Hi community, so I have a question. I’m treating OCD by myself, and I’m currently don’t giving my thoughts an importance that they don’t deserve while focusing on the present and avoiding compulssions. But when it comes to the term “exposures” by itself, does that means that I have to look for a quiet place and sit with my anxiety until is gone?, or an exposure can be done just by walking in the street and just making fun of my thoughts. Or are both different but useful techniches?

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 3y

Many of my members do them at anytime! School, yup! donut shop, done! Exposures with response prevention is meant to be done through out your life whenever things come up. Having said that, at first while practicing the skill of ERP, many people find it necessary to practice in a way they can focus on the learning enough to gain the skill. once it feels you have it down, ideal is to do it whenever and wherever 😁

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 3y

I like to think of erp in two ways: “formal erp” where you might sit down and a purposely expose yourself by, for example, writing an imaginal (worst case scenario) script. And there are what I call “lifestyle erp” where you might continue on with your mall trip even though you might harm someone (for example). I always say - the best erp you can do is to live your life despite your fears. Intrusive thoughts are like background music. The goal is to allow the music to play while you continue on with your day. You don’t want to stop your day to try to change / stop the song. I hope this helps!

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 3y

Great question and great responses. In general, an exposure entails confronting whatever makes you anxious, without mentally or physically disengaging. As stated by other therapists, this could be something you purposefully seek out or just encounter. Basically, as long as you are confronting your anxiety (either a physical stimulus or even a thought that comes into your head), and "staying" with the anxiety until your anxiety comes down by half or more, you are doing the basics of exposures.

You_are_not_...

Date posted: 3y

Thank you, all of these comments have been so great to hear these days ( I kinda relapsed ), I’m currently dealing with ROCD and guilt and the urge to confess things that might felt wrong towards my partner. Not giving on the confessions is hard but your support really make people’s day better.

Ellen_l

Date posted: 24w

Advice?

I’m having a big OCD relapse and would like to hear anyone’s tips on how to be present and healthily deal with these intrusive thoughts and the “need” to preform compulsions. Thank you!!

Sosa2loud

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 19w

Kind of Spiraling

Hi guys! I’m new to the community and I’ve recently received my OCD diagnosis (tho I’ve known about it since childhood). I’ve been somewhat spiraling lately as I wait for my first ERP session (hooray!) I was just wondering if any of you guys have received ERP for existential OCD and if it was successful? My existential OCD compulsions are more so mental and have been affecting me in the sense of dream/memory flashbacks and giving me a sort of “uncanny” feeling about everything around me. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you❤️

Girlypop

Date posted: 19w

ERP for fear of cancelation? (Event/False Memory)

What ERP or other techniques do you use to combat fear of cancelation? Especially curious about those with taboo thoughts, false memory ocd and event ocd based off of real events where the fear of cancellation may actually hold some validity. I once did my own ERP not under a therapist but just on my own I decided to create an anonymous account on Twitter and defend a friend who was receiving online criticism. I knew that this would be semi-controversial so I was expecting backlash and when I recieved troll replies it actually seemed to be a really helpful low-stakes exposure activity. Is this something that others have done? Low stakes online posts etc. that you know will recieve negative responses? I have had severe OCD as a kid as pretty much every subtype under the sun, and as an adult I pretty much have all the types under control except for this real event and false memory and taboo thought OCD. It seems like a different beast since it's somewhat realistic in the camcellation culture today, and it's confusing to address. Ive shut down almost all social accounts and it's keeping me from progressing in a career where I need to have an online presence :/

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