Cheetahvionic
- Date posted
- 3y
ERP
This question is for those who have already started ERP: Do your obsessive themes seem realer to you for a little while after doing ERP?
CheetahvionicCheetahvionic
- Date posted
- 3y
I mustered up some courage to begin ERP, and now my whole body is in a state of anxiety hours after I started. I cannot even sleep now😔
Lukej91Lukej91
- Date posted
- 3y
Make sure you take little steps and don't flood yourself too quickly
BatsBats
- Date posted
- 3y
I think as you are facing your fears with erp in a very straightforward (and brave!) way, the anxiety that accompanies this may feel be heightened so thoughts could feel real/extra scary. But I guess that's the erp doing it's job - exposing us and showing us that it's just a thought. I remember when I started Erp my thoughts would go wild, and as soon as I let them be there they'd jump on to new ideas and anxieties. It was scary but you start to see how the pattern of ocd works, and being able recognise them for what they are. Small steps but your brain learns! Weeks ago there were sentences I couldn't even say, now I can shout them if I wanted to. Keep it up if you can, sit with the anxiety and good luck 🥰
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 3y
This is common. Often people are confronting their fears for the first time ever. This can make them more salient, and appear more intrusive, intense, and/or "real." This tends to go away after a short period of time, however.
flowerboyflowerboy
- Date posted
- 3y
yes for certain ones. like for my problems with spiders the anxiety went up a lot and lasted because i had to actually look at pictures/touch the pictures which i always avoid/never do bc i know how scared i will be. but with my erp for counting it was more of an in the moment anxiety because i wasn’t being shown something that shocked/scared me, i was only trying not to count, which still stressed me out but once i was done it didn’t make anything different for me
Related posts
Looping
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 25w
ERP/Therapy
I find while doing exposures, rarely does my anxiety lessen. It usually amps up and stays that way for the remainder of the day. I could be having a fairly decent day, but dutifully do my exposures and then the rest of my day is anxiety filled. I guess that’s just how it is now? Also, I’m wondering if my therapist even believes I have OCD. I totally understand my therapist cannot provide reassurance. But it’s to the point it seems my therapist acts like I actually did the thing I fear. I feel so isolated.
Anonimus ME 🦋
- Date posted
- 25w
I know we're all bad here, but today I'm really stuck..
does it also happen to you that during exposure to erp you can imagine that act and scene in detail, and feel some confused excitement that leaves you stressed because it is hard to believe that it is part of OCD, it seems so real! When i can imagine it in detail and feel it like i can actually get arousel about it.
hbocd
- Date posted
- 18w
ERP Therapy
I read about ERP and have seen information about it on here. One of the goals is to say, "maybe I am this or that...ect." That terrified me. The thoughts and images that go in my head are disturbing and upsetting. I don't want to even think about saying, "maybe this or that." It's devasting to have these thoughts and question why you're having these thoughts. Doesn't the "maybe" make it worse? The one thing that helps me is that is to remind myself that these are just thoughts and I know I'm not a monster, even if I feel like one. Is ERP not for everyone? Has anyone else had a problem with the techniques used in this kind of therapy? I had cognitive therapy for years with an OCD specialist and that seemed to help a lot. Writing out the worst case scenarios would make me suicidal. Im having a difficult time not obsessing over the "maybe" after intrusive thoughts now. It doesn't make it better.
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