Managing OCD, Anxiety & Burnout in your 20s | Mental Health Tools, Running & Writing Through It with Carrie Berk

Lo walks and talks through Central Park with bestselling author and mental health advocate Carrie Berk. From managing OCD and anxiety to writing viral books, Carrie opens up about navigating mental health as a Gen Z creator — and how she turned obsessive thoughts into a personal mission to educate and empower others.

They discuss coping tools, the reality of social media, and how Carrie stays grounded as a young author and influencer. This candid conversation explores everything from panic attacks and therapy to marathon training and how carbs (yes, carbs) can save your life. Whether you're struggling or supporting someone who is, this episode offers real insight and support — no filters, just facts.

Key Takeaways:
1. What OCD really is (and what it’s not)
2. The difference between “what if” thoughts and “what is” reality
3. How to build your own mental health toolkit
4. The power of exercise, routine, and support systems
5. Why authenticity matters more than perfection on social media

Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome + Carrie’s NYC roots
01:30 – Running as a mental health tool
04:00 – What’s in Carrie’s mental health “toolkit”
07:00 – Releasing her new book Mind Fire: Diary of an Anxious 20-Something
10:00 – Social media, skincare, and showing up as yourself
13:00 – Carrie’s experience with OCD, intrusive thoughts & therapy
17:00 – “I had to choose to get my life back”
20:30 – Lo shares her own anxiety journey
24:00 – How to sit with discomfort
25:00 – Lo and Carrie swap tools for grounding
26:30 – Myth or Truth: Mental Health Edition
31:00 – Closing thoughts: You’re not alone

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.