- Username
- Anonymous
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Quick Question
Does going about your day while having intrusive thoughts and urges/sensations count as a exposure?
- Username
- ReadyForImprovementReadyForImpr...
- Date posted
- 1y ago
It counts as response prevention! The intrusive thoughts are kind of in place of an intentional exposure. You're already feeling the discomfort that doing an exposure is meant to bring up... if that makes sense. What matters is how you manage your response when you experience anxiety or discomfort... whether you intentionally do an exposure, one comes up in your regular day, or you're having intrusive thoughts, it is how you respond that helps you get better. Sorry, I'm not sure if I'm communicating that clearly...
- Username
- DeanBertDeanBert
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Yes, I’d say so. Me also having Pure O, I’ve been told you’re pretty much always in exposure because we don’t usually have any outward symptoms besides googling or reassurance and we’re worried about our thoughts. How you react to the thoughts is our ERP work. Reacting with a disregarding mindset. “Eh, maybe that will happen, maybe it won’t” “i don’t need to worry about that” and do it with all thoughts/sensations.
- Username
- 6827368273
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
It’s response prevention. Sometimes these thoughts are more scary than if we actually did an exposure in purpose. At least, that has been my experience
- Username
- NicaNica
- Date posted
- 1y ago
It’s response prevention but it’s how you get better and keep up the recovery process. I do this every single day.
- Username
- VGHVGH
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
I'm not sure if it's an exposure, but it sure sounds like a good thing to do. Going about your day and not letting intrusive thoughts stop you, make you ruminate or do other safety behaviors is how you will get your life back.I think there are two kinds of exposures - planned and those that occur as you're living your life (in vivo?) I think its called.
- Username
- AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 1y ago
I've been avoiding doing my usual routine due to a new set of intrusive thoughts that appeared alongside intrusive urges/sensations, and it's been leading me to feel quite down and I mean down, down, it doesn't feel like I'm going to get better or that it's too late for me. My OCD is linked to my online friends and it's a battle everyday
- Username
- autumntallautumntall
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
It sounds impossible! Congratulations for tuning things out.
Related posts
- Username
- You_are_not_...
- Date posted
- 2y ago
Hi community, so I have a question. I’m treating OCD by myself, and I’m currently don’t giving my thoughts an importance that they don’t deserve while focusing on the present and avoiding compulssions. But when it comes to the term “exposures” by itself, does that means that I have to look for a quiet place and sit with my anxiety until is gone?, or an exposure can be done just by walking in the street and just making fun of my thoughts. Or are both different but useful techniches?
- Username
- Anonymous
- Date posted
- 2y ago
ERP Question
I've been doing more "surprise" exposures (like just watching TikToks and if I see a trigger, I try to just watch it and move on like normal) and I'm running into the issue of: now I'm having more intrusive thoughts, and they feel more sticky than they did *before* the exposures. I ask because I don't have access to a therapist to guide me on this, but is this common? It isn't a backdoor spike because I'm, quite frankly, not managing my OCD that well yet to have that happen. I have absolutely seen progress in myself, but I'm really hitting a wall and it feels like I'm getting stuck - and I hate it. Especially while I'm doing everything on my own because I don't want to live like this anymore. :/
- Username
- Todd James
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Exposure
guys, I have a few questions. OCD is such an interesting thing because it is so simple yet so sneaky. The OCD I've been going through recently is (resistance to feelings) "I better not get feelings for anyone because I might lose control and be abandoned" my therapist has got me doing an exposure which is "I will get feelings, fall in love and be rejected" 5 minutes a day, 5 times a day. I noticed the anxiety subsiding but then I do move towards getting feelings and the fears return. Any advice here?
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