- Date posted
- 2y
ERP Harm OCD
I don’t like the ERP for Harm OCD because I feel like I’m careless purposely to prove something to myself like I feel like I genuinely try to do something. Has anyone else felt this way?
I don’t like the ERP for Harm OCD because I feel like I’m careless purposely to prove something to myself like I feel like I genuinely try to do something. Has anyone else felt this way?
yeah its common, but beware not turning it into some kind of checking compulsion, the thing with erp is to teach your brain there isn't a danger around (insert theme) because when we have that dread feeling that something is going to happen it happens because we enter in fight or flight, so what erp does is it teaches your brain, dont do it while thinking "see? i wont do x" because it will make erp pointless, sit with the anxiety and accept it, after a while you'll feel better
@kaio16 Excellent answer! Makes sense as I’m trying to work through erp
Hi, yes OCD is designed to make you feel uncomfortable. You can do uncomfortable things! Are you working with a therapist? Do you have an ERP plan?
I definitely think I know what you mean. A tricky thing about OCD/ERP is that doing exposures can feel “irresponsible” because we are so used to fearing these things. It feels like genuinely scary thing because our brain is sending us danger signals, like false alarms. At the same time, doing exposures doesn’t actually make us more likely to act on our obsessions. With time that distress should pass more quickly as your brain “habituates” to the idea that you can confront your fears. You’re not alone in this at all, it’s a hard part of the ERP process but super worth it in the end! Another thing that helps me when I’m deciding how to approach a harm related obsession (for example where to start with exposures) is to remember that the purpose of ERP isn’t necessarily to do scary/risky things just for the sake of it. It’s to help you be able to live your life without the fears getting in the way of your values. Is the ERP you’re doing with a therapist or by yourself? If you do see a specialist I think this could be a great thing to bring up with them!
What ERP or other techniques do you use to combat fear of cancelation? Especially curious about those with taboo thoughts, false memory ocd and event ocd based off of real events where the fear of cancellation may actually hold some validity. I once did my own ERP not under a therapist but just on my own I decided to create an anonymous account on Twitter and defend a friend who was receiving online criticism. I knew that this would be semi-controversial so I was expecting backlash and when I recieved troll replies it actually seemed to be a really helpful low-stakes exposure activity. Is this something that others have done? Low stakes online posts etc. that you know will recieve negative responses? I have had severe OCD as a kid as pretty much every subtype under the sun, and as an adult I pretty much have all the types under control except for this real event and false memory and taboo thought OCD. It seems like a different beast since it's somewhat realistic in the camcellation culture today, and it's confusing to address. Ive shut down almost all social accounts and it's keeping me from progressing in a career where I need to have an online presence :/
I had blood work done for a test I was having a couple weeks ago. The phlebotomist hit my vein weird, my arm bled a lot, but eventually stopped. My arm is still sore several days later. The following week I had my bronchoscopy. The nurse used the same arm that was already sore to put in the IV for the meds. My arm started hurting, swelling and burning. I told her it hurt really bad but she ignored me; then I was out. It’s been a week and my arm still hurts, and my veins are tight and hard. Couple that with the white stuff all over my face, that nobody from the care team bothered to wipe off- which I didn’t know about until my husband asked me what it was, I got harm from my OCD! At first I chalked it up to the white stuff on my face was bad bedside manners. Now, I keep thinking that my doctors and everyone associated with the clinics are trying to harm me. This morning I had an incident with the fryer oven while toasting my bagel. I asked my husband about it and he says he didn’t notice anything. I was down to the last few bites of my bagel, and suddenly started feeling loopy. I spit it out and threw the rest away. After sitting awhile thinking of the doctors and phlebotomist etc… it dawned on me that it was my OCD telling me people were trying to harm me. I don’t know how to get over the fact that my arm hurts really bad and my doctor completely ignores my health concerns. I’ve been nauseous for the past two weeks or so - there is definitely something wrong! I think when they find out that you have OCD and/or Anxiety, they treat you differently, as if you’re making up the symptoms. I most certainly haven’t felt heard! My husband always says, what’s wrong now? It’s such a horrible feeling to hear him say that. Is this what you call Harm? Or is it associated with Harm? I’m not sure if this is triggering or not. I hope not.
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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