What are examples for erp for pocd

I didn't have a choice - I tried to avoid therapists for a long time because I thought they would think I was dangerous and take my child away. But when I started to get suicidal for the first time in my life I knew I had to do something about it so I took a leap of faith and got into an intensive OCD outpatient program. When I opened up to my therapist she almost yawned and said - That's a very common OCD theme nowadays. She was not surprised at all. She knew what to do and it helped a lot. That's why it is important to go to an OCD Expert and not a regular therapists - they won't know how to help you. I bounced around lots of therapists who did more damage because they would scare me more or reassure me.

Avoidance, confessing. Ruminating, checking mentally that I don't really get a body reaction while watching it, self assurance: Like "No, I don't like that", etc.

I'm not certain so take what I say with a grain salt but maybe volunteer work with kids of some sort or baby sitting

I have that too and it depends on the levels and the specifics of your obsessions. For example, my obsession is not so much that I will harm a child but that people will think I did and they will accuse me - So my therapist had me started with some imaginal exposures about being arrested or accused. I also had to watch videos on people being accused. It depends on the levels of distress they cause. If you are scared that you may be attracted to children you might start with watching pictures or videos with tons of children playing. Then add up by watching videos of children swimming. The key is not to do compulsions, which is the tricky part.

What would the compulsions look like

I know avoidance is one of them

Whatever we use to check, control or diminish anxiety is a compulsion.

I tried doing what you suggested, it was really hard..

It is really hard, I know! That's why it is a good idea to work with an OCD expert on a hierarchy and on recording the level of distress and in how long the level of distress went down. This app has that. For example, if those are too hard you can start with the thought "I am a pedophile" without compulsions. Check your level of distress and how long it takes to diminish (at least in half) without doing compulsions. As you progress it will take less and less time. My first exposure was just to repeat the word "Child molester" without compulsions. That was my level 2 exposure

I get those thoughts and they are incredibly hard to cope with because I work at a family restaurant. How did you open up to your therapist about your pocd?

Make sure your therapist is an OCD Expert (Not everyone is) who has treated many people with OCD successfully.

I feel like I need to do what you did

Mine tells me avoidance is the answer

I haven’t told her about my pedophilic obsession but I told her about my harm intrusive thoughts

I know how awful it feels and I wish I could tell you a lot of things but that would be reassurance only and it makes OCD worse. They only thing I can tell you is that there is hope for you. Don't give into the compulsions even if that leads you to panic. Don't feed the OCD monster anymore.

Your therapist told you that avoidance is the answer?!!!! Wow

I had lots of harm intrusive thoughts too. Ocd is like a plague.

My themes switch and I’ve been able to notice, sometimes it makes racist thoughts pop in, and when it sees I won’t give in, it changes it to pedophilic ones

Oh man - I can relate. Sounds like the podcast I was listening to the other day was saying - It looks like we suffer from the fears of all the taboos in today's society: pedophilia, racism, psychopathy, sexual harassment and aggression, etc. We are so scared of being society outcasts. Hang in there. ;)

You live in the USA, I assume.

Yes. And I love talking about social justice so I’m not surprised, I have that theme

Yeap - we fear that we will become what we hate most. Brain's like: "I'm on it"

Sometimes it even tries to “mix” the obsessions to double the pain

Yeap. It sounds like you are doing what is called "flooding" and "self-punishing". Lots of mindfulness, my friend.