Hi all, I hope everyone is doing well! Can some of you that experience Harm OCD and or developing schizophrenia (or any other mental health issue) OCD give me some out of the box exposure suggestions? I’ve seen to get used to my own exposures and I’m looking to challenge myself a bit more.

Good point, as I read it again, it is a hit vague. For example harm ocd- violence towards my partner or other loved ones. Exposure- carry a pocket knife around, read articles of bfs hurting/killing their partner, etc. Or for the Schizophrenia: fear if developing it. Exposure- watching simulation videos and watching stories of people who have developed it at what age, what were the symptoms... I can go deeper with other exposures, but those are the go to exposures for those thoughts.

@Greenwhale Thanks Greenwhale! I like the paper in the pocket idea and looptaping something over and over for the schizophrenia thoughts. Currently, I tend to accept the thoughts that come in, but at times it can be difficult. Usually, it’s more difficult to accept the thoughts, as just thoughts, when my Aniexty is at higher state. But for the most part I tend to accept the thoughts if not antagonize it as if I enjoy it.

@Greenwhale That’s a good idea. Thanks Greenwhale, I appreciate your inputs. I’m going to try some of the suggestions you made.

Hi Katie, I don’t want to sound corny, but I don’t think Ive truly mastered any of my exposures yet. But I have gotten good at accepting the uncertainty of my thoughts. Which have helped with my exposures. I still have my doubts and when I start going down that OCD rabbit hole of reinsurance seeking, I start to do my ACT lessons, followed by exposures. Some specific exposures I’ve gotten good with: HarmOCD: Sleeping with sharp or potentially dangerous items near me. Pointing knives and selecting my weapon of choices (as a sarcastic way of playing with the thoughts). Or conjuring up thoughts while driving, I.e. hitting bikers, going off the side of the road, hitting trees, hurting a loved one, reading articles of violent crimes, etc. For the schizophrenia theme: Watching simulation videos, looking up survivor stories, finding specific symptoms and using the symptoms as possible warning signs, etc. I hope this answers your question.

@Jerry It does answer my question. And I'm impressed! What tasks are still bothering you?

@NOCD Advocate - Katie Dealing with the possibility of developing schizophrenia has given me a hard time. Mainly because that is something completely uncontrollable. So exposures sometimes get hard mainly because I run out of ideas. For the HarmOCD, the images make it difficult sometimes to conduct exposures, because usually the images are super vivid. Making it hard sometimes to combat it with ACT.

@Jerry Maybe you could draw or paint the images

@NOCD Advocate - Katie I’ll try it!