It feels like I can never even get to be able to get there. It shakes me to my core and writing out my fears, triggers, and compulsions today for my therapist made my OCD finally feel real and that it’s not just my anxiety. Has anyone else struggled with this? Any tips for newbies who are scared 💩less?
It’s meant to be hard! You’re quite literally activating a fear response, as if you were being chased by an animal in the wild, but instead it’s being triggered by some other “normal” stimulus. The more you expose yourself to the feared situation without avoiding it or engaging in a safety compulsion, your brain learns contextually and subconsciously that this is something that doesn’t need to be feared. It really sucks, I’ve been through it — but it is entirely worth doing! :)
@AlyssaBuon Believe me I understand, OCD is very isolating but it doesn’t have to be! How long have you been in treatment for?
@Josh.ru A week and had to slow way down because my anxiety got way to high
@AlyssaBuon Makes sense, I remember when I started the first two weeks were brutal — just tons of intrusive thoughts but believe me it passes!
@Josh.ru Thanks Josh! I appreciate this more than you know ❤️
@AlyssaBuon Of course!!
It’s hard because you’re basically rewiring your brain and therefore your behavior. You need to learn that just because you feel uncomfortable or feel scared does NOT mean you are going to get hurt or die. Your brain is in overdrive but it needs to chill out. And it won’t chill out until you put your foot down and do the hard work to rewire it and become desensitized to, for example, writing out your fears. Your brain thinks (right now) that your fears are going to kill you or hurt you, so that’s why it’s acting out in this manner. But when has simply writing out a fear of yours actually physically hurt or kill you? It hasn’t because you’re posting here. You’re not dead, you’re safe, you’re not physically hurt. Your feelings will be hurt but feelings are not logical.
ERP can be so hard! Part of my obsessions involve wondering if it even works or if I know how to do it properly. But when I do successfully do it, it changes everything and brings me peace. It is a challenging path, but you are not alone and it is doable!
@Theocdguitarist Thank you so much for the encouragement ❤️
Hi guys! Was wanting some tips on ERP. I am just getting started & trying to read articles about being codependent, happy engagement stories but my mind when I try to sit with “maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Life is uncertain.” Will come up with more rabbit hole thoughts of I’m crazy have every mental illness out there etc. does anyone have tips for experiencing all day anxiety/panic attacks & fear of doing an exposure wrong? I am scared I won’t get better bc I’m not doing it right.
Anyone else find ERP incredibly difficult? My OCD does not want any part of it. I feel helpless because I keep giving into compulsions and a small part of me knows that the only way out is to stop compulsions. My OCD says otherwise, however. It has even gone so far to convince me that I actually cannot ever accept uncertainty and I find it so hard to not believe it. I know I will only ever find out if I stop compulsions but it is so damn hard and now OCD is getting in the way of my school work. One week I'm highly motivated and ready to fight, then the next week I'm so low and cannot stop ruminating. Then when I want to try again I know I'll just give in again. Much love for anyone suffering from this nonsense.
I need a different perspective on this. I feel like I'm being run through the ringer. I'm doing what I can to avoid reassurance and not avoid triggers but I get triggered every day. I'm trying so hard to sit with the panic and the horror but it's so hard. It gets to the point I feel physically sick. Is there anything that I can do to help with this? I feel alone. I don't feel strong, I feel like a punching bag. Why is this so hard to master? I really want to know it gets easier. I've been suffering from POCD that has evolved and gotten worse and worse over the past eight months that has been torturing me multiple times on a daily basis and I feel like I'm drowning. I want to run away and hide because my life feel like it's seconds from being ruined. Please, please tell me this gets easier. That this ERP therapy will stop making me feel like I'm dying. The small moments of victory feel so brief only for me to get hit with another wave. There is so much uncertainty over such a horrific thing I feel ill. I feel afraid to be alone with my mind. Please if anyone out there can please give me tips on how to handle ERP. One moment I think I'm finally beating this thing and the next it's got me pinned and I'm terrified my life will be ruined. I want my peace back, I need help and I'm doing everything I can to resist compulsions but I feel so alone and dirty and disgusting. Please help me. Thank you for any advice 💕
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