- Date posted
- 5y ago
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Easy. Go to the balcony and think the worst thoughts. Go towards the anxiety.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Going straight to a high balcony might be too much too fast. But it’s definitely the top of your ERP hierarchy! I can’t build an exact hierarchy plan for you because it really should be specific to you and how you feel about each task. But I can give an example. For the balcony fear, I’d start with something low. First, I’d find a porch or landing that was about 1 story up and I’d stand near the edge and look down for 5-10 min and let whatever anxiety hits me to pass through without performing any compulsions. I’d do this each day until it stopped provoking anxiety. Then I’d try sitting at the edge. I’d repeat the process with 2 stories. And then 3. Etc. For the belt: I’d put it around my neck without going through the actual buckle each day. Once that stopped provoking anxiety, I’d go through the buckle but not pull tight. Once I was ready, I’d put it around my neck with some pressure from pulling tight (not so much that I can breath or anything, just a minor squeeze) each day. For each of these tasks, you’ll want to do them for 5-10 min, at least once a day if not more. Whenever you do them, do not engage in compulsions during our after. Don’t move up the hierarchy until you stop having an anxious reaction to your current step. Hope that helps!
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Try writing a script about exactly what you are afraid you might do. Spare no detail and then read it over and over again. I think this app actually has a feature when you can record yourself reading it and play it on a loop. I have the same type of OCD and my therapist had me start with scripting. It took a while but eventually I got bored of listening to it and it helped remove some of the fear.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
Ok cool I can do that
- Date posted
- 5y ago
what kinds of compulsions should i look to refrain from?
- Date posted
- 5y ago
All of them. A compulsion is anything you do to negate, neutralize, or suppress the intrusive, unwanted thoughts. Anything your mind does to try to feel better or seek reassurance as a response to the thoughts. You will likely need to sit down and figure out what yours are before doing ERP so you know what to refrain from. For some it’s repeating a word or phrase over and over, for others it’s seeking reassurance from those around them that they won’t act on something, for others it’s researching things endlessly on the internet to find an acceptable answer, etc.
- Date posted
- 5y ago
cool i will give that a shot! i have done it before and ur right it does help
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Hi drew! How are you???
Related posts
- Date posted
- 23w ago
i would like some advice please and i didn't get any responses 😭.. apologies for reposting but just need some thoughts on this 🥲 //// after frustrations with erp not working, i intentionally brought up the intrusive mental images as well as sensations during an exposure in trying to practice desensitizing myself to them. but now im scared that me purposefully bringing on the images and especially the disturbing outward sensations means that i did something bad or acted on my thought since i took the action to purposefully create and bring the disturbing intrusive images and thoughts and feelings. now it feels like not just a fear but reality. and my anxiety levels are just too much. i'm just feeling terrible and would like some thoughts or support
- Date posted
- 23w ago
I’ll list some key things with my main subtype, and I hope that I can get some erp advice, but it’s okay if not, I know nobody is my therapist..! 1. I have this thing where when I feel false attraction about a k!d, I will be immediately convinced and say “that means I am?” “I am attracted” “I feel attracted?” “He’s attractive” not to be weird but I panic and say these because I don’t want them, and I feel like I agree with it, this makes me feel like a bad person when I say them (sometimes I can’t help it when I get really stressed) what can I do for this to be better? 2. My brain will give me an intrusive question, asking if I’d do this,this or that, and I feel like agreeing or saying yes to this, sometimes I will hear a yes and I’ll freak out 3. When I get triggered by a photo, I have to keep checking and checking (this will always last forever) till I’m sure that I think the photo is cute or adorable and not in any way that I feel false attraction Whenever I feel convinced, I feel bad that I feel convinced and it’ll say “well if you were a good person, why do you allow yourself to get convinced even if you know you aren’t this”
- Date posted
- 15w ago
I have contamination OCD that causes me to excessively wash my hands/clean items with disinfectant wipes. I know I just need to start with small exposures but how do I do that without spiraling? I tried a while back by just touching the outside of my dishwasher and not washing my hands after and it led to me being unable to even exist in my house. I basically lived on my couch for three weeks as it was the only 'safe' space that I had not touched with my dirty hands. I had to take a week off work to clean my house to make it somewhat liveable. I still haven't got round to cleaning everything though so things like my kitchen are still no-go zones that I don't enter. I just don't know how to start ERP without it making everything worse. Any advice would be appreciated. I am not seeing a therapist at the moment due to financial constraints.
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