- Date posted
- 6y ago
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Thank you SO much for the response. Are you feeling better now?
- Date posted
- 6y ago
In my experience and others that I’ve spoken to.. when you start doing ERP, it’s very normal for your OCD to actually get a bit worse because you’re changing the way you normally act when confronted with OCD. Your brain will naturally start throwing more stuff at you at the start because it’s not used to this, but as your practice and keep doing the exercises, you will become stronger and stronger and the thoughts will have much less of an impact on your life.
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Oh I definitely struggled. It is not easy and is honestly the last think you want to be doing. So, of course I got depressed. Starting slow and taking my time in the treatment really made it easier for me. Also, making sure I stayed in the range of anxiety that I was supposed to helped me. So, on a scale of 1-7, saying in a 4-5 range for anxiety levels and not pushing it. Just enough anxiety to make me quite uncomfortable but not enough where it is unbearable helped keep me going. After a few weeks I started getting the hang of it and my brain adjusted to these huge changes in the way I’ve handled my OCD. Knowing that it gets easier also kept me going. Sending you so much positive energy and encouragement!! You’ve got this!
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Yes i started feeling a lot better after a month and a half or so; you’ll gain better control over everything at your own pace though so don’t become overly concerned with timelines if you can:)
- Date posted
- 6y ago
That’s awesome, so happy to hear that. Do you have Pure O as well? Sorry for all the questions, just really nice to connect with someone!
- Date posted
- 6y ago
I have pure o as well as a mix of other types haha, my OCD is kinda all over the place. I definitely relate to the constant thoughts! Don’t apologise, i’m happy to connect with someone as well ^_^
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Thank you both, your comments mean a lot xoxo!
- Date posted
- 6y ago
That means it’s working. It’s yer brain throwing a fit so more spikes are gonna happen for awhile. Keep it up
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Thank you!!! Did any of you notice terrible foggy head symptoms as well? I think my brain is exhausted from doing exposures.
- Date posted
- 6y ago
I had the same thing happen when i started ERP; I asked my psychologist about it and she explained that this is really common. Basically everything can get a little worse because you’re challenging your OCD, which you may never have done before so it makes your OCD “freak out” so to speak. It kinda sends everything up in the air for a bit before it settles down again. Hopefully it doesn’t last too long- just push through and it’ll get easier the more you practice and do the homework ^_^
- Date posted
- 6y ago
@KL Yes! I think that is exactly what it is. So much emotional strain and tolerance building. It is so physically and mentally draining. I noticed after a little while the fogginess faded.
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Thank you!!!
Related posts
- Date posted
- 25w ago
I went through ERP which helped a little but starting ICBT to hopefully help with rumination. I deal with suicidal ocd mainly which originally was a lot of specific harm thoughts and has now turned into “do I wanna do something” “am I depressed” and over analyzing everything that has to do with mental health. I’m on 20 of Prozac, have been for a couple months. My anxiety has almost went away but this week I’ve been concerned that I’m developing depression (for the first time ever), but I’m just not sure. I feel off. I feel “blah”. I’m worried that I’m not caring as much about things I did before. I’m ruminating a lot. Does anyone have any advice or insight? It’s really bothering me. I don’t want to freak out over this but want to prevent depression getting bad.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 12w ago
Looking back, I realize I’ve had OCD since I was 7. though I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 30. As a kid, I was consumed by fears I couldn’t explain: "What if God isn’t real? What happens when we die? How do I know I’m real?" These existential thoughts terrified me, and while everyone has them from time to time, I felt like they were consuming my life. By 12, I was having daily panic attacks about death and war, feeling untethered from reality as depersonalization and derealization set in. At 15, I turned to drinking, spending the next 15 years drunk, trying to escape my mind. I hated myself, struggled with my body, and my intrusive thoughts. Sobriety forced me to face it all head-on. In May 2022, I finally learned I had OCD. I remember the exact date: May 10th. Reading about it, I thought, "Oh my God, this is it. This explains everything." My main themes were existential OCD and self-harm intrusive thoughts. The self-harm fears were the hardest: "What if I kill myself? What if I lose control?" These thoughts terrified me because I didn’t want to die. ERP changed everything. At first, I thought, "You want me to confront my worst fears? Are you kidding me?" But ERP is gradual and done at your pace. My therapist taught me to lean into uncertainty instead of fighting it. She’d say, "Maybe you’ll kill yourself—who knows?" At first, it felt scary, but for OCD, it was freeing. Slowly, I realized my thoughts were just thoughts. ERP gave me my life back. I’m working again, I’m sober, and for the first time, I can imagine a future. If you’re scared to try ERP, I get it. But if you’re already living in fear, why not try a set of tools that can give you hope?
- Date posted
- 9w ago
Hi guys! I’m new to the community and I’ve recently received my OCD diagnosis (tho I’ve known about it since childhood). I’ve been somewhat spiraling lately as I wait for my first ERP session (hooray!) I was just wondering if any of you guys have received ERP for existential OCD and if it was successful? My existential OCD compulsions are more so mental and have been affecting me in the sense of dream/memory flashbacks and giving me a sort of “uncanny” feeling about everything around me. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you❤️
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