- Date posted
- 2y
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y
I have had similar experiences! My therapist told me if you’re at the point of doing the same ERP every day, not getting triggered really, and doing it as a preventative measure so you don’t slip back, it becomes a compulsion in a way. I also heard the Dr. From NOCD say something like when you get to that point, “flip a coin to decide if you are going to do ERP that day.” I think everyone is different, and people have to come to that conclusion on their own!
- Date posted
- 2y
I’ve found that mindset before going into an exposure plays a huge role. If I attempt to get through an exposure but I’m unsure of what will happen (if it will cause more intrusive thoughts, the anxiety doesn’t go away, ect) then it makes the exposure the way you described it. If I go into an exposure excited because I know it will only help me in the future, it makes it a lot easier to the point where I get through it and see the real side of things. Feeling weak or feeling strong, basically. You have to build yourself up.
- Date posted
- 2y
I feel this way about therapy and ERP since starting I have more a lot more thoughts pop in. But that wasn’t the case the first time i started doing ERP. Maybe b/c it was already so bad it couldn’t get worse.
- Date posted
- 2y
That has been my experience too! The first time I did ERP there was almost no way for it to get much worse. The thoughts were nearly constant and I wasn’t functioning. But now I am functioning and the thoughts are intermittent, so it felt like ERP was making the thoughts more frequent by making me dwell on the thoughts intentionally for over an hour each day. It felt like I was ingraining the thoughts and fears even more in my head
- Date posted
- 2y
@n.celeste Yes, 100% you articulate it well.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 20w
I read about ERP and have seen information about it on here. One of the goals is to say, "maybe I am this or that...ect." That terrified me. The thoughts and images that go in my head are disturbing and upsetting. I don't want to even think about saying, "maybe this or that." It's devasting to have these thoughts and question why you're having these thoughts. Doesn't the "maybe" make it worse? The one thing that helps me is that is to remind myself that these are just thoughts and I know I'm not a monster, even if I feel like one. Is ERP not for everyone? Has anyone else had a problem with the techniques used in this kind of therapy? I had cognitive therapy for years with an OCD specialist and that seemed to help a lot. Writing out the worst case scenarios would make me suicidal. Im having a difficult time not obsessing over the "maybe" after intrusive thoughts now. It doesn't make it better.
- Date posted
- 14w
My theme is suicidal OCD. I’ve been doing ERP since last year November and the overall intensity of my thoughts have not reduced at all. I have these thoughts 24/7 and my life feels like a living hell. Not two minutes goes by throughout the day where I’m not suffering from relentless thoughts. I don’t want to take meds because of the side effects and my insurance is coming to an end so it’d be difficult to ween off them by myself. I’m starting to feel so hopeless because I’ve done the toughest of the toughest exposures and I’m not getting better at all. My life is a living hell and I don’t see my condition with OCD getting better anytime sooner.
- Date posted
- 13w
Hey everyone it’s been a while since I posted on here. Honestly, I try to stay off of this app unless I really need advice because I find it triggering at times. But right now I’m feeling pretty down and just would like some hopeful and helpful advice. Has anyone ever felt like they’re just not capable of getting out of this? Has anyone ever felt like ERP therapy isn’t working or that they just can’t get it’s a click? . I’ve been in ERP therapy for over a year just about a year and a half actually and I literally feel so stagnant and stuck still. I show up every week I do my exposures, but my body is in such a chronic fight or fight all the time that it feels almost impossible to apply the tools. I’m super sensitive to begin with and I feel things very deeply and because of that it feels like I’m not gonna be able to ever change. It feels like no matter what I do or experience I’m just gonna always feel it so deeply and it’s gonna just rattle me all of the time. I’m honestly so frustrated. I’m tired and I’m overwhelmed. I so badly wanna change these patterns that I have and grow and be out of this OCD spiral, but everything just feels impossible. I’m just wondering if I’m alone here?? Has anyone ever felt this way? Has ERP taken a long time for anyone else or am I the only one that just can’t get my brain to click with it? Any encouraging and helpful words would be greatly appreciated thank you 🙏
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