So I'm concerned with a suggestion I got from an online therapist who knows about OCD. I've told her about my particular issues and thoughts that I'm having and messaged her today letting her know that I've been really depressed feeling. I'm experiencing existential OCD and she mentioned to try to stop thinking about the philosophical questions because they don't have answers, so I'm just running my mind. She mentioned putting a rubber band on my wrist and using that to bring awareness when I'm having those thoughts and to stop them, (or maybe to divert my attention to something else). Is this conflicting with what we know about OCD treatment? I thought thought stopping like this was ineffective. I'm willing to try anything, but I also want to make sure I'm doing things right and not making myself worse. As a note, this is an online therapist I just started with. I have an in person one that I just started with as well, the online one was because I felt so depressed this week and felt like I needed extra support.

evkrey

Date posted: 5y

The rubber band thing is the worst advice ever! That actually reinforces the thoughts so they come back even worse!!

Kenny635

Date posted: 5y

Good grief. 40 years ago i was diagnosed...thats what they did then. Cant believe someone still practicing the medieval technique.

PeachyPopsicle

Date posted: 5y

I was surprised as well, I didn't think therapists still suggested this from what I've read on OCD therapy.

[Deleted]

Date posted: 5y

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PeachyPopsicle

Date posted: 5y

What's confusing is she's familiar with exposures because we've talked about them. So I don't know if she means for me to use this as a coping skill?

PeachyPopsicle

Date posted: 5y

@Greenwhale Thanks, I know NOCD isn't available in my area yet unfortunately. I mainly wanted teletherapy as something for a little extra support between my in person sessions.

Missmuffcake

Date posted: 5y

Some therapists don't get OCD. Can you get into your regular therapist who has a better understanding of your history?

PeachyPopsicle

Date posted: 5y

I won't be able to see her until Tuesday. I tried talking with this therapist online for some extra support between my in person sessions, mainly because I felt so down after my last in person session. I felt like I needed some extra support.

PeachyPopsicle

Date posted: 5y

Thanks for all the input, guys! I won't be trying the rubber band technique, I'm going to work with the coping skills that I know are supposed to be helpful. I'm really frustrated that this therapist I found online through another app that my insurance covers is the only one I could find that mentioned OCD in her description. Luckily I do have a therapist that I'm seeing in person that seems to know her stuff.

evkrey

Date posted: 5y

Please go on amazon and order “Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder By Dr.Jonathon Grayson”; use it as the companion to your therapy. Will help you a ton to know you’re on the right track

PeachyPopsicle

Date posted: 5y

@Greenwhale It's BetterHelp. My insurance covers it so I wanted to give it a try. I talked to one counselor for a bit, but I'm pretty sure she wasn't specialized in OCD, so I switched to another one this week who mentioned that she has worked with OCD before. And even though she's familiar with exposures, she still mentioned the rubber band thing which confuses me.

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