‘Am I A Secret Serial Killer?’ Kimberley Nixon on OCD, AuDHD & Motherhood
If you’ve binge-watched a British teen classic, you’ll know Kimberley Nixon — from Wild Child to Angus, Thongs & Perfect Snogging and Fresh Meat. But it’s her off-screen honesty that’s truly resonated.In this chat with Ben, Kimberley shares her raw and harrowing journey through perinatal OCD — a time when she felt trapped in “the Upside Down from Stranger Things,” her mind flooded with the darkest thoughts imaginable. They explore motherhood, mental health, and the compulsive need for repetition. Together, they unpack the overlaps between OCD, autism, and ADHD — and how Kimberley is helping shine a light on the struggles so many experience in silence. 00:00 Introduction1:54 Kimberley VS Her Brain3:07 How Other People Think4:10 Autism And Brains That Work Differently4:52 The Brain VS OCD5:39 OCD Stereotype VS The Reality: Hurricane Kimberley6:47 Who Flagged Perinatal OCD?8:04 Perinatal OCD: What We Need To Know?9:36 Examples of Perinatal OCD11:44 Intrusive Thoughts: Am I a Secret Serial Killer? Is My Brain Broken?17:28 How Does Perinatal OCD Manifest?18:45 Kimberley’s Husband VS Her Perinatal OCD20:12 Autism & ADHD NHS Diagnosis Assessment Wait List23:27 Ben’s Podcast Catalyst for Getting an AUDHD Diagnosis25:43 The Cross Overs of OCD, Autism & ADHD Traits30:40 Celebrating That Everyone’s Brain Is Different31:20 How Does Kim’s Autism Show Up?31:43 Opening Up To Friends & Family: “You’re Not Autistic!”32:40 Taking Off The Mask35:28 Physical Compulsions in Perinatal OCD36:56 The Journey of Recovery: Being Kinder To Yourself41:03 Literal Autistic Brains VS April Fools Day, Reading Between The Lines & Acting44:09 Taking Off The Autism Mask & Becoming Yourself45:22 OCD Therapy: Learning To Stop Enabling Reassurance47:43 Why Did Kim Decide To Go Public With Her Perinatal OCD Crisis?49:56 The Leading Cause of Death in Mother’s The First Year After Birth50:33 Are You Born With OCD?51:22 Avoiding Smoking & Drugs Due To Addictive Traits52:37 The Power of Familiarity & Autism: Kim’s Secret Audio Book Safe Place55:49 Autism, Motherhood & Resistance to Change59:19 Ben’s Unofficial Autism Diagnosis1:00:20 Perinatal OCD: Facing The Never Ending Nightmare1:01:47 Excuses VS Explanation1:08:08 The Benefits of Autism & A Career in Acting1:10:17 What Does it Mean To Be Neurodivergent in Today’s Society?1:16:49 Intrusive Thoughts: You Are Not Alone1:17:43 Kimberley’s Promise1:19:15 Kimberley’s Green Light__________On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.Host: Ben BransonHead of Production: Bella NealeAssistant Producer: Phoebe De LeiburnéVideo Editor: James ScrivenSocial Media Manager: Charlie YoungMusic: Jackson GreenbergBrought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348_____________________________________Follow & subscribe…Website: www.hidden20.orgInstagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20podcastBen Branson @seedlip_benSimon Baron Cohen @sbaroncohenIf you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.