- Date posted
- 2y
Question
Is it normal to cry when dealing with the discomfort of uncertainty in erp?
Is it normal to cry when dealing with the discomfort of uncertainty in erp?
It definitely happens but if it’s every single time you do an exposure, you need to speak to your therapist because the exposure might be too much for you at this time and you need to do something lower.
I cried immediately during my intake, and I have done this in all therapy settings. I believe it indicates our capacity to hold everything in until we are in a safe place to express how uncomfortable we are. Also why ERP is scary to me
I believe I cried both when I found this app and read people sharing there experience and hope, and during the first therapy session I had with my therapist. I would guess that’s probably pretty normal. In the beginning, for me, the emotion/feeling during ERP was so intense, and it gradually became less so as time progressed. Your therapist would probably also know the answer to this, having so much experience. Glad to hear you’re continuing with ERP through those intense emotions!
I cried a lot and got panic attacks
I used to get caught in a loop with existential thoughts very frequently. Every question made my stomach drop: (TW: existential questions) … … ... "Why does anything exist at all? What will death be like? Is anything even real? Is there any meaning to this? Is the universe infinitely big, and if not, what's beyond it? Are there multiverses? Has the universe been around forever? Will the universe end for good, or will it keep going forever? What is forever like? What even IS reality?" It would get so overwhelming that I remember lying on the floor in a fetal position for hours because I felt like there was no escape. I spent most of my days reading articles and watching videos about theoretical astrophysics and philosophy in a desperate attempt to "figure it all out." Of course that only made me more anxious, raised more questions, and kept me trapped in the cycle. Things started to improve once I learned to turn TOWARD reality, rather than away from it, and ERP really helped me do that. I learned that these questions weren't the problem. I learned that I can actually handle the anxiety that arises when exposed to these ideas and concepts. I don't have to figure anything out to make the anxiety go away; it arises and passes away on its own. Ironically, bringing myself into the present moment and becoming more aware of reality helped me escape the cycle of existential dread. Because of that, this topic no longer takes over my life. If I'm triggered by something I see, hear, or think, I may still feel a little twang of anxiety, but then it just goes away. "Maybe, maybe not" has been the single most useful phrase of my life. Do you ever get trapped in a cycle of existential questions? Are you worried that the ERP approach would be too scary to handle? If so, I'm happy to give my advice.
What would I do for ERP if my OCD says because I didn’t do something correctly or remember something I will have panic attacks that don’t end?
I’m thinking about doing erp but my ocd is so severe the thought of accepting my fears happening to me makes me sick to my stomach. I also believe in the power of my words and saying I accept this Bad thing will attract it into my life. I’m not sure what I should do🥲
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