It is common that OCD causes people to have thoughts that lead to extreme guilt and anxiety and, no matter how hard the person tries, those thoughts and feelings won’t go away. This guilt may have been initially caused by a traumatic experience, but your OCD will latch on and make the feeling worse. This is known as “Responsibility OCD.” The gold-standard treatment for all subtypes of OCD, including Responsibility OCD, is exposure and response (ERP) therapy. During ERP therapy, the person struggling with OCD is exposed to the stimuli that causes them to feel anxious and guilty, and they are prevented from engaging in their compulsions and rituals. For example, part of ERP can be to purposely think the exact thoughts you would prefer not to have, and then actively resisting any urges to “push out” or “get rid of” those thoughts. Over time, with repeated exposures, your brain learns that experiencing those thoughts doesn’t have to mean anything about you as a person, and there is less of an emotional reaction to them. ERP therapy should be done together with an OCD therapist. With trauma-related OCD or OCD that is co-occurring with PTSD, you may also need a different type of therapy. It’s best to speak with a NOCD therapist or another mental health professional to determine the best treatment plan. There is hope and happiness at the end of this journey.

Best wishes

Me too! I was so worried after experiencing more symptoms, but am glad other stuff can be accounted for. To you, me, and all the other sufferin' homies, let's give it our best!

@Anonymous Amazing when all the pieces begin to fall into place

Im not sure if you're talking to me but Ive haf ptsd since I was 5. I don't recall having ocd symptoms until I was about 12. After that, it was always something that was in the background. Id have thoughts but was able to brush them off easily. Not anymore

@luchalysol Oh sorry was just kind of putting it out there. I noticed my OCD has greatly worsend since I developed ptsd

@Shep24 No its ok. I saw your comment and didn't see anyone mention ptsd but me so figured it was to me ?? I do think my ocd was triggered by my ptsd. My ocd makes me feel Im like my older brother, whom was abusive. A lot of the thoughts I get are eerily similar to behaviors or stuff he would say about me. So yeah, its a pain. It doesn't help that he recently had a baby so I think its brought this full blown onset of harm icd

@luchalysol Okay, I already had OCD before I went through a tragic event, my OCD has worsened since I have PTSD however It hasn’t necessarily created more compulsions.

@Shep24 Also just the fact that you are concerned that you don’t want to be like your brother shows you are very different than him. :)

@Shep24 Im so sorry for the late reply. PTSD can certainly trigger ocd symptoms it seems. Personally my compulsions are mostly mental. What about yours? Thank you! Im hoping Im not, Im currently working on just letting go and healing from that past. My son deserves a happy and healthy mom

@luchalysol Thank you for sharing! I have both the O and the C topped with late onset Tourette’s. Many doctors will not treat me because of the severity of it. But I found a great rehab to try to get my life more functional

@Shep24 Oh wow. Its kind of interesting considering ocd is kinda like tourettes, but of the mind. Im sorry you've had a hard time finding therapy but glad you are getting some form of help. How are you doing?

@luchalysol Really well the course of treatment is being formed as we go but the facility is amazing as are the people

@Shep24 That's awesome! Glad you are doing well ??