BG
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Becky B.Becky B.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Be patient and kind toward yourself. You can’t all of a sudden be recovered overnight. That’s not how it works. ERP is the golden standard for OCD treatment but you can’t completely reverse all symptoms that quickly or easily. By all means, make every effort to avoid the compulsive behaviors but don’t get down on yourself because you’re not doing the ERP “perfectly.” That’s OCD trying to tell you that you won’t succeed so you should just abort the mission.
ZaniiZanii
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Way to go! I’m working on that too with ERP. I can touch the taps now a lot of the time. I can’t if I’m going to eat or prepare food just yet. It is hard but what helps me is telling myself that people without OCD touch taps all the time, the other people in my family touch the taps and they are healthy but what works the best for me is telling OCD it has stolen enough time from me. At the moment that helps push me through the fear. When I’m ready to use door knobs I hope it still works! ?
IdrisIdris
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Proud of you! ERP can be so hard to do, but trust me it’s for the best. I’m rooting for you through this time
BGBG
- Date posted
- 6y ago
Thank you all of you for such motivating comments. Sounds like I have found a new home where everybody understands what is like to have an OCD which I am suffering for almost 20 years.
BGBG
- Date posted
- 6y ago
I use to pour water on the taps before touching them. My therapist told me not to do so. Is it ok not to do so? Because, I believe that pouring water on the taps is not part of my OCD. I have seen many people doing it. One more thing, for me, the reason for not touching things is not always fear of contamination. It is something else which I am afraid if I tell then it may trigger that in someone else.
Related posts
EllieH95
- Date posted
- 23w ago
How do you do ERP without spiraling?
I have contamination OCD that causes me to excessively wash my hands/clean items with disinfectant wipes. I know I just need to start with small exposures but how do I do that without spiraling? I tried a while back by just touching the outside of my dishwasher and not washing my hands after and it led to me being unable to even exist in my house. I basically lived on my couch for three weeks as it was the only 'safe' space that I had not touched with my dirty hands. I had to take a week off work to clean my house to make it somewhat liveable. I still haven't got round to cleaning everything though so things like my kitchen are still no-go zones that I don't enter. I just don't know how to start ERP without it making everything worse. Any advice would be appreciated. I am not seeing a therapist at the moment due to financial constraints.
Kinu
- Date posted
- 16w ago
Contamination OCD
I don't know what to do, my hands have become so numb and bruised because of constant washing hands, i have started hating each and every furniture around me, beacuse i feel they are not clean although they are being cleaned regularly but i cannot stop these thoughts. I clean my phone, bluetooth, charger with wet wipes each day, i don't touch any object around me, i am not being able to focus on my studies or anything else because of my ocd ihave stopped going out, everyone around me is so fed up of me. I have consulted so many therapists and been taking ayurvedic supplements too but nothing works. It is getting worse and worse, please if anybody can suggest me how to overcome these thoughts!
Anonymous
- Date posted
- 16w ago
Hand washing
I need advice. I’m constantly washing my hands after going to the bathroom/touching something I find gross, but it doesn’t stop at just washing. I have to keep washing til I feel right (usually 3-4 times). It also isn’t just my hands, I go all the way up my forearms. I know in my head that once is enough. But I can’t kick this repetitive behavior. I know I should just start only washing it once but I don’t know if I can handle the panic that will come after. I need advice/tips if anyone’s gone through something similar what worked for you. Im just sick of this
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