Anonymous
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Myke GMyke G
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Familiarize yourself with ACT.
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Ok
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 3y ago
@Anonymous Thanks for responding.
Myke GMyke G
- Date posted
- 3y ago
@Anonymous Of course
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 3y ago
I think coming into exposure therapy with a willingness to do the hard work is a great way to prepare. Exposure work is intended to increase the anxiety around your intrusive thoughts, but eventually anxiety will start to come down the more you practice exposures. The good news is you won’t be alone, you will have your ERP therapist along side you! NOCD also offers many support groups and other resources. I would recommend using as many of these resources as you can!
JoyeberryJoyeberry
- Date posted
- 3y ago
First of all, congratulations on starting this journey. Even just thinking about it is a big step and shows your OCD that you're not messing around! :) 1. Know that your NOCD therapist is not going to be fazed by anything you say. OCD comes up with *all kinds* of things and your therapist has heard them all (or at least enough to not be shocked haha). 2. Remember that you will go at your pace. Your therapist's job is to help YOU create your path to recovery. You will not do any exposures until you're ready (and by the time you get to your "hardest exposures" they won't be as bad anymore... that's how it works!). 3. Trust the process. My therapist told me that ERP doesn't typically make OCD worse at the beginning, but you will be intentionally doing things to trigger your distress. The cool thing is that when you do that, you're also intentionally sitting with the discomfort and watching/waiting for it to subside. And again, never to an overwhelming point. Your therapist is trained to help you get familiar with it first and follow your pace. I hope this helps. I know it is so scary, and I also know that you're capable to do this! The fact that you're here says so much. Keep going!
Related posts
EllieH95
- Date posted
- 23w ago
How do you do ERP without spiraling?
I have contamination OCD that causes me to excessively wash my hands/clean items with disinfectant wipes. I know I just need to start with small exposures but how do I do that without spiraling? I tried a while back by just touching the outside of my dishwasher and not washing my hands after and it led to me being unable to even exist in my house. I basically lived on my couch for three weeks as it was the only 'safe' space that I had not touched with my dirty hands. I had to take a week off work to clean my house to make it somewhat liveable. I still haven't got round to cleaning everything though so things like my kitchen are still no-go zones that I don't enter. I just don't know how to start ERP without it making everything worse. Any advice would be appreciated. I am not seeing a therapist at the moment due to financial constraints.
Josh M
- Date posted
- 22w ago
Winners
Those of you who have overcome at least a bit, if not all, of your OCD. When you went through the CBT and ERP, did it feel like the end of the world? And how did you face the fact that your fears and uncertainties might actually come to life?
Freddy327
- Date posted
- 19w ago
Waiting for therapy
Hi everyone. I'm feeling kinda scared because I have to wait a whole month to start ERP therapy, but I feel like I need to start doing exposures now because the longer I wait, the more anxiety I get. It just feels like the OCD monster is getting worse. One thing that helps me is asking one person about an obsession I have...asking a person that I trust, and then doing an exposure after I get the "ok" to do it. I feel like I do need 1 reassurance and then I can go ahead and do it. I know i'm not supposed to ask for reassurance at all, but i dont think you're supposed to do ERP on your own right? Does anyone have any suggestions for what to do while waiting for therapy? PS-the reason there is a wait is bc she's on vacation. After she's back we will meet regularly.
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