I am so scared to start getting treatment for my OCD because it would mean that it’s real—I do have OCD. Not to mention how scary the thought of facing my horrible intrusive thought and potentially uncovering something devastating about myself that I wouldn’t be able to live with. I’m so scared that I’m secretly hiding something horrible about myself and I’m just unaware of it.

I can identify with your pain! I am going to give you a bit of advice: Reassurance-seeking is not okay. Not from yourself. You need to seek reassurance from God! Pray! I have not tried ERP before so I am curious as to what my life will be like without OCD. Ask yourself this: Do I want OCD? Tell your therapist to not fix you, but help you. To not cure your OCD, but to help you cope with it and grow through it. When you are ready for some of the big steps, tell your therapist. It takes courage to live with OCD and do the exposures. Remember, being courageous does not mean you are fearless, it means you have the bravery to face them! I would say it’s okay, but then you would not grow! Being afraid means that you care about yourself and want to be cautious. IT IS NOT WRONG!

You can do this friend. We go through our fears and expose them to the light. Praying for you.

Hey there! My name is Tyler Devine and I am one of the advocates here at NOCD. I’m sorry you are having a tough time. OCD is a very, very debilitating area in the realm of mental health and anxiety disorders. However, we know this. Saying how hard it is and continuing to dig a deeper hole is not how you win this daily battle. Learning to face OCD head on is something that comes with time and practice. I’m not sure where you are in your journey with OCD, but let me give you some background on myself: I’m 27 years old and have been dealing with ocd since I was young. About five years ago, I finally surrendered to the monster that is OCD (particularly SO-OCD, which if you’re unfamiliar with some of the main subtypes of ocd, is obsessive thoughts, feelings etc of a sexual relation). This is when I walked into my first therapy session with a specialist. Ever since then, I have never looked back. To this day, she is still someone I thank God for as she was a major part of a shift in my life. I know it’s tough but trust a vet like me who has put a lot of time into this stuff when I say you are far from alone. Some big things that helped me tame the beast and still do to this day are meditation, prayer, ERP (both staged and in real time), help from a specialist, faith, and medication (if necessary, as a supplement to your training). All these things combined with a positive attitude toward yourself and your OCD will lead you to victory! Keep helping others and keep utilizing the wonderful community of therapists and people who struggle with the same stuff like you and me. Before you know it, you’ll be a master of fear. Strength and Prayers, Tyler D