bike for just 5-7 minutes releases those feel-good endorphins.