I’m confused an a bit angry. I met with a new therapist today and my insurance hasn’t allowed me to get someone who understands pure O and who is knowledgeable about ERP. This woman was a CBT and told me that wheneve I have an intrusive thought to deny it and tell myself that I’m a good person and to reassure myself. I tried to explain that that in itself is a compulsion for people at Pure O but she kept coming back to it. My gut is telling me she’s wrong because the times I was panicking And would try to rationalize it like she told me to the thoughts would only get worse. I told her that I used to be worried about harming people and have been listening to podcasts about serial killers as an exposure and how it’s working and I’m not having a problem with it anymore and she told me to take a break from that as if it was unhealthy. I told her I’d appreciate it to research ERP as a I left, and was willing to give her another chance but as soon as I told my parents about what she said they flipped out on me and told me I’m being picky and am unopen to options other than ERP. Am I being crazy or picky ??? I’m so confused

Hey I'm feeling pretty hopeless right now. Before I get to the main point I'm gonna give some background info: I'm going into my third year of University and it took years of constant denial to get treatment . I originally came in for my skin picking but after multiple appointments I was told I have OCD. I never thought I perfectly fit into having it because I was never organized nor am I a "germaphobe". I later learned everything made sens From being afraid to interact with little children (afraid I would assault them just from staring too long), all the way to staying up all night convinced someone would kill me if I didn't hide all the knives in the house. It took me just one month ago to sleep in my bed alone (after I stopped my rituals with my stuffed animals as a kid I was convinced they will harm me when I least expect it, and sleep beside my mother). It even explained why I had somatic rituals when I was a child (constantly balancing the right and left side of my body with repetitive touching until it felt right). Finally, after switching from cipralex (did not help) to Zoloft (currently on 150mg) I feel as thought my life is coming back. The reason I'm feeling distressed is that my main psychiatrist referred me to a CBT waitlist in a hospital. Well I just had a virtual meeting with him today... And he basically asked if I have cleaning rituals. I said no, I told him about my previous compulsions the first time I talked to him and told him the medication has SIGNIFICANTLY reduced my anxiety and compulsions that I only do two rituals a day (~3 hours). At the end of the appointment he told me that I DON'T HAVE OCD or anxiety and suggested I go off my meds. Now I'm doubting if I have OCD to begin with, even though I fully know I do as my main psychiatrist has been so caring and making sure I recover. It really sucks because I feel pretty invalidated?? Am I overreacting or in the wrong? I don't know how to feel right now. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you

This is half a vent session, half me asking for advice but: My OCD symptoms started on april 2020, one month after the pandemic. that has led me to constantly question whether it’s OCD or anxiety and of course i can’t really diagnose myself but it behaves very differently from anxiety. i’ve also been doing research and reading about OCD for over a year and i honestly honestly think i have OCD because i fit basically all the symptoms? anyways, I finally brought it up to my therapist a few appointments ago and i felt like they kind of dismissed me? not sure if that’s normal. they told me it’s could be because of heightened anxiety and to practice “thought stopping”. that has made me feel sooo bad about myself because i start spiraling and believing my intrusive thoughts MUST be true because of what they said, and because it makes me feel like I’m just using the OCD label for “attention”. i’m not sure if i should bring it up again in a future appointment? or maybe find a new therapist? or maybe I don’t have OCD at all? I don’t know what to do

My therapist said I don’t have ocd and my intrusive thoughts and mental obsessions are just from anxiety/depression. I don’t really understand it and think anxiety with compulsion is literally what ocd is. I asked my mom to explain in and I kinda got it but still am confused. My therapist also said it matters more if it effects my daily life which it does daily and I think is a big part of what causes my depression. Anyways my mom was pretty upset with me and says she thinks I worry to much about having ocd. She says I want to have it which is not true. Is it possible for me too be like this is an intrusive thought and still use exposures to help even if it’s not ocd? Idk I’m just really confused and need advice.