- Date posted
- 5y
- Date posted
- 5y
It is super normal - when you have been doing ERP hard core you progress and then you hit a stage of lethargy that feels like depression and lots of tiredness. Don't know why that is but have heard many people going through the same - that is the place where many relapse. You need to push through and do lots of self care and behavioural activation. Friendship and distraction at this stage is crucial.
- Date posted
- 5y
By relapse I mean going into full blown panic attacks and anxiety and doing compulsions. -- Behavioural activation is restarting all those activities you've been putting off and/or avoiding due to anxiety and/or treatment such as friends, hobbies, work, school, relationships, etc.
- Date posted
- 5y
I appreciate that a lot! It’s mainly worse when I’m home alone in my own thoughts. It’s the best time to practice ERP but with the fewest distractions so it’s a catch 22. Should give me some resilience but sucks in the moment. It seems so simple to do some of my compulsions but I know it isn’t beneficial. Thank you for the response! I rode my bike up and hunt with some friends and it was very fun and gave me the boost I needed, even just for those few hours.
- Date posted
- 5y
@FernandoV - how does one relapse when it comes to forms of OCD? And what is behavioral activation? If you don’t mind me asking.
- Date posted
- 5y
Ahhh, ok. Thanks for takin the time to respond. Ya learn something new every day.
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- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 23w
Looking back, I realize I’ve had OCD since I was 7. though I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 30. As a kid, I was consumed by fears I couldn’t explain: "What if God isn’t real? What happens when we die? How do I know I’m real?" These existential thoughts terrified me, and while everyone has them from time to time, I felt like they were consuming my life. By 12, I was having daily panic attacks about death and war, feeling untethered from reality as depersonalization and derealization set in. At 15, I turned to drinking, spending the next 15 years drunk, trying to escape my mind. I hated myself, struggled with my body, and my intrusive thoughts. Sobriety forced me to face it all head-on. In May 2022, I finally learned I had OCD. I remember the exact date: May 10th. Reading about it, I thought, "Oh my God, this is it. This explains everything." My main themes were existential OCD and self-harm intrusive thoughts. The self-harm fears were the hardest: "What if I kill myself? What if I lose control?" These thoughts terrified me because I didn’t want to die. ERP changed everything. At first, I thought, "You want me to confront my worst fears? Are you kidding me?" But ERP is gradual and done at your pace. My therapist taught me to lean into uncertainty instead of fighting it. She’d say, "Maybe you’ll kill yourself—who knows?" At first, it felt scary, but for OCD, it was freeing. Slowly, I realized my thoughts were just thoughts. ERP gave me my life back. I’m working again, I’m sober, and for the first time, I can imagine a future. If you’re scared to try ERP, I get it. But if you’re already living in fear, why not try a set of tools that can give you hope?
- Date posted
- 22w
Hey friends, I hope you all are well. I just wanted to check in and ask people's experiences about being on medication. I have had OCD pretty much my whole life, just got recently diagnosed 4 months ago and my therapist recommended that I get on meds for it so I have a psychiatrist appointment set up. I'm a little apprehensive about getting on them, but I've realized that I do have some sort of chemical imbalance in my brain that plays a part in my OCD and anxiety. I would love to hear anyones experiences or words of encouragement. Thank you, I hope you all are well.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 20w
Hi guys! I’m new to the community and I’ve recently received my OCD diagnosis (tho I’ve known about it since childhood). I’ve been somewhat spiraling lately as I wait for my first ERP session (hooray!) I was just wondering if any of you guys have received ERP for existential OCD and if it was successful? My existential OCD compulsions are more so mental and have been affecting me in the sense of dream/memory flashbacks and giving me a sort of “uncanny” feeling about everything around me. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you❤️
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