Can people please share some stories of recovery? I’m feeling so helpless at the moment and need desperately some inspiration to keep on going. I really can’t see the way out right now 😭
I used to go crazy at home just thinking I was in the wrong place, surrounded by the wrong people, doing the wrong thing for my career, etc. With ERP and a lot of help from a therapist here I'm now happy and can do other things with my life rather than just thinking over and over. It took about a year for me to truly get there but I'm so happy i did it.
@Devu Thank you
Yes! I am so sorry you’re feeling this way, I’ve been there too. I have more details of my story in my profile bio, but in summary: OCD used to take over my life, and because I didn’t understand how it worked I blamed myself for a long time thinking there was something wrong with me. When I finally started ERP, I was scared but also ready to change my behavior for my long term mental health. During my first exposure (putting away groceries without washing my hands), I cried. I had alllll the doubt about the process, wondering if it would work, how I would do it, etc. Then, I remember going to the gas station a month or so into treatment and touching the gas handle without washing or sanitizing my hands. I was AMAZED that ERP had begun to work and felt so proud of myself. ERP can be hard work. Even now, I have days where life feels easy and days where I feel more anxious. But it is so worth it. Going through the process showed me that I was in control of my life and my actions, not OCD. And now I feel so confident in who I am, in my ability to make decisions, and brave the hard stuff. Practically, my life has also completely changed because I can do sooo many things now that I didn’t do before. Trust that this feeling of desperation will pass. You can get through this, and we are all rooting for you in this community! 💜
@Killian Thank you for sharing
Hi! I would love to share! I was diagnosed with OCD and ADHD at age 7 after the school decided to run a bunch of test. When I was younger I struggled with contamination and organizational OCD. Getting older My OCD spread to just about all themes. I got so bad in 2021 I was suicidal for most of the year. I then decided to start ERP. I have been in therapy for years and had seen some small improvements not anything significant. With my current ERP therapist I have gotten to a place I didn't know was possible. I never knew I could be in control of my OCD and not have it run my life. It took some scary exposure but now as the intrusive thoughts come in I am not even shaken by them. I just see them as thoughts. Going through ERP has given me a distance and freedom from OCD. It takes hard work but it is work that is so worth it. As someone who was convinced I could never recover believe me when I say anything is possible. You got this! You can do hard things!
Can you guys share your small wins from the past few weeks!? Success stories? Tips and tricks that helped you when you needed it? I think we all need some encouragement and positivity!
I wanted to share with you guys some of the things that have helped me in the past few weeks! If you’re open to it, maybe try a few and see how you feel! First I would really recommend leaning on God. If you’re not a believer you may be skeptical but if you’ve never tried to read the Bible, prayer or even just talking with God, I would recommend so much! My relationship with God has gotten so much better through this terrible illness and in turn I have noticed a lot of positivity, I feel substantially better since I’ve been trying to bring this to God instead of worry about it myself. If you can give your worries to God and learn to have faith that he is with you, loves and forgives you. You have a great step towards recovery and even just a more positive life. Next, try going outside! I know it sounds kinda dumb but I mean it! Some of my best days started with just going outside, reading a book and or listening to music. I went out and tanned, ate some fruit with some lemonade and read “Girl Wash Your Face” it was a great book! I would spend HOURS and it helped me so much! Take a walk, hike, etc.! This leads into the next thing…READING! I recently bought the new book “don’t believe everything you think” and the workbook and it is amazing! This also applies to reading your Bible and other books, specially ones targeting self help and things like that! Another thing is fitness! Try out the gym, I know there is days that you just can’t bring yourself to get up but in those days, make yourself go to the gym! Even if you just go walk on the treadmill or bike! Anything is better than nothing! Keep yourself active, I promise it will make you feel better! Find a good podcast! I have been listening to (The OCD Stories on Spotify), sometimes I’ve even listened while I was going to sleep and let it play through the night! Go on YouTube and follow Chrissie Hodges, NOCD and look for other people who help! Go on instagram and follow Chrissie Hodges, NOCD, iocdf, sincerelyocd, recoverocd, letstalk.ocd, my lovely ocd and there are so many more! Find good music! Again I’m going to bring up worship music some of my favs being ( I Thank God, Move of God, Hard fought Hallelujah, The Truth, Made for more, Thy Will, and there is so many more!) if you would like I can share my playlist! But overall music is so helpful and if you are not a believer or want something different I would recommend songs by Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Kesha, Rihanna, Demi Lovato, Kelly Clarkson, even Billy Joel, Queen, Beck, and things of that nature that are gonna get you PUMPED UP! Lastly, hang out with PEOPLE! Don’t let OCD rule your life, put your ocd in a box best you can and go live your life! Get lunch with a friend, join a bible study, go get a massage, even just meet up with a friend and talk in a parking lot while shoving your face with fast food! You NEED interaction as much as you don’t want to! I know some of these are hard, some is triggering or you’re nervous that you’re gonna spiral, but step out of your comfort zone! That’s the way to get better! Do things that make you feel uncomfortable, the things that are unknown, the things you used to do before this! You can still live and love your life you don’t have to keep just “surviving”! And this isn’t a fix all, trust me I still have my days where I’m like nope I’m staying in bed and crying, but you need to push yourself! No one is coming to hold your hand and walk you out of this, you have to want to help yourself too! And you can do that! I know it’s scary and uncomfortable but you got this! We’re gonna kick some OCD butt! I hope you find this helpful and I wish you the most luck! Comment if you have questions and whatnot! 🫶
Can anyone share any success stories regarding Pure/Real Event OCD? I think I just want some uplifting news more than anything, though this may read as reassurance seeking… not sure what counts and what doesn’t. So any education on that may be helpful too. Many thanks!!
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