The lesbian icon, who is one half of YouTube power couple Rose & Rosie, has created a safe space for people to talk about OCD
BY NIC CROSARA
Rose Ellen Dix is no stranger to being vulnerable online. She and her wife, Rosie Spaughton, have told us many intimate details about their lives over on their YouTube Channel, Rose and Rosie. In 2018, the couple even titled their memoir and accompanying comedy-documentary Overshare. Fast forward to today and Rose has embarked on a brave new solo project which takes being vulnerable to a new level. In her new podcast, RoseCD, she opens up about a lifetime with OCD.
From intrusive thoughts and compulsions to shame and spirals, Rose tells her listeners everything. As well as discussing the heavy stuff, there’s also plenty of lighter moments. In one episode, Rose elaborates on the mental gymnastics she went through trying to convince herself that she was crushing on Ewan McGregor instead of her actual crush (Nicole Kidman).
Rose was diagnosed with the condition when she was 17 years old. While she’s been open about her diagnosis on YouTube, she is now opening up about her thoughts and experiences in a way she hasn’t done before. Getting the chance to speak with the podcaster, I ask what made her want to take it further by starting RoseCD. “I’m approaching 40, and I still do suffer with OCD.
I thought to myself, ‘What would I have really needed back in the day when I was 17, and it was all very new and scary to me?'” she explains. “Just because you have it doesn’t mean that your life is over or you can’t live a fulfilling life. I wanted to create a community, a space where people can talk about their lived experience without sounding preachy or from a clinical background.”
Whether you have OCD, love someone who has it or just want to have more awareness of the condition, this podcast is vital listening.
Want more Rose Ellen Dix in your life? Look out for our upcoming December/January issue!
Earlier this month, Rose released a special episode of RoseCD where her listeners share their experiences living with OCD. You can watch and listen below.
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