In ERP, but have made no progress. I’m also on medication for ocd. I actually feel like I’ve resorted back to when I was at my worst. Is this normal? I feel ERP helps everyone and not me. It actually makes me more anxious and want to stop, esp because my ocd is on something physical (imperfections/hair color) I’m not giving up & going to continue through this journey regardless. I long for mental stability 😭
ERP is distressing and can get worse before it gets better. Definitely reach out to your therapist and let them know how you have been feeling! It's also possible that you might want to start with lower exposures to get more comfortable with using the Response Prevention piece of ERP. Glad to hear you will keep it up! There is hope!
@Barbara Windeknecht I've been doing ERP as well, but I've went through something very distressing today. Could I ask your opinion on it?
@Anonymous2122 - Hi, I will do my best to respond. I can't provide therapy in this format, but I can give you my opinion as another person with experience around OCD
I so feel you here... Unfortunately, things can get worse before they get better like Dr. Windeknecht said... Which makes sense, too, considering you're voluntarily exposing yourself to the things you fear most! Of course that would take a major toll; it would be odd if it didn't. But just keep pushing past that extreme fear and using your ERP. There is a world of peace on the other side!
@OCD Helping Hand Did it take you awhile to get better?
@Crook It definitely took a minute! It varies person to person though; some might be faster than others or vice versa. Everyone’s experience is unique!
@OCD Helping Hand That is true. I just get feeling so hopeless, because it feels like I’m in my head 24/7. Did yours ever get to that point?
@Crook Oh my god, did it. Yes. 1000000 times over yes. That’s super normal.
@OCD Helping Hand Obviously mention all this to your therapist, but from what I’m hearing it sounds normal!
@OCD Helping Hand Thanks, I appreciate it! I will do that!
@OCD Helping Hand Oh and thank you for coming back on here and supporting us that are still struggling!
@Crook - My pleasure!
I am doing ERP, and it's been very challenging for me as well. Speaking from past experience before I relapsed, it'll get better! ERP does work. Just hang in there.
It will be harder at the start because it involves direct confrontation with the core fears that drive your compulsions. Unfortunately you can't work through them without facing them head on. Stay the course, because once you start to face the fears you take away their power.
I'm sorry that you're struggling even though you're doing ERP. OCD can be really tricky, and sometimes I find that members are doing their exposures, but they don't realize that they are actually doing compulsions while they do their exposures. Be sure to share with your therapist details about your thought process during ERP, so that they can be sure to catch any sneaky OCD compulsions that might come up during exposures. I have had members not realize that they were mentally reassuring themselves (a compulsion) or unknowingly doing other safety behaviors that are interfering with their progress. This, and not practicing ERP outside of session, is the most common reason that ERP can be less effective, in my experience. It's hard and it takes a lot of collaboration with your therapist, but I hope that you can get there and live a life with OCD more under control.
How long have you been in it?
@Crook I have been in it since December
@mgmt Me too. I’m the same.
@Crook We’ve got this. I’m not giving up! You shouldn’t either.
@mgmt I agree, what else can we do?
Where are you doing your ERP therapy at?
I’m starting NOCD. I had several years of cbt as a child (well over 20 years ago) and I see a trauma therapist. But now I’ll be seeking further help for OCD and just really scared. CBT wasn’t helpful for me. How has ERP been helpful for you? Do you feel like you’ll finally get your life back? I’m consumed by my obsessions 😢 Would love others feedback if ERP helped you ❤️
Anyone else feel like they just sit there during sessions? Like I can’t wait for it to be over so I don’t have to do this twice a week anymore. I think I’m putting in effort but sometimes feels like a huge waste of time and I’m not making progress but maybe that’s just my ocd?
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.
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