I’m in erp and I have only gone to like 3 sessions so far but I’m terrified ERP will not work to help me recover. It already feels like I’m doing it wrong and am not doing exposures correctly etc.
Exposures are a learning curve. They’re going to feel hard or scary or uncomfortable. Keep an open dialogue with your therapist. Practice self care, rest, and lean on your support systems if you have one. I also recommend the support groups here. I want you to know too, that what you’re feeling is incredibly common. But you’re doing hard work and you’re going forward in your recovery journey. That’s very courageous, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
@MichelleV Thank you so much for your kind words
I’m like 6 sessions in and recently did my first two exposures. It’s not a race. Sometimes I just need to talk to my therapist about life and my thoughts and anxiety. Not every session has to be about exposure. Give yourself grace. The process is unique to you and your needs. Sending you good vibes!
yeah i feel the same way rn. i feel like i am doing the exposures wrong and if i find that an exposure doesn’t seem to cause that much stress. I also feel like im thinking a lot about ERP and i get worried that reminding myself to use uncertainty phrases is a compulsion
@Haley Watson I’m so glad I’m not alone but also so sorry you guys relate to this because it’s such a draining scary fear. If I don’t feel anxious during and exposure I just go into a whole spiral about “what if it’s not ocd” or “if I’m not anxious then I can’t learn how to deal with the anxiety” or just that I’m flat out not doing it right. It’s almost like exposures in therapy feel so controlled that it’s not as scary as when a thought just pops in and freaks me out. I’ve also been worrying that me reminding myself will turn into a compulsion and in a way I feel like it has. It’s such a defeating disorder.
@It gets better <3 You are having ocd about ERP. I've been in that loop before too. It does work. It desensitizes you to the obsessive thoughts and makes them less important. Medication also helps me.
Glad I’m not the only one feeling that way. All this is new to me and I think sometimes I can’t see me improving myself . But I will try and remain hopeful.
@Anonymous I’m so sorry you’re going through it too but I’m glad I’m not completely alone. I’m still going to try and I’m still going to show up but I just keep getting these thoughts of “you’ll always be like this”
@It gets better <3 Maybe you will, maybe you won’t. But it’s worth it to try anyways.
ERP works! It's a slow gradual process. Give it time. Remember, OCD is the doubting disorder. Focus on your response prevention tools. Here's a few I use... Maybe I'm doing it right or maybe I'm not doing it right. So what! Or, I don't have to figure this out and I can just let it be what it is. Or, I can get through this even though I don't know what will happen. ERP is hard, but it works!
I took a break from my therapy, perhaps it was a mistake on my part. I wasn’t feeling like things were going well, idk 🤷🏽♂️. But I left the option open for picking up 🆙 again. I just needed a rest. Keep y’all fingers crossed for me.
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