- Date posted
- 6y
- Date posted
- 6y
Than you for your question. I am not at all worried about such a thing, I am going to explain why. 1) Neuroplasticity usually refers to 'procedural knowledge' - That is 'practicing' something. I could think about the word 'elephant' a million times and even imagine myself as one and in no way I am training my brain for me to become an elephant' but I am training my brain to "think about being an elephant" - That is, in no way I will turn into one; however, my brain will learn to obsess about anything related to turning into one. That is what neuroplasticity is - the one you mention is called magical thinking. 2) I could repeat millions of times that I am a serial killer and in no way that will make me commit any atrocities since I have a value system that is impenetrable unless I change my beliefs (which takes cognitive reestructuring which is very difficult to attain). Think of the people who prepare for movie roles - None of them become what they portray forever. Their mind might be vulnerable to suggestion but nothing beyond that. 3) The fact that you have 'panic' about the related fears shows your value system. With ERP we are not trying to bend your value system but only trying to train the mind to become more resilient "against' those thoughts and feeling. Think about lifting weights - The pain is horrible and in no way people enjoy pain but the muscles grow and eventually that weight does not cause pain anymore. Does that mean that I like pain? No it just means I am stronger.
- Date posted
- 6y
I saw many therapist who were not OCD specialists who just made it worse. Then at my lowest I joined an intensive outpatient program at a behavioural clinic (every day for three hours for six weeks). That was enough for me - I learned a lot to do the rest on my own. Right now I have an outpatient provider whom I only see about once a month to check in.
- Date posted
- 6y
You can start with writing down thoughts and then repeating them in your mind only once without compulsions. For me, for example, the words: "monster", "perpetrator", etc. Triggered me a lot - so I started with those. Then I added longer sentences such as "I want to x my daughter" (the therapist recommended it and she was so right). Then you can start reading written real stories of child abuse. Then you can write a worry script where your worst fear comes true.
- Date posted
- 6y
i think so, but definitely leave that for a long time in the future. part of my exposure includes reading and writing kidfic (something which i really enjoyed before the ocd came and punched me in the face) and watching family vlogs if that might be useful to you?
- Date posted
- 6y
ah thank you so much! that helps a lot!! (ive actually experimented with the technique a little since you mentioned it this morning, although apparently i can already dismiss thoughts like that pretty easily...which brings its own level of panic, but i guess that's the thing that ive gotta resist!)
- Date posted
- 6y
Ah thank you those are really helpful! I’ll start off with some of the easier ones and see how it goes this week :)
- Date posted
- 6y
question for FernandoV: when it comes to that aren't you worried that repeating the thoughts will rewire your brain in a way that makes them true? ive been reading up on neuroplasticity and knowing about it makes me really worried about doing that kind of exposure
- Date posted
- 6y
FernandoV how long have you been working with a therapist about your OCD?
- Date posted
- 6y
That’s great, well done! :)
- Date posted
- 6y
I specifically had a fear of being close enough to children as to touch them and not visually based obsessions. For me, my hierarchy began with first sitting in the parking lot of a store with children (ex department store, toy store), then the next day I had to go inside, then I had to go inside and walk down one aisle, then I had to walk all the aisles, then I had to all of that without performing reassuring actions like holding things in my hands or avoidance of aisles with children or looking at their faces.
- Date posted
- 6y
I cant do groups i left a DBT Group stupid patients causing problems.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 19w
Hi this is my first time posting on here. I wasn't sure if I should because I want to make sure I'm not seeking reassurance because I heard that makes ocd worse. I don't want to talk about what my ocd problem was, but basically I was really upset about a religious ocd problem that I know isn't true. I'm feeling a lot better about it now, but when it was bad I decided to try and get better on my own. I read about ERP therapy and how you're supposed to make a list of your ocd problems, from least distressing to most. So I wrote them down on two pieces of paper. At first I started with the simple ones, like looking for spiders before leaving the room. I have a tendency to look for spiders before leaving a room but lately I've been trying not to anymore. Then I decided to try and do one of the hard things. It was a religious ocd problem. I decided to start simple, and just write the problem down on a piece of paper. So I went downstairs and got some paper. But then I thought, oh no, my ocd is probably not going to like this. What do I do with the paper once I write it down? If I think what I wrote down is bad and going to upset God and I will go to hell, (even though I know logically it's not), my ocd is probably going to freak out if I throw away the paper. It probably won't calm down unless I erase it. So I just decided to not write it down on a paper, and just type it on my phone instead. So I did, I typed it on my phone. So, even though I didn't write anything down on the paper, now it feels like that peice of paper is bad. I feel like it's connected to the problem I was having, and I was so upset I called my mom crying asking her what to do. Eventually I decided to just put the paper back with the rest of the paper downstairs, but I'm still upset. I feel like I have to throw away all the paper downstairs, the pencil I was going to use to write down the problem, and the eraser I was going to use in case I needed to erase anything. It feels like if I use any of those items I will make God angry and go to hell. I know I shouldn't do this though, so I'm not going to. I don't know what to do with the papers where I wrote down my ocd problems. They are on my desk and I'm too afraid to move them. And if I put them in my desk I'm afraid they will get mixed up with other papers. I guess I can do whatever I want with them. I think I'll put them in a folder or binder and if I make any more ocd papers I can just put them in there. I'm just really confused on how to move forward. Right now, I'm too afraid to use the papers, pencil, or eraser for anything. I feel like I can't write on them, draw on them, or anything. It's even making me feel like I can't make digital art. It's making me feel like I can't do a lot of things. I guess what I have to do is just do whatever I want to, because I know the ocd isn't true and doesn't make sense.
- Date posted
- 18w
I am doing ERP by my own because I can’t afford therapy. I exposed myself to babies photos online, changing diapers videos, baby genitalia . All was done with google . I honestly feel like I am predator by viewing these photos even though they are just babies. I seen also a picture on research article of a female patient she is a minor and they have done sexual abuse check on her . The image was so triggering, it was literally a vagina. ℹ developed lots if obsessions with increased groinal responses. And now I fear that I enjoyed all what I have seen.
- Date posted
- 15w
One problem - Various themes This is my first post. I had a relapse a few months ago. Life was amazing and then boom, I got triggered by something and started spiralling about my sexuality (having finally been at peace for two years, entered a healthy new relationship and come out of the closet as an older women). How do you, when you're not triggered practice ERP? I'm able to try and accept the thoughts every time I see a man. What should I be doing when I don't encounter these triggers. I was to say as well that I also am starting to get real event OCD about some of the sexual things I did in the past when I was married and in an unhealthy toxic relationship with my ex husband. I am shamed and disgusted and I'm working on it but there's a certain subsection of the LGBTQ community that trigger these thoughts, groinals and thing for me... I feel like I'm beginning to realise I need to maybe be a little more active in my recovery instead of waiting for triggers... But I don't know how
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