First official exposure

I’ve lived with OCD for over 40 years. Needless to say, I’ve developed a lot of coping mechanisms and small hidden that aren’t necessarily healthy. Yesterday was my first session where I did a very simple exposure (staring at the smoke alarm for 1 minute) that i thought would be no biggie, but turns out really knocked me into a lot of fears and anxiety. Is this common?!?! I think so, but I’ve never actually experienced this. Thank you 💛

Username: gixmogixmo

Date posted: 50w ago

I am in the same situation. So much misguided therapy for all these years and now avoidance & coping is exhausting. I am getting better at seeing when I am using them instead of focusing on my compulsive thinking to acknowledge it. But it’s hard to break it down. We can do it - just glad to have appropriate treatments. 💕

Username: AmarindiaAmarindia

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 50w ago

I know the feeling. I've been experiencing a higher than expected level of anxiety during my lower hierarchy exposures. It's been discouraging, but I think I'm starting to develop the mindfulness I need to resist compulsions at the most basic level, which will make the future exposures possoble. Progress is progress!

Username: Keeps TryingKeeps Trying

Date posted: 50w ago

@Amarindia Thanks for taking the time to respond—it means a lot. I’m hopeful, I think?! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for that breakthrough 💛

Username: Honeyshark Honeyshark

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 50w ago

If it’s been untreated for so long then that sounds logical.

Username: WrappedinIvyWrappedinIvy

Date posted: 50w ago

I would say it's common. I think you are doing your exposures with your therapist? I recommend talking about your experience:) Congratulations on your first exposure, keep it up you got this! I know it's scary and frustrating and shit but as your name said, just keep on, you will make it through:)

Username: Keeps TryingKeeps Trying

Date posted: 50w ago

@WrappedinIvy Thanks for taking the time to respond. It came at the end of a session (our 4th) and so we didn’t really prepare or debrief. I appreciate the encouragement—sure need it

Username: stoprunningstoprunning

Date posted: 49w ago

I would also say that it is common. I was diagnosed with OCD around the age of 25 or 26. I only did talk therapy for about 14 yrs! I developed so many coping mechanisms throughout that time because I wasn't doing exposures! Once I found out that that was the right therapy, life began to change! But those first few exposures were extremely hard. Sometimes the ones you think are going to be easy are worse than ones you think will be hard.

Username: alexisgonell

Date posted: 3y ago

Hi everyone! I’m new to this and also new to OCD and my fear. A few months ago I was triggered and developed an intense fear around developing schizophrenia. It got so bad but I didn’t know it was ocd until only a few days ago and I started seeing a therapist that I found on this app. She wanted me to start doing the exposures and I was like “oh I can do this, piece of cake!” Yeah NOT!! So one of my exposures was to google about it (which is what initially caused me to be triggered and spiral in the first place a few months ago) and now I’m so worked up and questioning that how can this be healthy for me to constantly expose myself to my fear? Like it’s terrifying!! Does anyone else have this fear? I feel so alone with it and don’t know how to talk about it without being labeled “crazy” which of course is my biggest fear 😭 I’m not necessarily looking for reassurance (at least I don’t think I am) but more support on how do I get through these exposures when I think they are hurting me more than helping me.

Username: NrseKris

Date posted: 2y ago

Exposure

She had me read my fears as an exposure but for some reason I wasn’t that triggered idk if it’s because I already know my fears so reading them was whatever or because I was reassuring my self but now I’m worried that it wasn’t bothering me maybe it’s not ocd or I don’t care anymore has this happened to anyone ????

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 2y ago

ERP Question

I've been doing more "surprise" exposures (like just watching TikToks and if I see a trigger, I try to just watch it and move on like normal) and I'm running into the issue of: now I'm having more intrusive thoughts, and they feel more sticky than they did *before* the exposures. I ask because I don't have access to a therapist to guide me on this, but is this common? It isn't a backdoor spike because I'm, quite frankly, not managing my OCD that well yet to have that happen. I have absolutely seen progress in myself, but I'm really hitting a wall and it feels like I'm getting stuck - and I hate it. Especially while I'm doing everything on my own because I don't want to live like this anymore. :/

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First official exposure

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