OCDlikewoah
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Worse before it gets better?
Has anyone who started ERP therapy felt that your ocd or anxiety has gotten worse (at first) before it gets better?
MichelleVMichelleV
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Yes. In my experience, tackling my ruminations and compulsions head on with ERP made them feel stronger. For me, it was because I was practicing not giving in to them for the first time. So don’t worry if things feel more stressful in the beginning-it gets easier.
Forever LearningForever Lear...
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Yes, my first month was rough. I had no idea how bad my OCD was....I thought I just had a little issue. Understanding my OCD triggers has been a breakthrough. Be patient and work the steps. I just began to see my own progress over the last week.
HobbitHobbit
- Date posted
- 1y ago
@Anonymous I’m had/having this same experience ❤️🩹
Stuck@theSinkStuck@theSink
- Date posted
- 1y ago
How long have you been working on your erp? I'm literally just starting. I have had 2 weeks of sessions for doing the evaluations and beginning my fears and response list. Just now starting the erp.
gixmogixmo
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Yes, the hyper awareness was exhausting but revealing. I had to give myself some space for processing it all. Got better in a strong way. Keep working 💛
Stuck@theSinkStuck@theSink
- Date posted
- 1y ago
The hyper awareness is like all the time for me, and like you said, so exhausting. I'm just starting my erp and looking forward to better days and having peace.
smsmith_14smsmith_14
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Super common
OCDlikewoahOCDlikewoah
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
As an update, I did my ERP homework today. I was very stressed during but felt a sense of accomplishment after. Sometimes I dread moving up the hierarchy and not knowing how I will cope with it. But I have a bit of hope that I can eventually get there. Thank you everyone for your input. This is one of the hardest things I've ever dealt with!
MichelleVMichelleV
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
@OCDlikewoah Congratulations on doing your homework despite the stress!! It’s not easy. Hold on to your hope, you will get there ❤️
gixmogixmo
- Date posted
- 1y ago
@OCDlikewoah glad you’re feeling better about it !
arae624arae624
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Yes
Bryar___Bryar___
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Yes, excited for when the trigger feels less immense. I am new starting, so the triggers are still quite stressing
OCDlikewoahOCDlikewoah
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
@Bryar___ Oh me also! And my triggers and themes jump around trying to latch onto anything. I have been through so many hard things before and overcame them.
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CorgiLove
- Date posted
- 23w ago
ERP Newb
Happy Tuesday friends. Question for you all: I have recently started ERP therapy (about one month ago) and I feel in a way it has helped. But I also notice that I feel the thoughts I do have are SO intense that I feel like I’m gonna explode and then I’ll cry and get upset but then feel better after having a “freak out”. Does this happen to any of you guys? Also, I told my therapist yesterday some of the exposures we had been doing made me uncomfortable. Like really really uncomfortable. She made me feel a little bad about not doing it and stated this would prolong my progress if I didn’t do it. I’m not sure if I should push my self to do this exposure because she told me to or to stick up for myself and move at my own pace. Thanks everyone.
Nicolebee
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 22w ago
OCD getting worse after starting treatment?
Hey everyone. I’ve noticed after starting NOCD I’ve become aware of just how “bad” I am regarding my mental health. Triggers and obsessions I never was aware of. I feel like before therapy I managed my day with a big blanket of denial. Now the cover is off and I see all my OCD and feel broken. Much worse than I thought I was. Did anyone else get worse before getting better? I feel like I’m obsessed now with OCD. Irony :(
Anonymous
- Date posted
- 18w ago
disliking ERP
I just started working on my first exposure today with my therapist after screening and creating the lists for several weeks now. We did an exposure together and now I feel 100x worse than I did coming in. I won’t go too into detail but it involved looking at a VERY gory image that had to do with my fear of natural disasters. I called my mom and talked with her and she was shocked and wondered how in the hell that would help me! I agree. Did any of y’all feel this way when you first started or is this just not the right kind of therapy for me?
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