K.G
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y ago
Advice
For those how have done ERP how do you deal with the intrusive thoughts?
AnonymousAnonymous
- User type
- NOCD Alumni
- Date posted
- 2y ago
It was useful for me to try to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Sit with intrusive thoughts and they will eventually change. I reviewed the reassurance seeking vs information seeking page if I thought I may be seeking reassurance. Also I found it helpful to acknowledge that the intrusive thoughts are from OCD and not a reflection of your character. Sometimes I tell myself "I don't have to figure it out right now".
hellopeoplehellopeople
- User type
- NOCD Alumni
- Date posted
- 2y ago
ERP is great for dealing with intrusive thoughts. When faced with them, inject uncertainty. Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not. Stay in a state of not knowing and be ok with it not knowing. Soon you’ll have intrusive thoughts and not feel a need to “figure them out” 🫶
K.GK.G
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y ago
I’ve been doing that and then putting the thought in box? I’m worried I’m not doing it right
AnonymousAnonymous
- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 2y ago
I really like this article about what to do with intrusive thoughts. I think it can be easy to get caught up in the obsessive roller-coaster of whether I am doing treatment correctly, or am I "right". There can be different ways that ERP teaches to handle intrusive and unwanted thoughts. The main thing is that you do not respond to them with compulsions, that you allow yourself to sit in the discomfort and uncertainty, the anxious feelings, and see that you can tolerate this.https://www.sheppardpratt.org/news-views/story/how-to-respond-to-unwanted-obsessive-thoughts/
Related posts
Anonymousssssss
- Date posted
- 14w ago
Do you have to do erp?
I’ve noticed that I’m somewhat happier also ignoring my thoughts than I am instead of doing compulsions (I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired atp) but I’ve heard you’re technically supposed to do erp rather than pushing under the rug. But idk if I have a thought I just refuse to think about it again and im fine even if I want to do compulsions
Chels0212
- Date posted
- 14w ago
Intrusive thoughts
I struggle so bad with intrusive thoughts. They can be so bad that I'll cry because I KNOW that's not how I feel or want to do. (Too embarrassed to say what they're about) I'll constantly try to figure out why I have them, and constantly figure out what they mean, causing me to constantly circle around and around. I had to get on anxeity meds, which helped a little but the thoughts still happen. How do you help yourself with this? How do you know that you're just not some physcopath? 😅
Jennifer Dal...
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 9w ago
Let’s talk about Therapy
So you got to ask me anything… Now I’d like to ask you something! I’ve heard from Members that they were so scared coming to their first ERP session. They were terrified that I would think they were crazy, that I would tell them their worst fears were true. That I would confirm they are some form of a terrible person or have them hauled off to prison for their thoughts. I’ve also had Members share how they’re very scared to begin ERP treatment because they’ve researched enough to know it means facing the fear, without the compulsions that have kept them feeling safe (but not really safe) this entire time. They struggled to see how they could be capable of doing this, while simultaneously acknowledging that they did not want to live like this anymore. If you have had your first session, what were your thoughts before? Did you have any hesitations or fears going into it? How did it turn out? If you haven’t yet begun to work with an ERP specialist, what is holding you back?
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