I have been successfully working on ERP for an onsession however the thought is still with me. Have any if you experienced this? Thanks!

I have had the same issue. Sometimes the thought is more distressing after ERP than during it! I would love to hear insight from others. For now what I have been doing is when the thought comes back up, I think something along the lines of "This is a worry thought. I thought is just a thought. I am going to let it be." Most of my compulsions are mental compulsions so I have to repeat a similar thing in my head each time the thought comes back (and it does a lot!)- being careful not to reassure myself as that just reinforces the thought and feeds into the OCD.

That's exactly what I do! I found that saying "it's just ocd " doesn't help. I need to figure this out. I do believe in erp. What's your theme? Mine mental as well. ❤

Interesting. Mine is pocd and harm ocd. I've read so many wonderful books over the last few months. I'm familiar with shalas work. It all started in February when I went through work burn out from teaching. It left me with ocd. Which is strange in itself! I'd love to talk more often with you. Thanks for answering.✌❤

Ps I want to recover!

I know. They say that ocd attacks the themes most important to us!! Do you have other themes? How long have you had ocd? My therapist didn't really understand I had ocd. She thought I had gad. I did research on my own and have been seeing an ocd specialists for roughly 3 months. I do have trouble not doing mental compulsions. Which I'll use your phrase "that's a worry thought." I love "everyday mindfulness for ocd by shala and Jon hershfeld Freedom from Obsessive compulsive disorder by grayson. Overcoming unwanted and intrusive thoughts by sally winston. I love dr. Steven phillipson. Check out ocd stories with Stuart Ralph as well.

That is my main theme. I have some other themes, but they are all work-related and involve messing something up or accidentally doing something unethical. My OCD also started in February! Lots of job stress at that time. It got worse when I changed jobs, moved to a new house, and became pregnant all at the same time a couple of months ago. All positive changes but I think it was a lot to handle all at once! I definitely had OCD symptoms when I was a kid though too. And I've had variations of anxiety disorders my whole life. Thanks for the book recommendations! I will check those out. Have you found it helpful to meet with an ocd specialist? I am currently looking to change therapists which is sad because I really like mine, but she and I both know that OCD is not her speciality so I could get more effective help from someone else.

Oh my gosh! That's a lot of changes to go through. Congrats!!!! ? Interestingly enough I've always been super mellow and a roll with it kinda girl. I raised 2 wonderful sons and am a gentle soul. Lol However we moved took care of my dying father in law long commute to work and taught pre-k for 6 years. The last 10 year's have been a lot. I didn't realize I was getting depressed and anxious. My school was year round so I never had summers or holidays off. I believe my ocd event occurred because I left mid year and felt guilty. I beat myself up for not hanging in till the year ended! I also developed checking stove and locked doors. ? I would totally recommend an ocd specialists!! He suggested I check this site it out because I didn't want to tell others (except hubby). It's helping me to talk to you. I've been feeling confused and isolated. ❤✌

The obsession will stay with you, BUT it won’t bother you anymore, the absence of thoughts is impossible and that’s not the goal

How long have you been doing erp? Days, weeks, months? If it's been months without any progress I'd suggest maybe you are doing mental compulsions or distracting yourself during erp. If it's just days or weeks this is normal, I think. I find after erp sometimes my brain is sort of testing by sending the obsessions back to see how I respond. The goal of erp is actually not to eliminate the obsession but to change your behavior and response. The obsession does naturally fade over time if you respond less.

I love ocd stories!!!

That's a nice goal. ❤

To accept thoughts and not to fuse with them.

I've been doing it for weeks. I do see improvement. However the content borhers me duh and almost out of habit I reassure myself. I understand that I'm not a criminal anymore lol that's good. I was able to tolerate this week erp it just the same old same unsettling thought

Ok let me ask you this. During erp I'm fully present and welcome any sensations anxiety etc. I don't do compulsions during erp.

Hmm... Thank you I haven't been consciously bringing up the frightening obsessions during erp. I've been sitting with it. I need to talk to my ocd doc. Thank you.

Very interesting thread, bookmarking it for the book recommendations. Another pure O here with a variety of themes than change over time. Have had OCD symptom since I was a kid but I haven't started treating it until 4 months ago. However I was being treated for depression and gad for the last 8 years. It feels like I've lost all my youth fighting against myself (almost 36).

llamaduck- I see what your saying. For this particular obsession I've never felt anxiety. Because it's the annoying thought in my head like a mental hiccup I'll try "bumping up my game" as it were. Lol Rakemitri - my heart goes out to you. Hang in there. You are not alone!!!

Did you listen to the one with a Dr. Steven Phillipson? So insightful. Are any of you on group therapy? I'm on the waiting list for one..

That's ocd stories with Stu Ralph.

I have quite an intensive library oon ocd! Sounds like you do too! Do you have her book mindfulness for everyday? Co wrote with Jon hershfield.