Hey all. I've been dealing with my OCD for about 2 1/2 years and treatment had been going well. Lots of ups and downs, but I had things under control. Well yesterday I had the worst relapse of my life. It feels like I'm back to square one and my obession switched. I called my therapist but she doesn't have office hours during the weekend. Soonest I'll hear anything is Monday. I'm really scared and lost right now.

I've been dealing with HOCD for a while now, but things have been rough for my fiance and I this year. We've moved, switched jobs, planned our wedding, and dealt with no less than 4 major health events in our family. I feel like I was processing stuff well but today was our first calm day in months and it felt like everything came crashing down on me. I've been feeling immense guilt and confusion. I wasn't able to sleep at all last night.

Thank you. It's hard because I want to talk about it but due to the usually sexual and disturbing nature it's super hard for me to talk about my problems openly. I'm constantly afraid I'm going to drive off my friends and loved ones.

I have done ERP in the past and at first it helped. But over time the effectiveness had diminishing returns. I haven't tried with this latest obession.

I totally understand, you're probably feeling very shocked at this new theme but it's very common and it's still just OCD finding ways to be creative. The same ERP skills can be applied to every theme. You know OCD is rearing its head again, you can fight it the same way you did before! It's great that you have supportive friends and family. Maybe it's best to only share with others that understand and are familiar with ocd and how it affects the brain. Sometimes people with good intentions can cause triggers or be unhelpful even if they don't mean to.

What’s been going on, friend?:(

Oh gosh, I’m so sorry to hear that. I have HOCD as well so I totally get you there. You’ve got so much that you’ve been dealing with, you have to be nice to yourself and give yourself a break. Relapses are inevitable and you have to accept that there will be bad days. But it sounds like you’ve been doing so well, I know you will get through this setback.

Remember OCD will morph into new themes and it feels like for each new one we have to analyze it and figure it out, but it's all just OCD affecting something new. Have you done ERP for hocd before?

I presume your fiancé understands your struggles with ocd. Opening up to her might be so relieving and help you move towards recovery. Also I would try to begin some erp for this new theme

I’m so sorry:( that a lot of life change happening all at once, it must be overwhelming. First of all, you can totally talk about whatever your obsessions are here cause we are a group of people who understand. You are not an anomaly. You are okay, and you can make it- for sure until Monday. Hold on!! No matter what, everything will always be okay.