- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
I think the percentage thing is innacurate. The goal is to learn to live with the thoughts, and just not pay attention to them as much as you would before therapy.
- Date posted
- 3y
Try not to compare yourself with anyone else either. I have gone years with little anxiety from my thoughts, then I’m triggered and fall back into engaging with them for a month or so. Then repeat. You will learn at your own pace:)
- Date posted
- 3y
@emmy sue I’m bad about comparing myself. It’s hard and then I’m like I don’t have ocd 🤷🏽♂️
- Date posted
- 3y
@emmy sue Thank you. Yeah I don’t expect the thoughts to go away. When I have moments of clarity and my ocd isn’t bothering me, I still have the thoughts but my brain doesn’t see them as a threat. It’s weird how that works
- Date posted
- 3y
Yeah we can’t make thoughts disappear and recovery doesn’t mean that the thoughts will disappear. I had the misunderstanding that they would disappear because I wanted them to so badly
- Date posted
- 3y
Yeah I just want the anxiety to go away really. But even when the anxiety is gone there’s just some thing about the OCD that causes discomfort. I have a lot of moments every now and then for a few days at a time where my head is clear and while I still have the thoughts during that time they just don’t bother me at all
- Date posted
- 3y
@Ocdislame Yeah I totally feel that cause I’m the same way bro.
- Date posted
- 3y
I like to think of it as “how life is managable with them”. That bit of u is still going to be there, but learning how to be unfazed is the goal
- Date posted
- 3y
Everyone’s percentages are different. Mine was a big reduction but I also had other intense therapy for childhood trauma, so I learned even more coping mechanisms too. You can’t get rid of OCD and its symptoms. You can’t control or stop your thoughts but they don’t matter. What matters is your REACTION. And that’s the key to ERP and coping mechanisms for when intrusive thoughts come back up.
- Date posted
- 3y
For me it’s just so crazy when I have these days where nothing seems to bother me. I still have the thoughts but the thoughts don’t trigger any sort of anxiety. I guess that’s what I’m aiming for
- Date posted
- 3y
Like other comments say, yes it depends on the individual and I think the intensity of therapy affects too. Doing intensive erp therapy dramatically decreased my symptoms, but I don’t think it ever does 100% as I have come to accept that Ocd will always be the natural bend of my brain. But now instead of having control of my life, taking care of it feels more like maintainence and is very manageable, with small relapses, but never even half as bad as how I was before.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 24w
I've been in and out of talk therapy for OCD-related issues for years, but it hasn't been effective long-term. I am struggling with body image / eating disorder adjacent obsessions and I am really hopeful that ERP might actually give me some relief. I had my first session with my NOCD therapist a few weeks ago. It felt like a good match and I was ready to unpack my obsessions and compulsions to try ERP for the first time. The day of my second session she canceled due to personal illness. Then this happened a second time. Yesterday all of my future booked sessions were canceled without explanation. I went to schedule with a new therapist and the ones that seemed could be a good fit are filled up until at least early April. I booked a slot and sent the therapist a message letting her know I would be interested in starting sooner if a slot opened up. I am just disappointed. I could just meet with another therapist who has earlier availability, but it's most important to me that the therapist be a good fit since I've been through therapy so many times. I feel like I'm in limbo until I have an ERP plan set up and I'm not sure how to move forward in the meantime. I'm planning try out a support group but I need a personalized exposure plan and I'm not sure if that's something I should just try to set up myself? Anyone have something similar happen to them? Any thoughts or advice would be helpful.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 21w
I find while doing exposures, rarely does my anxiety lessen. It usually amps up and stays that way for the remainder of the day. I could be having a fairly decent day, but dutifully do my exposures and then the rest of my day is anxiety filled. I guess that’s just how it is now? Also, I’m wondering if my therapist even believes I have OCD. I totally understand my therapist cannot provide reassurance. But it’s to the point it seems my therapist acts like I actually did the thing I fear. I feel so isolated.
- Date posted
- 17w
What does a therapy session with an OCD specialist look like for y’all? This is something I’ve always wondered because I’ve only had one OCD therapist through NOCD. Our sessions always looked like sit there and “reduce anxiety” meaning don’t think for a few minutes and take a few deep breaths and rate your anxiety level every couple of minutes. AND that was it. Is it supposed to look like that? Because I haven’t seen anyone on this app talk about this or how their therapy sessions go. I’m considering restarting therapy but I want to know how therapy goes for you guys before I go back to the same specialist. Any input would be appreciated :)
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