Halfway there and feel SO much better!

I wanted to let anyone who is just starting, or who feels they are in the thick of it, that this therapy actually works! Be honest with your therapist and do the homework as best you can. I used to sweat bullets every session and there were times I really didn't want to confront these fears and OCD thoughts. There is only one way to get better and it is to endure anxiety from homework, but it truly works. Since starting, I have been able to declutter as a past overconsumer and hoarder. I have been able to accept the circle of life since starting therapy. I used to be debilitated by thoughts of cleanliness inside my home, safety outside of my home, and perfectionism in my creative endeavors. I had even more subtypes I won't bother listing. Untreated OCD made life hell, no matter where I went or what I did, and I unfortunately lived for it unknowingly for 20 years. I know some of you have a similar story. But now, I feel I can live a complete life in comparison to the way I used to feel. I can actually sit and have pleasant thoughts, or no thoughts. I can finally focus on goals I had. I can live outside my head instead of in fear. And its not that an OCD thought never crosses my mind, but it seems way less powerful than before. Like a joke, almost. I can face problems I would have immediately ran from before. And that is the most incredible relief I could ask for! Thank you to my therapist and to the creator of this app. ❤️ To the awesome community: keep going! You got this. And if you feel you don't, you will sooner than you know it. 😊

Hypervigilante

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 22h

CONGRATULATIONS! 🥳

lisas5

Date posted: 17h

Thank you so much!! To you as well! 😁

krystaldawn

Date posted: 17h

Congratulations 🎉 you are so inspiring I just started with my therapist a few weeks ago finally about to start therapy. My house has been so cluttered for so long it’s embarrassing. You give me so much hope. If you don’t mind me asking how long did you start seeing improvement?

lisas5

Date posted: 16h

Thank you so much! We did a couple OCD ERPs to work my way up to doing harder things, each ERP being 1-3 sessions, I would say, depending on if you do the homework. If you avoid it, it takes longer 😅 Then I was able to have confidence with sorting things and donating a box of stuff I really didn't need. The ERP for that was honestly faster than I had thought, and empowering. I got a TON done with just garbage bags and boxes. I was going to donate stuff as often as people go grocery shopping. There were a few times where I got sick of it. But as long as you openly communicate with your therapist you will be ok, and go at your own pace. I have made SO many trips to Goodwill but to finally know where important things are in my home, and to uncover things I've been wondering about is worth it. My attitude during this was: if you start now, you can choose for it to never be this bad again. That kept me going too! Now this next thing is something I realized very recently, so if it is too much to take in, or if you disagree, that's okay! Give yourself grace because you are starting. For sentimental things, I pay attention to how I feel about the objects--like having my grandma's shirt surprisingly makes me sad to see instead of happy (probably because she's not here to wear it.) Yet it sat in my closet because I felt like if I got rid of it, I am getting rid of her memory. But when I look at a picture of us on my fridge, or a hummingbird that she liked, that makes me way happier and I can think of nice memories. Cooking a meal she made or watching a show she liked is way more rewarding than being bogged down with old clothes, and I can do it any time I like, alone or with people who knew her! ❤️

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