Contamination OCD
Is there another treatment for OCD than ERP ? I really can't support ERP that hurts I got a lot of panic attacks and can't deal with them
ERP involves sitting with the fear and being uncomfortable with being uncomfortable finding tools to get past the fear not avoid it. ALso ACT is used in treating OCD and CBT to help focus on doing the ERP not to minimize reduce or avoid anxiety. It is hard work but the gold standard of treatment for OCD. You gradually work your way up a hierarchy on step at a time doing ERP. Don't let ocd keep your from doing therapy you can do this. reach out for the support you need. Our care time can provide support and also talk with y our therapist about your concerns you have about doing erp.
I’ve heard that acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is another type of therapy that can be used for OCD!
Thank you. I will search for it
I'm doing ACT as a supplement to ERP. The only way to face your OCD is facing the fear. It doesn't matter which therepuetic model you use. Its scary and hard and can be very discouraging, but its possible!
If the ERP is giving you panic attacks dial down the intensity and frequency.
ERP worked if you stick with it. Start small. If you have to wash your hands after touching something. Give yourself 30 seconds before washing. Then a minute and keep challenging yourself until you can go without washing your hands. ERP is about baby steps working towards a bigger goal.
I have searched many years for treatment as ERP has been very difficult for my contamination ocd as well. ERP really is the gold standard to achieve recovery. You need to make a hierarchy of challenging yet manageable tasks, where you earn victories…then work your way up. I am still working through this process. It’s fantastic that we have the research to support the effectiveness of ERP…but , unfortunately for us sufferers, the only way past this is to trudge through it. Start small…for example, if you wash your hands a lot, try to cut of 5 seconds. Whatever it takes to achieve small wins will build your confidence. You are stronger than you know!!😊
i'm so scared to start erp as someone with contamination ocd and i honestly get so scared that it's not going to work (for me) because i genuinely can't imagine my brain not feeling like germs are scary and are gonna hurt me. like tonight i freaked out because i felt like my clean clothes touched my "dirty" shirt as i was switching over the laundry and it literally sent me into a panic attack about how hard it is to struggle with this. like how will i never find that as a threat? how will erp help that like will i have to intentionally wear dirty clothes? i'm just scared.
I have contamination OCD. How am I supposed to do ERP when I feel like there’s poison everywhere? I can’t live like this anymore but ERP is terrifying to me.
Hi. I have severe contamination OCD. I am currently in ERP therapy but I’m so scared all the time. I always have this constant feeling of disgust for myself and I just want to crawl out of my skin. I hate myself because I feel like I always have germs on me and can never get clean. I’m always wearing two masks, wiping stuff down, avoiding situations, isolating, etc. This OCD has made it so hard for me to function. Most days I don’t want to get out of bed for fear of coming into contact with germs. Does anyone else have contamination OCD? Disgust based contamination OCD? Or can relate? I always feel so alone in this and like no matter what I do or say no one understands the feeling of having germs on your skin.
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond
