- Username
- hlrose
- Date posted
- 1y ago
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.
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.
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!
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.
I’m feeling super discouraged with my ERP progress :( I’m starting to fear that I have treatment-resistant OCD or something, or that it’s not even OCD :( I’ve got harm-OCD which it’s a tricky one to tackle bc it’s pure O. i’ve been working on ERP for about 4 years now but nothing seems to spike my anxiety enough at the time of the session. I feel safe doing the ERP, but when I get alone with my thoughts/idle mind, that’s the only time I get anxious. I’m super discouraged and anxious rn so any insight is so appreciated. xoxo
I’ve been doing really well the past few months. I’ve been consistent with ERP therapy and other exercises to help manage my OCD. However, something triggered my OCD to come back in full force last week and while I know that the journey to recovery isn’t linear, and I know that this is something I will always have to work on, it’s been very disheartening and it feels like all the progress I’ve made has been for nothing. It’s exhausting and I’m struggling with intrusive thoughts that I will never get better again. Anyone else relate?
I am new to this. The first two sessions I thought were kind of hard but I left them feeling excited for a future of growth and healing and breaking out of OCD’s grip. This last session was more intense and my compulsions ramped up after; I feel exhausted & I’ve tried sitting with my feelings and it does help them calm a bit but they won’t go away entirely and I’m edgy, exhausted and discouraged. I hate OCD.
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