i did my first session of erp and feel worse. it felt so triggering and it just felt awful. i almost felt aroused by some of it which felt terrifying. is this common?

hi! i have never done erp and have no idea what you’re going through but i struggled with arousal and groinal response until i read something that said that we physically react to what is sexually relevant not what we want or value. i hope that you are okay :)

It happens.......but stop doing compulsions mental or physical,stop reassurance & most importantly stop ruminating especially after erp about hw real it is

Hi :) Congratulations on completing your first ERP session, that's a huge step! The groinal response can be a really common experience in many sexually related OCD and intrusive thoughts, you can read up about it here: https://impulsetherapy.com/groinal-responses-in-ocd-what-they-are-and-why-they-happen/ I definitely noticed my first few sessions to be some of the hardest ones, but as I gradually climbed my hierarchy my brain adjusted to the experiences. Make sure you inform your therapist of these experiences coming up for you, despite how scary that may be, it's what they are there for and trained to do. Your therapist will be there for support and to encourage your progress and there are some sexually themed NOCD support groups which can be a great place to share with others who experience similar feelings. Community support does wonders when you feel alone and can help give you tips on how to manage intrusive thoughts and compulsions. Remember, OCD is ego-dystonic, meaning it goes drastically against things we personally care about and is not aligned with our core beliefs. I'm excited for your journey to begin, stay dedicated to the process and you will be amazed how far you will come. Cheers!