ERP

Hello all, I’ve started ERP about a month ago and I kind of feel like my subtype doesn’t work well for it plus I’m on an antidepressant and it blocks a lot of my anxiety and when the person asked on a scale of 0-100 how much that certain things makes me anxious, I don’t know because I’m not anxious. Anyone else felt like that with doing ERP? Maybe when I’m not taking meds it will be easier better because the med helps my intrusive thoughts as well and anxiety so that’s part of the work I’m not doing?

Hopefloats227

Date posted: 1y

I feel ERP is easier when on medication. Once you can reduce being in a chronic state of anxiety you can start to separate yourself from OCD and do the exposures that are more difficult

Schoolie93

Date posted: 1y

@Hopefloats227 Yea, but my anxiety isn’t high right now with my med, I’m more anxious without meds . It’s maybe different for everyone doing ERP.

Hopefloats227

Date posted: 1y

@Schoolie93 Maybe it is

Nica

Date posted: 1y

@Schoolie93 It is different for everyone though it could be your exposures aren’t big enough. So, I suggest speaking to your therapist about this.

Schoolie93

Date posted: 1y

@Nica Yes good point! I’m thinking that as well

Looping

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 24w

ERP/Therapy

I find while doing exposures, rarely does my anxiety lessen. It usually amps up and stays that way for the remainder of the day. I could be having a fairly decent day, but dutifully do my exposures and then the rest of my day is anxiety filled. I guess that’s just how it is now? Also, I’m wondering if my therapist even believes I have OCD. I totally understand my therapist cannot provide reassurance. But it’s to the point it seems my therapist acts like I actually did the thing I fear. I feel so isolated.

hbocd

Date posted: 17w

ERP Therapy

I read about ERP and have seen information about it on here. One of the goals is to say, "maybe I am this or that...ect." That terrified me. The thoughts and images that go in my head are disturbing and upsetting. I don't want to even think about saying, "maybe this or that." It's devasting to have these thoughts and question why you're having these thoughts. Doesn't the "maybe" make it worse? The one thing that helps me is that is to remind myself that these are just thoughts and I know I'm not a monster, even if I feel like one. Is ERP not for everyone? Has anyone else had a problem with the techniques used in this kind of therapy? I had cognitive therapy for years with an OCD specialist and that seemed to help a lot. Writing out the worst case scenarios would make me suicidal. Im having a difficult time not obsessing over the "maybe" after intrusive thoughts now. It doesn't make it better.

Cherno

Date posted: 11w

ERP not working, been doing it for 8 months

My theme is suicidal OCD. I’ve been doing ERP since last year November and the overall intensity of my thoughts have not reduced at all. I have these thoughts 24/7 and my life feels like a living hell. Not two minutes goes by throughout the day where I’m not suffering from relentless thoughts. I don’t want to take meds because of the side effects and my insurance is coming to an end so it’d be difficult to ween off them by myself. I’m starting to feel so hopeless because I’ve done the toughest of the toughest exposures and I’m not getting better at all. My life is a living hell and I don’t see my condition with OCD getting better anytime sooner.

Suicidal OCD

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