Triggers and compulsions

I had my third session today, and my therapist and I are filling out my fear and response list. For some reason I'm having a hard time filling out compulsions and even some of the fear responses. It's like everything is so connected it's hard to separate it in my head. I've never tried to do this before. Also maybe I can explain the compulsions in a longer sentence but it's hard to use just one word. And most of my triggers cause a pretty high number of distress, but I need to find something with less anxiety to start the exposure therapy. Does anyone have advice on how to make this process easier, or just an example of how they filled this form out? Thanks.

Username: cgdfixcgdfix

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

I don’t know if I have any advice but I just wanted to commiserate - I am also early on in my treatment and am struggling to even say some of my fears aloud. They just seem simultaneously so shameful and like such silly things to be afraid of. The only exposures I’ve listed so far are more concrete things that I already sometimes do. But I guess exposures can also include thinking or writing or talking about a fear.

Username: MichelleVMichelleV

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

@cgdfix It will get easier to talk about your fears. I hope the feeling of shame goes away-it’s something a lot of people with OCD go through, but give yourself grace as you go through treatment.

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

This was helpful, thanks

Username: MichelleVMichelleV

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

Would it help to take notes during the day, or how you react to certain triggers? Or take notes as you notice them/feel them in real time?

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

Thanks. I think I will try this.

Username: TheocdguitaristTheocdguitarist

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

I remember my early days of treatment 2 years ago, and I completely relate to this! I'm glad you posted this, because I forgot about that feeling. Everything did feel so connected, and it was terrifying to even say my obsessions out loud. If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be this: treat all of your obsessions the same way. OCD wants you to think some are worse, more shameful, or different than others, but at the end of the day, it's all OCD. the sooner you can start doing ERP, the better you will feel long term. My therapist used to say this: when faced with 2 triggers, choose the one that makes you more anxious to do the exposure for. The more progress you make with ERP, the smaller OCD will shrink down. you got this!

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 1y ago

Thanks

Username: William0cd

Date posted: 2y ago

I have pure o ocd, and I’m filling out my heirarchy but I’m struggling to understand triggers and therefore exposures. I generally just get thoughts for no reason, particularly when my mind is idle I just start scanning for potential worries, and there aren’t any specific triggers like with contamination ocd. When I have a specific worry, it just pops up - and although my compulsions are clear (rationalising, reassurance seeking). How do you build out triggers and exposures in this case? Do I need to just think about the worry without doing the compulsion?

Username: AlyssaBuon

Date posted: 2y ago

Why is ERP so hard?

It feels like I can never even get to be able to get there. It shakes me to my core and writing out my fears, triggers, and compulsions today for my therapist made my OCD finally feel real and that it’s not just my anxiety. Has anyone else struggled with this? Any tips for newbies who are scared 💩less?

Username: WrappedinIvy

Date posted: 51w ago

Trigger myself

Hi, I need an advice, I can't trigger myself! I want to do ERP but Everytime I try to trigger myself I feel nothing so it won't work. On the other side OCD triggers me outside of my ERP and I react wrong to it. Has anyone an Idea how to trigger myself properly, or should I wait for OCD to come? But how can I be prepared for it?

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Triggers and compulsions

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