Anon2294
- Date posted
- 3y
Triggers
I've been exposed to an absolute barrage of triggers over the last four days after months without any exposure. Doing my absolute best to practice ERP but almost in a state of shock.
KillianKillian
- User type
- NOCD Alumni
- Date posted
- 3y
Ugh, I’ve been there, this sounds so hard. Shoutout to you for doing your best to practice ERP even in the midst of all the triggers. Be gentle with yourself, too. Even when you do engage in a compulsion, you can always undo it or try again with the next exposure. Perfection isn’t the goal, just practice. For what it’s worth, for me when I am exposed to a lot of situational exposures I create a couple of lower-level intentional ones, too, so I can get back in the practice of choosing to do them rather than constantly feeling like I’m on the defense. It helps remind me that I’m in charge, not OCD. You got this. Rooting for you 💜
Anon2294Anon2294
- Date posted
- 3y
Thank you, fantastic advice! Really appreciate the support 🙏
Migratory_BirdMigratory_Bird
- Date posted
- 3y
You’re not alone! I have felt that way lately too, like it’s just one thing after another that really messes with me. Do your best not to let it get you down ❤️ try not to let OCD brain spiral 🌀 and try to treat it all as opportunities for ERP that can benefit you in the long run. Short term discomfort and anxiety for long term happiness and a better life for future you. I just had to do exactly that ^ yesterday because someone had to come in to my apartment, and with contamination OCD I swear I can almost SEE the germs coming out of people’s mouth and nose and landing on all my stuff 😱 and it was really really hard but I didn’t sanitize anything afterwards. There have been a lot of other triggers lately that I won’t overshare and haven’t been 100% successful ERPing, haha! My point is that if I can do it, you can do it. You got this!
Anon2294Anon2294
- Date posted
- 3y
Thank you so much ❤
KieleKiele
- Date posted
- 3y
Can earbuds help
Anon2294Anon2294
- Date posted
- 3y
I'm not sure? Have you heard about ways in which they can?
KieleKiele
- Date posted
- 3y
@Anon2294 Soundproof ear buds block out outside noise
Related posts
Anonimus ME 🦋
- Date posted
- 21w
like I'm suffocating...
these days I feel particularly bad. I can't let the thoughts and those scenes be there without going deeper into it. Everything about my sister has become a trigger for me, and I have the impression that she "turns me on" and creates a big panic. I feel like I can't breathe because I don't know how to let it all go and I don't attach importance... 5 months of ERP and now this, I can't do it, I don't know it...and I don't know what else to do...
Monkeybrain842
- Date posted
- 21w
How does one activl 'practice' exposure therapy ?
One problem - Various themes This is my first post. I had a relapse a few months ago. Life was amazing and then boom, I got triggered by something and started spiralling about my sexuality (having finally been at peace for two years, entered a healthy new relationship and come out of the closet as an older women). How do you, when you're not triggered practice ERP? I'm able to try and accept the thoughts every time I see a man. What should I be doing when I don't encounter these triggers. I was to say as well that I also am starting to get real event OCD about some of the sexual things I did in the past when I was married and in an unhealthy toxic relationship with my ex husband. I am shamed and disgusted and I'm working on it but there's a certain subsection of the LGBTQ community that trigger these thoughts, groinals and thing for me... I feel like I'm beginning to realise I need to maybe be a little more active in my recovery instead of waiting for triggers... But I don't know how
Kong Rong
- Date posted
- 6w
ERP Compulsion
Has anyone else struggled with compulsions around using ERP itself? It creeped in subtly, but I’ve noticed myself now starting to repeat phrases/mantras before I try to do exposures. Ironically, that itself has become a compulsion. It’s wild, how do you get a compulsion about not doing compulsions 🤯 It honestly probably got this way and doesn’t help that I haven’t been able to access therapy in over 3 yrs. So as I’ve tried to use ERP on my own without professional support, it just kind of morphed into this. Well I should be able to access services again in January. I suppose it’s not that far away anymore at this point, 4 months. Grateful for that at least.
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond