Anyone else’s SO-OCD just super sticky? Like I’m so tired of thinking about it. I’ve already told my head that I’m staying in my relationship regardless, and I’ve done the “maybe, maybe not” but it’s just trying to beat it to the front of my head. Makes me then worry that’s it’s real if it’s this persistent and strong!
Same for me. Honestly it’s been a little over a month of ERP and it’s gotten a lot better for me. Pretty soon the urgency to evaluate calms way way down and becomes way less sticky
@SlappaDaBass Are you doing ERP with a therapist or on your own? I’m focusing on ROCD with my therapist and tried ERP on my own but felt like I ended up using it as reassurance.
@Bubba100 I’m working with a NOCD therapist. She’s been fantastic.
@SlappaDaBass Maybe I’ll reach out to my therapist and ask if we can focus on this theme! Thanks!
@Bubba100 For sure. Sorry I didn’t know what SO-OCD was but I’m getting help for ROCD. It’s all similar treatment just different themes
I used to have SO-OCD pretty bad a few years ago. For me it helped to think about things I do that prove I’m straight while also thinking of things that prove I’m gay even tho I’m not gay. Then you can compare the two to show yourself that your intrusive thoughts are just intrusive and “stupid” in a way. I had a dream 2 nights ago that made me believe I was gay when I woke up, but then I thought about if I was gay, and kinda proved to myself that I’m not. However I’m not 100% sure that it is a healthy way for everyone to move past the intrusive thought. But it definitely was for me because the anxiety around it stopped years ago.
Unfortunately I think doing this just reinforces reassurance for me. I tell myself "it really doesn't matter if you're gay anyway because you love your fiancee," but then my mind just switches to ROCD topics and it just feeds off of each other :(
@Bubba100 I totally relate to this! I have had both topics for 3 years now and they feed off of each other. For the last year ish I have actually been doing really well up until a bad flair up last week that I’m still working through. You’ve got this!!!
@LV4523 - Can I ask what specifically you have done over the last year (like what ERP you do) that has been helpful, if you're okay with sharing? Especially while also in a relationship? I have months where I do really well and then something triggers a spiral for 3-4 weeks, but this has been the longest episode yet, almost 10 weeks
@Bubba100 I’m similar! I do a lot of imagery erp and fully immersing myself into whatever triggering story or image I have come up. For example, I fully picture myself in a same sex relationship and feel all the feelings that come with this exposure. Like fully jump into it. Because the feelings and the way my body reacts to these things are absolutely true worst. It’s helped the thoughts be less sticky over time, but obviously some weeks are still tough. I used to always use exposures still as “proof” that I’m not what these thoughts tell me, so I really try and actively go for it all the way during erp and not reassure myself.
@LV4523 - I guess I struggle with immersing myself fully into these types of ERP strategies. when you say that what do you mean exactly? Is it like an experience where you sit by yourself and just think it through? I feel like I've also been going through this for so long, that imagining that doesn't necessarily provoke serious anxiety, which then gives me anxiety hahaha
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I literally don't even care anymore, I'm just tired of thinking lol
Yeah I totally get that. It’s good that you were able to recognize that it would reassure you and not do it tho.
Going through both themes right now !
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