I know that talk therapy is not beneficial for ocd, and is not meant to treat it. However, I was wondering if anyone has done erp for their ocd while also doing talk therapy for other areas of their life and how that has worked out?
I tried to do this but personally i began asking for way too much reassurance from my talk therapist. and she went along with it because she doesn’t know how to treat OCD. it’s definitely possible but just be careful
I tried seeing a therapist for non-OCD topics while doing ERP therapy. I didn't really get past the first session, though. I decided I didn't think that I needed any other therapy than the ERP therapy at the time. I now have plans to see another therapist for the sadness that I get from my OCD, and maybe a few other things as well. I would suggest asking your OCD therapist about this (if you are seeing one). It might be a good idea to see a therapist who knows about OCD rather than one who doesn't know about OCD, since they would be more mindful of your OCD and any compulsions you might be doing while you are seeing them for talk therapy. Definitely be careful and mindful about it if you did see another therapist. I think I get where you're coming from though. Needing treatment for OCD as well as other areas of life seems extra difficult to get...
For me at least, the problems seem to complicate each other.
You can try it AFTER you recover from OCD but even then, you need to be wary.
I did trauma therapy before ERP, but not at the same time. When I hit a plateau and was getting worse, I realized it might be my OCD. Turns out that I had reached a point where I was just ruminating and reassurance seeking. If you decide to work with two therapists, please tell them both about it and give them permission to confer with each other about your treatment. They can collaborate to ensure they're both serving your best interest without complicating the other piece and they'll monitor your overall progress with the treatment plan they develop together.
It just doesn’t work and made it worse.
Thank you for all of the helpful feedback, everyone! I appreciate it!!
Hi. I’m 4 sessions into ERP after doing years and years of traditional talk therapy. I’m having trouble coming up with exposures for therapy because I feel like all my triggers and compulsions revolve around my thoughts. I don’t do physical compulsions per se. If you experience more of pure ocd, how do you work through things during therapy? I literally feel locked in my brain and get just a few minutes of relief in between my spirals. I’m currently on meds as well and wondering if I need an adjustment. Thanks ❤️
Newly diagnosed with OCD but have struggled with depression, anxiety, ptsd, and night terrors for about 20 years now. Never knew it was OCD! Anyhow, I struggle with existential OCD and perfectionism OCD which has always caused me to dislike “regular” talk therapy because it never worked, there was no point, and I was worried I wasn’t doing it right. Well I’ve started ERP with my therapist, and now every day that I have therapy, I anxiously spiral about how it’s going to be bad, and I’m not going to get better anyway because I’m not doing it right, and what’s the point in getting better anyway. Sorry for the run on sentences. Does anyone have advice for getting motivated for therapy sessions and not fearing them? TL;DR: Does anyone have advice of how to stay motivated for ERP therapy with doubts of failing/anxiety/existential thoughts?
Treatment - ERP Hey so basically I'm just soooo scared to do ERP. I started doing erp with one service and I couldn't cope with our first exposure which was just sitting alone for 20 minutes and accepting intrusive thoughts with no compulsions'. I found this so distressing and hard. I've been moved services and probably will be doing ERP with them but I really don't want to do it. I know it's the gold standard treatment for OCD but it scares me so much knowing I have to do it. I'm scared it will make me way more sick and at this point in my life I cannot afford to be more sick (I'm starting year 13 next month and doing my A-level exams in may) I want to trust that this will work but I'm just very scared. I'm scared that this service will be just as bad as the other one. One of my big fears that we did my hierarchy for with service 1 was around science practicals as that was the only fear that therapist 1. I'm scared that therapist 2 will focus on the same scenario (which is a scenario that I struggle A LOT with) but I can't do that, I'm not sure what my hierarchy will be this time. I can't think of any harm exposures at all but I'm sure she will be able to.
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