- Username
- k-low
- Date posted
- 2y ago
Think about erp like training for the big game even though it isn't here yet. That way you're prepared for when it does come. I've come to believe that good patches and healing are not the same thing. Consistency is the only way to get ahead of this shit.
Try to look at ERP as the new way of living with OCD. When you say it isn’t there for long periods, it is, you just successfully normalised it. The ocd isn’t coming back, your just questioning yourself again. Turn the volume back up with the ERP, resist the urges just like you did before and because you have managed to get a grip Of things the ERP technique won’t be obviously for long, you will normalise it again. It’s like loosing weight and gaining a pound, you just cut out crap For a week again, and go back to feeling ok again. X
My theme switched to health for a lying time but was a lot easier to deal with than the harm
@Anonymous Thanks for your comment! Mine switch too. But tbh I always find whatever theme I am in in that moment harder than the one before 😅
@k-low Mine have only been health and harm.... And some smaller ones mixed in
@Anonymous Ohhh that sounds really annoying :( I've got rocd, but it switches between friends and my boyfriend. Had intrusive thoughts about my parents as a kid. Don't have that anymore 😊
I struggle with this as well,when I’m well I just want to enjoy life instead of remembering the thoughts but I think keeping a journal is a good idea so you can look back and see you had long periods of peace as well as hard times x
AGREED.
I was in remission for 7 years .... Totally forgot everything... And am now climbing out of a hole so I'd make sure not to let it catch you off guard.
Ohhh I'm sorry to hear that!! But really happy you were okay for so long! If you did it once, you can do it again ;)
Precisely.
Maybe keep a journal for you to look back on in the future... I know my ocd repeats a lot of the same thoughts.
Good advice! But I've done that in the past and for me it turned into a compulsion unfortunately 😅
@k-low Lol I could see that just helps to know you beat it before...
I am done with treatment and in recovery. I asked my counselor this question. She said that the purpose of doing planned exposures is to teach you ERP so you can do it in real life situations as they come up. So its kind of like riding a bike with training wheels. Eventually they need to come off. Also, don't get too hung up on theme. OCD is OCD regardless of what disguise it is currently wearing. ERP works regardless of theme.
That makes a lot of sense! Thanks 😊 Maybe I'll do that then
Thanks for your advise guys! I totally get that and you're probably right. But when I don't think about it I'd rather keep it that way, bc when I do ERP again is comes back a bit.. But yes, consistency is key 🗝️😊
Question for people who’ve been doing ERP for a long time: do you feel like you have to keep doing exposures continually over time, in order to stop obsessive thoughts? Or do you feel like once you’ve done them long enough you’re able to clear the obsessive thoughts and stop doing ERP? In other words, do you feel it is an ongoing way to manage OCD or do you feel it can stop it from recurring?
I kinda of have a two part question. 1-Has anyone here just gotten better? 2-How do you know if ERP is working? My ocd goes through phases, and always has even before ERP. There are times where I just feel completely normal. Is ERP supposed to lengthen those times of feeling better? If I have times where I feel 100% normal, then why is OCD incurable? Something in my brain is going back and forth to think irrationally and then back to thinking rationally.
I had the worse harm ocd and suicidal ocd couple years ago. And I remember I would get these horrifying thoughts in public that I would immediately wanna go home. Magically it went away after 4 years but during my healing phase I still randomly had those thoughts and it did not bother me so I was like oh my brain now knows. I’m having a horrifying flare up and now these thoughts bother me?? I feel dark and scary. So what if I do ERP and get used to it and think I’m recovered and have another flare up?? How does that make sense
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