I’ve been with my NOCD therapist for seven months. I have come a LONG way since last year. I was completely agoraphobic and over came it. I feel like I’m on the edge of recovery and then I had a huge flair up a couple of days ago. Anybody else been there? I don’t want reassurance, just support!
That just means you're winning. When OCD can't have its way it gets aggressive. Don't let it stop you !! You've made so muchvh progress 💪🏽youre almost there!!
Congratulations on your improvements. I know how hard you must have worked to get this far. I consider myself recovered, but I still have flare ups. We all do. Last week I had a triggering event and even did a couple of compulsions. I caught it, I had to make the decision to stop the compulsions (it was so HARD once I started) but I was able to stop. Basically cried that whole evening, but I didn't do any more compulsions. Gradually, over the next couple of days I did get clarity. The difference from that flare up and my pre treatment self was even though I stopped the compulsions and felt terrible, I still engaged with my life. Interestingly, last night, the doubt came back, however, I was ready for it and decided I was willing to be uncomfortable. No compulsions and a willingness to be uncomfortable allowed me to have clarity much more quickly. My point is flare ups happen, sometimes we do compulsions, but we have the tools and we get back on track. It is normal, be kind to yourself, you have come so far.
@VGH Do you do erp when you have your flare ups?
@Rcope09 - I am not in therapy now, so when I had my most recent flare ups my ERP was not to check/ruminate over the trigger I was experiencing at that moment. I was unsuccessful the first time, successful the second time. However, when I was in therapy and I had planned exposures, I did continue to do them even if I experienced a totally different accidental exposure. It was difficult, there were some really hard days. I wish I knew then what I know now. Having the perspective of being able to look back over my therapy, I see how everything built on the next thing. Even my failed attempts at ERP. Even though I say "failure" it's really not. You learn from each thing you do. The point is to not lose heart, keep moving forward. It truly does get better. I had untreated OCD for 35+ years. I can't even begin to express how much better life is, and that is with the occasional flare up. The thing is, even if we didn't have OCD, life wouldn't be perfect. Life would still throw us curves. The good news is there are tools to use for OCD and these tools come in handy for life in general.
@VGH Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I was diagnosed last year when I was 36…I can look back and see it all throughout my life. If you don’t mind me asking, how long were you in therapy before you started really seeing significant results?
@VGH Encouraging post thank you for sharing
@Rcope09 Now that I look back on it, I would say 6 months (once I got with NOCD). I realized at about 8 months I was holding on to some subtle compulsions, once I truly committed to no compulsions, the improvement was drastic. Hang in there it does get better.
So happy for you! I need to get back on it. I’ve spiraled completely !
I know you have mentioned soocd, what are your exposures currently?
@68273 I script worse case scenarios and record loop tapes.
Congratulations on your improvements don't let a small setback get in your way forge ahead
I have had ocd for decades! Could I still be cured???? (Of you can call it that?) I have seen different therapists but it never had fully left me...not by any stretch of the imagination. I do want to be free of this ocd and its power over me and all the bad that it brought into my life!!! Some days I am strong and feel like I am fighting it put other days...many days...I don't get things done or if I do I take a long time to-do the things I need to get done. I feel like I know this is just then ocd stopping me and that these are just thoughts but nobody in my family understands and though they have shared my journey and hated it a I do.....it just feels like I want so bad to be the best person I coukd be but I avoid places, people, things, that have any reminder of my ocd.......and so it restricts me from getting better and completing tasks the way I used to. Now UI might go and make 2-3 trips cuz I am worried to shop at a place and therefore it takes my time up. The avoidance I do is bad! When I actually don't listen to my ocd and don't avoid something...I feel great! ,However, it happens so rarely!!! I.dont know how finding a therapist through NOCD will help me. It is not in person and two be honest I almost think I need medicine to push me along. I don't have anybsteady and consistent improvements. However, I don't think I want to be on medication for the rest of my life! I am very confused!
Just wanted to jump on here and express how I have felt lately. The past 5 to 6 months have been pretty excruciating. I conquered OCD 5 years ago and for some reason, it has slipped back and took over my life again. More so the depression that came along with it. Is there anyone else out there that has returned to rock bottom where they once fully climbed themselves out of?
Just wanted to give some hope to those who are having ocd spikes, spirals and worries. This past year I have regained my life back. I went from beginning to isolate myself, being convinced by my ocd that my hobbies are bad and that I should avoid things I enjoyed, and having constant panic attacks. With the work of IOP, psychiatry and nocd, I have made great strives towards my future. I now don’t avoid things and instead embrace my life and ANY possibility that may come. Don’t let the ocd bully you. Yes, I have intrusive thoughts still but I am able to go about my day instead of obsessing over them. You can find this too. I encourage anyone on the fence to please seek help if you are in a tough time, it can literally save your life.
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