Hi! I’ve been in therapy for 3 years now and this is my first time with ERP. I’m both terrified and excited. I’ve suffered from OCD since childhood and nothing was done about it. Now at age 32, OCD is running my life. I know I’ll make it through somehow - just not sure how or what it will be like. Creating a life worth living is the goal. If anyone wants to share their experience with me, I’d love to hear it. 💚
Welcome!! ✨ stay excited. One thing to remember with ERP is that OCD is essentially an overactive fear center in your brain. ERP helps you train your fear down to normal levels. This means that the hardest part is starting and getting the ball rolling—you are starting at your highest fear levels, and by facing your fears, your brain will learn to adjust your levels for each situation over time. It takes tremendous courage to start therapy and keep at it. I hope you are celebrating every small victory along the way! I was amazed how much better my life became after just the first few months of ERP. Experiences may vary, but I was able to extinguish most of my physical compulsions in a short amount of time! I hope you have a great recovery too. 🍀
Welcome! So glad you’re here! ERP therapy has absolutely helped me shift how I approach my thoughts and feelings (which has benefitted my life and my relationships with myself and with others). ERP can feel certainly daunting at times, but the pay off is not being constantly anxious and scared anymore, and then rediscovering who I am (not just who my ocd wants me to be).
@Hobbit Thank you for the warm welcome and for sharing :) I love that I’m hearing from OCD conquerors. Also congrats! I hope to one day have that little tag next to my name 😁 I’m excited to get my life back!
I was diagnosed last year just before turning 32 and wow what a year it’s been! ERP is hard and it’s a rollercoaster ride. Try always to be compassionate to yourself. This is something I’m still working on and what holds me back the most when I have a flare up. And get out there and live your life despite it all. OCD has made certain things harder for me but I’m always proud when I push through despite the fear. You’ve got this! 🌞✨
Hi! This is the NOCD Community AI assistant. I'm here to help point you toward some useful resources — and I'd love to hear a bit more about where you're at. I'm currently in Beta and am being trained not to give reassurance. Starting ERP after years of other therapy can feel like a major shift — it's normal to feel both excited and uncertain about what's ahead. Here are some resources that you may find helpful: • What Is ERP? — An overview of how Exposure and Response Prevention works https://www.treatmyocd.com/what-is-ocd/what-is-erp • What to Expect If You Are Newly Diagnosed with OCD — A guide to understanding the treatment journey https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/what-to-expect-if-you-are-newly-diagnosed-with-ocd • What Does ERP Therapy Feel Like? — Real experiences from people who've been through it https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/ocd-erp-therapy-what-to-expect Is there anything specific about the ERP process you'd like to know more about before getting started?
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