- Date posted
- 1y
ERP
I have contamination OCD. How am I supposed to do ERP when I feel like there’s poison everywhere? I can’t live like this anymore but ERP is terrifying to me.
I have contamination OCD. How am I supposed to do ERP when I feel like there’s poison everywhere? I can’t live like this anymore but ERP is terrifying to me.
I hear you. When first thinking about ERP, it was so scary for me, too. But, you don’t start with your biggest fears. You start with your smallest. The same goes for anything challenging we do in life, just start with baby steps. So when I first started with ERP, we listed out my triggers and I didn’t start any exposures until i had found a trigger that was only a level 2 or 3 distressing (out of 10). I promise you that you can do this. Always happy to chat if you have any other questions. 💖
@emilytravelswild Oh I’d love to chat more. I’ve had OCD my whole life…same theme. I’ve attempted ERP numerous times, but can’t seem to get past “level 5” on my hierarchy. I’ve had the same thoughts for so long that they feel absolutely real and true to me. Thank you for responding!
@Dutchgirl Are you on Instagram? I just found a super helpful post that I could send you! I’m @ebdesignagency
@emilytravelswild Yes! I will find you there!
You can approach erp sessions in increments. Depends what you're comfortable with. I jumped head first into it every time and it was stressful as hell. It's going to be hard either way so you choose where you want to start with your therapist. It's not a race. Progress is still progress
I struggle with contamination OCD severely too and am going to start erp, it scares tf out of me so I understand! I specifically struggle with emetophobia (the fear of throwing up) I can’t even restart me anxiety meds because I’m so worried it’s going to make me nauseous because I’m constantly looking up the side affects. I honestly can’t give you advice on ERP as I haven’t started mine yet, but I can let you know that I know how you’re feeling.
@Anonymous Thanks for sharing. Good luck to you too.
sorry this is super long i just wanna know if anyone else has been thru something similar bc i feel super alone 🩷 i have super bad contamination ocd. it was bad already but my house was like my safe space until a few months ago someone brought something into my house that i considered ‘contaminated’. and so then i felt like that part of the house was contaminated, then it spread to everything outside my room (since family is moving around touching stuff) and then somehow i got convinced everything in my room except my bed is contaminated and i need to wash my hands after touching it. in my mind its like the contamination just infinitely spreads to things after the tiniest bit of touch. idek what im afraid of anymore or even what the original thing was but i can’t let it go. when i have to wash off contamination i have to wash at least 4 times or until it feels right, or sometimes take rlly long showers and wipe down all my stuff. i even throw away food and clothes or just whole items sometimes because they feel so contaminated i don’t want them in my space. i can’t be super near people or have anyone touch me, and i also can’t bring anything new into my room since it had to go through the entry of my house which feels contaminated. i feel like all i do is lay in bed and then wash my hands and do compulsions so i can go eat or do other stuff around the house. also i never go out because i’m bc people outside make me feel dirty, and i hate thinking about how many people have touched stuff in stores or in public and stuff. so im just in my room worrying all day. i feel so trapped and the contamination/avoiding it is all i think about anymore i barely have time for anything else and im never present when i talk to people because im worrying about if i accidentally got contaminated. im starting erp next week and knowing that im going to have to expose myself to things is really freaking me out. does anyone else have this kind of ocd ? im exhaustedddd 🥲🥲💔
What would I do for ERP if my OCD says because I didn’t do something correctly or remember something I will have panic attacks that don’t end?
Does anyone have any tips that helped them? Mine is due to a specific person and I work with them so it’s been really difficult. I’ve started ERP which has been reaaalllllly challenging and I would love to hear from anyone else that has gone through any type of contamination ocd and how they have overcome or are fighting their way through it. Thank you!l
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