Hi guys, I wanted to ask, how would you go about doing ERP when your problems aren't mainly thoughts anymore but rather physical sensations and stuff? The thoughts do still bother me from time to time but I struggle far more with groinal responses and all, so I wanted to ask if anyone has any tips on what to do when your OCD manifests itself as more of an uncomfortable feeling than thoughts themselves.
Okay response to ALL of you! What you all are experiencing is an urge, and they are horrible, but they are like a fire alarm going off in your brain without a fire! It’s the same as a thought you basically ride out the urge whatever it is. For example mine was that I wanted to push this random guy at Home Depot I felt like I was fighting my body to not do it, was the weirdest thing ever but you respond to it the same way as ERP, “I may push this guy I may not but I’m okay riding this anxiety wave out” and FYI it’s OCD it’s just trying to keep you trapped so once your thoughts aren’t sticking as much then it changes to something else to get you stuck. OCD is a bully be a bully back!
But just because you have an urge doesn’t mean you ACTUALLY want to do it it’s the same as a thought, just because you have a thought doesn’t mean you want to do that thought! The thought brings us so much distress and that’s why we are ALL on this app! An urge is the SAME thing, just OCD trying to keep us trapped in a loop… that’s OCD only goal. If you tell me the urge you have I can help you with a response when it happens. Also FYI when you do ERP you are fighting your OCD back so it’s going to freak out at first and try ANYTHING to keep you stuck in the loop, so it could change themes, could do anything trying to get you back in. Usually once people start doing ERP and their thoughts become less “distressing” then OCD will say “see you are a bad/dangerous person because it didn’t give you anxiety…” NOPE not true just your brain is healing and not putting a fire alarm off for thoughts that are SIMPLY JUST THOUGHTS!!!! You all got this!
I’m having the same issues if get an answer I’d like to know as well
fr same here, started happening after I did some ERP really afraid it's not OCD because of it
Hi, physical sensations are the biggest trigger to my anxiety and OCD. I spent all day yesterday in pain and was trying so hard not to ruminate over it. I hope things get better soon. I’m sorry I don’t have any advice for now, just know you are not alone.
How do you ocd sufferers deal with thoughts during sex Have you done erp for this? Do you stop or continue?
Been struggling with existential OCD lately. Very hard to describe the thoughts/feelings, but it is a constant feeling of being stuck in my head. Like what is consciousness and where do I think from? Like I think it’s OCD, maybe it is maybe it isn’t. But if it is, what would be good ERP exercises? Just existing (lol)? And what would be my response prevention? I’m not even sure what mental compulsions I may be doing.
One problem - Various themes This is my first post. I had a relapse a few months ago. Life was amazing and then boom, I got triggered by something and started spiralling about my sexuality (having finally been at peace for two years, entered a healthy new relationship and come out of the closet as an older women). How do you, when you're not triggered practice ERP? I'm able to try and accept the thoughts every time I see a man. What should I be doing when I don't encounter these triggers. I was to say as well that I also am starting to get real event OCD about some of the sexual things I did in the past when I was married and in an unhealthy toxic relationship with my ex husband. I am shamed and disgusted and I'm working on it but there's a certain subsection of the LGBTQ community that trigger these thoughts, groinals and thing for me... I feel like I'm beginning to realise I need to maybe be a little more active in my recovery instead of waiting for triggers... But I don't know how
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