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Username: Anonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

How do you know if ERP works?

I had the worse harm ocd and suicidal ocd couple years ago. And I remember I would get these horrifying thoughts in public that I would immediately wanna go home. Magically it went away after 4 years but during my healing phase I still randomly had those thoughts and it did not bother me so I was like oh my brain now knows. I’m having a horrifying flare up and now these thoughts bother me?? I feel dark and scary. So what if I do ERP and get used to it and think I’m recovered and have another flare up?? How does that make sense

Username: Steven55!Steven55!

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

My therapist taught me to remember that it's not the content, but how you react to it that either feeds or defeats OCD.

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@Steven55! I know:( but it’s so weird because 10 days ago I would be free and not scared and now suddenly I’m scared again. Like so how would ERP be the standard theme if I’m still so scared of going insane and having these dark thoughts…

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@Steven55! On top of that I didn’t have them for two years. And usually when I would have them pop up, it wouldn’t bother me at all, so why is it now that it’s suddenly bothering me. My biggest one is “ you’re gonna get ocd for life. If you don’t wanna flare ups just kys so you’ll be torture free”

Username: joseymagoseyjoseymagosey

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

ERP takes the power away from the thoughts themselves. I know it works because I did it as a kid with one of my themes and it went away 100%. OCD flared up recently due to passings in my family, but it wasn’t the same theme and I’m confident that that specific theme will never come back again. It is important to fully recover from OCD before a major life event so that it won’t flare up. I made the mistake of waiting too long to go back to therapy. Some themes come and go on their own but ERP eradicates it so it won’t wax and wane, and just completely go away. Hope this helps!

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@joseymagosey But that’s so weird? Because literally a few months back I would still have these thoughts and I would not be scared at all. So why is it than suddenly after two years I’m freaked out about it again? It’s making no sense :( did you resolve OCD with meds and are you still on it? Or are you doing better?

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@joseymagosey Also how long did your erp sessions take you? How would I know not to take them anymore?

Username: joseymagoseyjoseymagosey

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@Anonymous I’ve never taken meds actually. I did ERP until the thought did not affect me anymore. Might as well just be specific here lol I would obsessively track my loved ones locations to make sure they were safe and I spent literally all day every day doing it to where I wouldn’t be able to go out and do things without breaking down crying. I had magical thinking so bad as well that if I thought certain words or didn’t track them correctly they would die and it would be my fault. ERP was to force myself not to track (felt impossible at first. I even said that’s impossible when my therapist told me that) and another ERP practice was to write about and draw pictures of my fears coming true. Sounds crazy, but it really worked. I basically exposed myself to my fear until I became bored of it :)

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@joseymagosey Mine is crazy harm ocd about me lashing out and being like dahmer and suicidal ocd about me not being able to take this torture of the illness and snap and die. The urges feel so real. My brain tells me I won’t calm down till I act on my thoughts…. How does one do Erp on this. Mind you the thoughts went away, but now it’s back…. So not feeling confident about erp

Username: joseymagoseyjoseymagosey

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@Anonymous I hear you. OCD can feel very real and scary so I understand your distress. A therapist could help make a custom ERP plan, but if therapy isn’t an option at the moment there are some great specialists on YouTube with advice that can point you in the right direction!

Username: A person 1A person 1

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

I kind of agree with Josey, but also, whenever I take a long break from doing something scary that initial fright is still there. Like snowboarding. Maybe that's what's happening to you and ERP should streamline you into getting over it

Username: Steven55!Steven55!

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

One other thing...If you think you are at a point where you would really hurt yourself, please don't hesitate to call a family member of friend and/or the suicide hotline, okay? But just hang in there. Remember: this, too, shall pass!

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@Steven55! I can’t tell … if it’s suicide ocd or not.

Username: Steven55!Steven55!

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

Have you been physically ill or exhausted? OCD can flare up when your resistance is down. Also, has there been some significant life change, or something stressful, such as the illness or death of someone you care about? That, too can cause it. If not, why not contact your OCD therapist (or find one on this site) and get a tune up. Nothing wrong with that. This is malware in our brain. Therapy helps to rewire it, but I think we all need to accept that we may always have OCD, short of a miracle drug or treatment, but the tools help us lower the level to a point where we can enjoy our lives.

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@Steven55! No sadly which is why I’m so depressed. Actually it spiraled because I thought one of my guy best friend who I thought was my like brother looked good and i immediately thought I was gonna fall in love with him and then when I went to the train station my anxiety was so high and I got the thought to end my life on the train tracks than dealing with my fourth flare. Also I watched a video on the NOCD where someone asked if anyone has ever acted on their instructive thoughts and multiple people in the comments said they did because the urge became unbearable… that’s literally me… the urges are so strong what if I act on them

Username: Steven55!Steven55!

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

I am so sorry you're suffering. I'm not a licensed therapist; I can only offer my experience. I know my therapist always says: it's not the content, it's my reaction that feeds OCD. Please keep in mind that for every OCD person who actually gave in to the obsession there are a zillion of us, including you, who haven't given in. I suspect the ones who did were not using an OCD therapist and the ERP tools in the proper way. Anyway that's my thought. You are experiencing the "what it's, which OCD 101. Maybe you should try and stay in t I the present: what are are you doing now; what are you planning to do? I suggest if you look at the present it will help you with the "what if" suggestions, which we all suffer from.

Username: k-low

Date posted: 2y ago

Question for someone that's fairly far in recovery: Do you still so ERP every day? Or just when you feel like ocd is taking overhand again? I sometimes have weeks (or even over a month) where I feel absolutely fine. Then out of the blue its there again for a few weeks etc. I'm wondering if I should do ERP even when I'm feeling fine for a while. Bc doing it is kinda re triggering and I'm happy when I can get my mind of it. Thoughts? :)

Username: Ocdislame

Date posted: 2y ago

I kinda of have a two part question. 1-Has anyone here just gotten better? 2-How do you know if ERP is working? My ocd goes through phases, and always has even before ERP. There are times where I just feel completely normal. Is ERP supposed to lengthen those times of feeling better? If I have times where I feel 100% normal, then why is OCD incurable? Something in my brain is going back and forth to think irrationally and then back to thinking rationally.

Username: Stefanie86

Date posted: 2y ago

***For anyone who has had success with ERP,***…I’m Wondering about the effectiveness of It. I know Dr McGrath has said the thoughts become wimpier over time. What I am wondering is if you are locked into thoughts 24/7 it seems all day everyday, will ERP make them occur just occasionally? My theme is ROCD.

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