Is this forever?

Yes, ERP will be part of our lives. But I agree with the comment above. I also like to see it this way. We are all professional athletes and we need to exercise. Our exercise is ERP. If we stop exercising, then we won’t be as strong as we need to be. But the ERP exercises will get easier as time goes. In the beginning, they are not fun I understand. But the more we sit with the uncertainty and discomfort, the stronger we become.

Yes because there’s no cure for OCD. But once you get to know how OCD works and what to do/what not to do, it becomes second nature. You living your life without listening to OCD is self ERP.

I love this question and the answer is very simple if done correctly it becomes a lifestyle automatically

Well, there’s planned ERPs (intentionally confronting fears in a controlled environment) that you would be doing in therapy, and there’s spontaneous ERPs (being confronted by a fear spontaneously in real life, and choosing to not respond with compulsions). Planned ERPs are extremely important during active OCD treatment, or during a time in your life that would put you in high-risk for an OCD lapse/relapse. When in recovery (DOCS scores below 24, give or take), spontanous ERPs are typically the focus, with occasional planned ERPs on a per need basis. This is whats worked best for me! This is what I consider living an ERP lifestyle. Always looking for an opportunity to exercise your response prevention skills. It won’t always be necessary to practice planned ERPs daily. You absolutely can, but its not “required” to stay well. Hope this makes sense!

I have met people who have come to place where they actually don't meet criteria for diagnosis of OCD. After doing erp . It takes time and when the question comes how long will it take to recover the answer is that it takes however long it takes for the individual to recover. At times you may think I have been in this for way too long will I ever get over it And all it means sometimes is that your expectation was to high for the time being and slowly you out will achieve your goal . Try not comparing yourself to other everyines recovery is different but eventually you will overcome it. The criteria of the diagnosis of OCD is that the disorder effects more than an hour a day you should seek help. Dr philipson who coined the term Pure O Has said that he managed to get people intrusive thoughts not more than 4 obsessions a day. It's a very TREATABLE condition and I'm living proof of it .