- Username
- Florida
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Well, that’s a key distinction. ERP’s objective isn’t to make the thoughts go away or stop. It’s about changing your relationship to your thoughts. When you’re working through recovery, you’ll notice that the thoughts might still be present. But it’s about living your life and doing what you want to do anyway. Over time, because you’re not reacting to the thoughts in the same way, you may notice that they decrease over time.
Can you “acknowledge” they are there, but not “welcome” them? For example, “I’m having an intrusive thought, but I’m going to continue doing this activity.” Or, “OCD, you are still talking, but I’m going to keep doing XYZ activity.”
I watched this one video that helped me. This woman said that if you walked by a house, you may have a thought that the house is ugly. But you don’t have any attachment to that thought, so it goes away and it doesn’t bother you, you may not even remember having it. When you have an intrusive thought, like “that house is ugly”, you’re acknowledging the thought. So whatever intrusive thought you’re having, it will pop into uour mind, but try not to get any emotional attachment to the thought. Then you’ll forget the thought is there. Obviously that’s much easier said than done, but that was the example I heard
I struggle with it beyond my understanding. But from what I do understand, it’s about fighting it without thinking about the fight. And continuing to do your regular activities that you originally wanted to do. The tv that’s on the Frits inside you will slowly fade out. Like. You’ll soon be back to how you were. It’s a struggle but the outcome. Getting over that bump in the road. Is worth it. Just can’t think about it. For us there can’t be a try, only do ?? Hope this made sense or helped a little at least
Thank you ? I appreciate your support
I'm having a set back currently but what I do is "Nope this is an OCD thought whatever I'm moving on" this what I usually do and go on doing the activity I have been doing ?
That’s exactly what it is.
How could i do erp if i have lot of new intrusive thoughts daily..
So I’m starting therapy this week but I’ve been trying to use ERP myself, my main compulsion is rumination which I wasn’t even aware was a compulsion. I’m trying to do ERP but when I focus on observing the thought it goes, I dunno if I’m focusing too much on actually how to follow ERP or is this normal? I feel like I might be subconsciously blocking thoughts because I know how bad it is when I go down the rabbit hole, but then I also worry that the anxiety goes too quickly and that I’m finding it too easy to ignore the thought?
For those how have done ERP how do you deal with the intrusive thoughts?
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