TheUnTherapist
- Date posted
- 1y
What to expect with ERP NOCD
Hi friends, I had my first session with my NOCD therapist on Thursdays. I was wondering what I can expect from treatment and how to best prepare emotionally.
Thoughts suckThoughts suck
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Just show up and be willing to do the work. You’ll start to feel better soon
TheUnTherapistTheUnTherapist
- Date posted
- 1y
@Ghostdog I feel like I’ve been living in a cycle of torture
MichelleVMichelleV
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
The general thing to expect is to learn to confront your OCD by working through exposures, sitting through fear and/or anxiety, and sitting in uncertainty (which will make more sense the further you go through therapy). To prepare emotionally, start practicing self-compassion. The work will be tough, but it’s worth it. Be gentle with yourself as you navigate this, express any struggles or concerns to your therapist, and keep showing up for yourself by doing the work. This forum is a wonderful place to reach out to, as well as the support groups. The IOCDF website has good resources too. Best wishes as you start therapy!
TheUnTherapistTheUnTherapist
- Date posted
- 1y
@Anonymous Thank you so much! Is there a way I can ask my partner to be supportive to me during this time?
MichelleVMichelleV
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
@Anonymous You’re welcome! For asking for support, think of how your partner could meet your emotional needs. If you’re having a rough day, or had a tough session, do you want space, or attention, or a person to vent to? Could you use help with chores that day-cleaning, cooking or getting meals? In my experience, it’s best to directly say what you need, because it may be hard for your partner to understand or know how to help, if they don’t have OCD or their own mental health struggles. Your partner can also look up articles or resources, on what it’s like to have a partner with OCD, to understand more. Something that helped me with my friends, when I needed to vent but couldn’t ask for reassurance (you’ll learn about this in therapy), is to tell my friends “this is what I’m struggling with. These are the thoughts I’m having, this is what I want to do but can’t. I just need to tell you about it, please don’t respond or give words right now.” And it helps get my thoughts off my chest while resisting a compulsion.
TheUnTherapistTheUnTherapist
- Date posted
- 1y
@Anonymous Thank you this is so helpful
Thoughts suckThoughts suck
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
For now, stop trying to figure it all out. Your OCD is focusing on the major triggers right now. I was where you are now, 6 months ago. It gets better. It feels worse when I push everything away. If I let my thoughts hangout and I don’t fixate on them, they get bored and leave on their own. You’re in the right place. We have all been tortured by our thoughts, you’re not alone.
TheUnTherapistTheUnTherapist
- Date posted
- 1y
@Ghostdog How long did it take you to start seeing results
Thoughts suckThoughts suck
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
@Anonymous I was happy to be diagnosed officially. That was a great start. Knowing I’m safe to talk about anything. And I’m not going crazy, all of it was helpful. ERP was challenging in the beginning so it probably took me 3 weeks to notice improvement. 2x a week is best in the beginning. It sometimes feels like taking a class. You’re going to learn a lot about how to deal with your compulsive mind. I have “pure o” so it’s mostly all mental. Take heart that your thoughts are just thoughts. They aren’t real.
TheUnTherapistTheUnTherapist
- Date posted
- 1y
@Ghostdog I just am so tired of it running my life. It’s getting in the way of my job, my daily functioning, and my relationship. I present with ROCD mostly. It’s been brutal
Thoughts suckThoughts suck
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
@Anonymous I’m glad you found this app. Just like me. You are in the right place. Hang in there.
Thoughts suckThoughts suck
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y
Just chalk it up to your OCD messing with you. With practice, you’ll recognize it quicker. I just caught myself meticulously cleaning up ice off the floor and realized it was my OCD.
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- Date posted
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