Ruslan
- Date posted
- 5y
Quite UnknownQuite Unknown
- Date posted
- 5y
Do you work to be prepared for that moment.
Quite UnknownQuite Unknown
- Date posted
- 5y
Unfortunately there is no active healthy way to reduce the anxiety. You have to stay in the situation and wait until anxiety goes down on its own. This is called habituation. By leaving the situation you could bring the anxiety down faster but this is counterproductive because that's what you've been doing all the time and the brain gets no chance to habituate.
Quite UnknownQuite Unknown
- Date posted
- 5y
In the exact moment you have those sudden thoughts, try to resist doing compulsions.
ocdillustratedocdillustrated
- Date posted
- 5y
I think Quite Unknown is giving good advice. Focus on the response prevention.
RuslanRuslan
- Date posted
- 5y
I am trying but still I feel very anxious and feel its going to happen, let me give an example: I am in the shop and trying to buy something and when I am taking this product from the shelf I suddenly have a thought -don't buy this or you will die from cancer. Or aanother example don't wear this jeans ttoday or .. and it is making me so much stressed so i ccannot manage doing erp. Do you know any selfteraphy which would help because I don't have enough funds for a therapist in this hard times. Regards
ocdillustratedocdillustrated
- Date posted
- 5y
Is the "or else" always about cancer?
RuslanRuslan
- Date posted
- 5y
It's mostly about death and yeah in 70% ObSessions it's cancer or that devil will come in me or I die in accident... and it's starting from the moment I wake up and take 90% of my day,ii mean it's following me in almost all my actions I do when I am awake, I am just not Able to change anything, it looks so real...
ocdillustratedocdillustrated
- Date posted
- 5y
You could do imaginal exposure for the most frequent "or else" scenarios
RuslanRuslan
- Date posted
- 5y
I wrote I tried but I don't have any fear so imagination won't help here
Quite UnknownQuite Unknown
- Date posted
- 5y
You said you would be so stressed that you cannot do ERP. First of all we should sort out, what kind of response prevention you should do. Ocd can also mean avoidance. Next time ocd tells you to avoid wearing this jeans you should say to yourself okay I will take the risk and wear it anyway. If this is too much stress break it down into smaller steps for example wearing the jeans at least four half an hour.
Quite UnknownQuite Unknown
- Date posted
- 5y
Four=<for
RuslanRuslan
- Date posted
- 5y
What about the feeling that this is so real and looks like it's going to happen? Is there a way to reduce anxiety in such case?
Quite UnknownQuite Unknown
- Date posted
- 5y
Unfortunately OCD always feels extremely real though it is not.
Related posts
anxietypoops
- Date posted
- 25w
The RP in ERP
Hi! I've been on my OCD healing journey for about half a year and I have seen a lot of success. I'm reaching out for advice, I am very willing to do exposures because I know the more I do them, the more I get better, but I struggle with the response prevention part. I don't know how to control my brain when it comes to facing the fears especially since most of my compulsions are mental. I can tell myself the typical things "I am okay with the uncertainty of this happening", etc. but its like my brain doesn't believe them. I've been stuck in this disconnect for a while and would love advice you have heard from a therapist or learned that has really help you.
Looping
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 20w
ERP/Therapy
I find while doing exposures, rarely does my anxiety lessen. It usually amps up and stays that way for the remainder of the day. I could be having a fairly decent day, but dutifully do my exposures and then the rest of my day is anxiety filled. I guess that’s just how it is now? Also, I’m wondering if my therapist even believes I have OCD. I totally understand my therapist cannot provide reassurance. But it’s to the point it seems my therapist acts like I actually did the thing I fear. I feel so isolated.
Monkeybrain842
- Date posted
- 15w
How does one activl 'practice' exposure therapy ?
One problem - Various themes This is my first post. I had a relapse a few months ago. Life was amazing and then boom, I got triggered by something and started spiralling about my sexuality (having finally been at peace for two years, entered a healthy new relationship and come out of the closet as an older women). How do you, when you're not triggered practice ERP? I'm able to try and accept the thoughts every time I see a man. What should I be doing when I don't encounter these triggers. I was to say as well that I also am starting to get real event OCD about some of the sexual things I did in the past when I was married and in an unhealthy toxic relationship with my ex husband. I am shamed and disgusted and I'm working on it but there's a certain subsection of the LGBTQ community that trigger these thoughts, groinals and thing for me... I feel like I'm beginning to realise I need to maybe be a little more active in my recovery instead of waiting for triggers... But I don't know how
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond