Erp is so overwhelming

So I've unintentionally started to confront some of my triggers. I have real event OCD with "I don't deserve" thoughts that have latched onto pretty much every aspect of my life. I'm leaving overseas tomorrow with my partner to go and see her family, we've had this trip planned for awhile, and for a long time I was good with it. Two days ago my head goes "but wait, you don't deserve to enjoy going overseas" forcing me to confront this trigger. So long story short, I'm unintentionally doing erp. The problem is I find it so overwhelming, all my old OCD triggers have come up at the same time due to me being stressed. I've also stopped sleeping well, is this normal for starting erp?.

Username: Coop16Coop16

Date posted: 50w ago

From my understanding, and I have only ever done unintentional ERP (mom life) and it is very overwhelming. I honestly think ERP in general is one of those, “it gets worse before it gets better” type things. Which, I am sure is something you probably don’t want to hear two days before you leave.

Username: Nate_093Nate_093

Date posted: 50w ago

Yeah that's what I sort of figured, my poor nervous system has copped so much adrenaline flowing through me it's nuts. Just trying not to be overwhelmed because I end up getting worse instead of better.

Username: SomaticSun🌤️SomaticSun🌤️

Date posted: 50w ago

I get you, I know that feeling. It’s like your mind and/or OCD will purposely sabotage things you are looking forward to. One therapist told me the mind doesn’t know the difference between excitement and nervousness, so you get the same scared, creepy feeling, even when you’re excited. People without OCD don’t get this. But if you have anxiety & OCD, both exciting things and scary things are seen as threats. It really sucks.

Username: Nate_093Nate_093

Date posted: 50w ago

That's true, they're both from the same hormones almost. It's so hard, I'm freaking out

Username: SomaticSun🌤️SomaticSun🌤️

Date posted: 50w ago

@Nate_093 I lost my mind before my brother’s wedding. Just like you, I thought I was cool with it, until a couple days before.. then 😳 Just say I’m doing this. No matter how I feel. Remember, OCD is trying to stop you from going altogether. I can see that all the way from here. It’s trying to protect you in a very twisted way. The trip is not a threat. But the OCD mind says oh yes it is. It’s like an overprotective weirdo I swear 🤣

Username: Nate_093Nate_093

Date posted: 50w ago

@SomaticSun🌤️ Haha so true, sounds like you're very experienced in this sort of thing. It's just so scary because the trip is 2 and a half weeks, that's alot of OCD lol. And I get I don't deserve sleep thoughts to top it off and make me sleep deprived. I don't know whether to laugh or cry 🤯

Username: SomaticSun🌤️SomaticSun🌤️

Date posted: 50w ago

@Nate_093 Both It’s hilarious how this stuff can get to us, yet also so sad. When I see other people’s themes, I think that one wouldn’t bother me at all. And then the people reading mine think the same.

Username: Anon2294

Date posted: 2y ago

Triggers

I've been exposed to an absolute barrage of triggers over the last four days after months without any exposure. Doing my absolute best to practice ERP but almost in a state of shock.

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: Syd!

Date posted: 34w ago

ERP not for everyone?

So, I do have OCD. That’s not a question (Pure O mainly. Compulsions are mental and emotional checking and ruminating and comparing). And my OCD was ramping up pretty bad a while back so I started ERP counseling through NOCD. I learned some basic skills and good ways to respond and not engage to thoughts. But now, I think the therapy just brings things up that didn’t need to be that big. It makes minor things bigger. It brings overwhelm thinking I have all this “work” to do, when I think what I need is to let go. Of course with OCD letting go is not a simple task, but hear me out. I didn’t do therapy for over a month and started feeling better. I used some of the tools I learned a few times and things just seemed more minor and less serious. I’m now postpartum with anxiety panic and ocd so I upped my therapy and I truly think it’s making things worse. Does anyone else share this opinion or experience? I also think back to when OCD was darn near nonexistent and I was not in ERP therapy. I know things come and go but I’m just realizing this.

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Erp is so overwhelming

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