- Date posted
- 2y
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y
First - congratulations on doing this difficult exposure ! That is awesome ! Remember the goal of erp is not to eliminate anxiety - but to learn how to tolerate it when it happens, so keep going. The exposure is working and you are training your brain to respond differently. It takes time and practice. Be compassionate with yourself. This is hard work and you are doing it. Do something nice for yourself today - for doing the hard work.
- Date posted
- 2y
It is okay. Keep working on your exposure(s). It seems difficult at first, but you will get to a point that the anxiety will be manageable. Even if you take a step back, just keep going with your exposure.
- User type
- NOCD Alumni
- Date posted
- 2y
You’re doing hard work! Congratulations on working on a big fear item and fighting OCD! I’m sorry that it then targeting another fear, don’t feel lost, this isn’t a step back, it’s a step in the right direction! OCD often targets other fears when one isn’t bothering us anymore, We can then practice the same methods of sitting with our fears no matter the subject of them. You’re doing so awesome, it’s incredibly difficult and ok to feel down about it, but have hope you can tackle other fear items like you did with the T-shirt!
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y
That was great you did a difficult erp! I fully understand your frustration. It happens to me too. You are not alone with that experience.
Related posts
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 24w
I’m trying to do ERP therapy, but I keep thinking my subtype of ocd is the worst there ever is. I tried going on a walk tonight and the adrenaline in my body along with the shakes and the burning in my chest got so overwhelming. I felt like I was just about to lay down in the gutter along the sidewalk. I’m not trying to be super negative. I just don’t know what to do anymore. If it’s not one thing it’s another and I just wanna cry so bad and I want it to go away but it won’t I almost feel like I have to call a crisis line or something even right now while I’m writing this I’m crying so bad. I can’t enjoy a single thing. I joined a support group tonight, but I just feel like I feel so bad for everyone because of how awful it is. I know what I’m writing right now doesn’t make a lot of sense but I just don’t know what to do anymore. Part of me wants to quit ERP therapy so bad cause I don’t think it’s gonna ever help. if anyone has any advice or suggestions, that would be greatly appreciated.
- Date posted
- 23w
contamination ocd has really been messing with me the last couple of days. usually i only struggle when i can connect something to possibly throwing up, but this time it doesn’t matter. so earlier, i took a shower and i also use a wash cloth to wash my body. after i showered i cleaned up my dirty clothes and towels. then when i came back to grab my phone, there was a soap speck on my phone so without thinking i just wiped it on the back of my crewneck i was wearing. well that then spiraled into me thinking what if the soap was from my dirty wash cloth. i know most of you are probably thinking it’s clean since you use soap to clean ur body. well i clean every inch of my body, including my bottom so that’s where my anxiety is gravitating towards. this sounds so ridiculous saying it out loud, but i just have so much anxiety over it. i tried my hardest not to change but i did. at first i just changed my crewneck, but then i had to change my shorts cause my crewneck touches my shorts. but then i changed my shorts. and now i feel like my shirt is contaminated cause i was wearing it with my other shorts before changing. moral of the story, i just have so much anxiety over it and i feel like i shouldn’t because it’s really not a big deal. and i don’t want to change again because that seems ridiculous to me. plus now i’m connecting the contamination to my bed since i was laying on my bed before i changed. i hate life, this sucks.
- Date posted
- 21w
Today I had a big learning moment. My ocd had been getting better these past few weeks and things have been looking up but today i was struggling. I stayed in bed all day super bored and my ocd flared up really bad. Looking back at my day now i feel bad how I handled certain situations.. im just going to look at it as a learning moment and handle bad days differently. Everyday can't be great, I have lots of things im looking forwards to and i know tomorrow will be better. Recovery isn't a straight line
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