Hello- question about ERP

Hello- I have been battling many types of OCD on and off for 25+ years. Medication works but wanted to go off for 1st trimester of pregnancy. I am doing a good job deploying ERP tactics for pure o and real event ocd and it has removed physically anxiety symptoms and I can concentrate in life. However I do have a big sense of fear and all day gloomy feeling knowing that the thoughts that are disturbing are sitting out there and fear I will come up with new ones. Will this get better the longer I keep deploying the ERP tactics? I never have this when I am on medication. Thanks in advance.

Username: abbyvaphabbyvaph

Date posted: 2y ago

Yes I get nervous because with pregnancy you cannot do double blind studies so it’s all based on correlation therefore no doctor can tell you it is a proven fact that there is birth defects associated with them in the 1st trimester. Yes I know that is ocd sounding :)

Username: Maybe,MaybeNotMaybe,MaybeNot

Date posted: 2y ago

Haha yes it’s a little OCD sounding but I relate, I was nervous too. I think it’s all about just weighing out pros and cons. Like with some meds I don’t think it could do much damage, like just cause some withdraw symptoms for the fetus- I would ask your doc about that!

Username: Liz Lake Liz Lake

Date posted: 2y ago

Gah I know this feeling all too well. Being in recovery is awesome, but it sometimes feels like relapsing could happen at any moment. This is such an incredibly common trick that OCD plays. In this case, we know that the key to all this is response prevention. You can have the thought that your OCD is still there, but you don't need to focus on it or give it any of the attention that it wants. While pregnancy adds some complicating hormones into the mix, you have to remind yourself that you're strong and can persevere. You are capable and able to create those neural pathways that can free you from that anxiety--sounds like you've done it before. Also, congratulations on your pregnancy!

Username: abbyvaphabbyvaph

Date posted: 2y ago

Thank you so much so icky feeling will stay but go away eventually the longer I starve it. Also I am trying to conceive but it was a lot of info and was trying ti keep post short, as I have tendency to over explain :)

Username: Liz Lake Liz Lake

Date posted: 2y ago

@abbyvaph I’m saying the icky feeling is powerful if you allow it to be that way. Don’t give it the space it wants. I like the term “starve” that you use. It kind of gets drowned out by you going on with your life rather than paying it any attention.

Username: Maybe,MaybeNotMaybe,MaybeNot

Date posted: 2y ago

I had a baby 6 months ago. During my pregnancy, I came off my meds, and around 4 months I had a full relapse. It lasted the entire rest of the pregnancy and until the baby was 2 months old. I would stay or get back on your meds as soon as you can, especially if you are thinking relapse is around the corner. Your baby needs you to take care of yourself in order to take care of it. Your OB is able to tell you what meds are safe during pregnancy- mine recommended Zoloft

Username: abbyvaphabbyvaph

Date posted: 2y ago

I am in trying to conceive mode but didn’t want my original post to be too long that people wouldn’t read:) I plan On going on meds around 10 weeks when everything is developed. This will be my 4th baby if I conceive- I have been I meds for 2nd trimester and on for my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies because ocd gets so bad. I just am so scared to go on 1st trimester even though doctors assure me it’s ok

Username: Maybe,MaybeNotMaybe,MaybeNot

Date posted: 2y ago

@abbyvaph Why is it scary to be on it during first trimester? I really wish I would have stayed on them first trimester, because by second trimester my OCD was out of control and it would have really helped for the meds to have been built up in my system. Plus, stress and anxiety affects the baby too.

Username: Liz Lake Liz Lake

Date posted: 2y ago

@abbyvaph I understand how scary that can be. I was on citalopram for my first pregnancy, and I remember the guilty feeling and self blame of being on a medication that other pregnant people didn’t have to take. You are allowed to treat your OCD and have a baby. Your value as a human does not go down by taking medication. I know very well how distrustful OCD can make you of doctors, but it is so important to listen to them and their safe assurances that medication is okay for you. Ultimately, it’s your decision and your body, but I want you to remember that your mental health is just as important as your baby.

Username: Maybe,MaybeNotMaybe,MaybeNot

Date posted: 2y ago

@NOCD Advocate - LizLake 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Amen.

Username: abbyvaphabbyvaph

Date posted: 2y ago

That there is *not* birth defects associated with SSRI use in 1st trimester.

Username: KL

Date posted: 6y ago

Hi there, I recently (3 weeks ago) started ERP therapy for Pure O OCD. 90% of my thoughts are harm related. Since I’ve started the therapy, I’ve been doing the homework it’s been really tough. I’ve started to get depressed and my thoughts are totally whack-a-mole and seem to never stop. Did this happen to anyone when going through ERP?

Username: Stefanie86

Date posted: 2y ago

***For anyone who has had success with ERP,***…I’m Wondering about the effectiveness of It. I know Dr McGrath has said the thoughts become wimpier over time. What I am wondering is if you are locked into thoughts 24/7 it seems all day everyday, will ERP make them occur just occasionally? My theme is ROCD.

Relationship OCD

Username: Anonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

How do you know if ERP works?

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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