Is there a way other than ERP? I would do anything... ANYTHING but not that! ? PLEASE TELL ME IT IS

Escitalopram, right?

@Crassus1 A number of different medications can be used for ocd, mostly SSRIs. It may take some trying to find what works for you. I take sertraline and a very small dose of abilify.

@Nikki1809 Sertraline, I understand. But wait isn't abilify used for psychosis? Hmm

@Crassus1 I also take sertraline with some abilify. But what works for us may not work for you.

@Crassus1 In small doses it can be used for anxiety.

@Crassus1 Yeah, I take Escutalopram but there’s a few different options that you can discuss with a psychiatrist. Different meds work for different people??‍♀️

That I have to do exposures in a deliberate way and trigger the sht out of me

@Crassus1 That's understandable. Please know we're all rooting for you

@amineb04 Thank u

I love FREEDOM more than anything. I'm tired of being constrained! I want to be free ?

@Crassus1 Have you ever seen Braveheart? This scene might inspire you. https://youtu.be/hIvRkjOd1f8

@Ben84 Wow that gave me tears and really motivates me, it's soo powerful "They may take our lives but they will NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM!" I will watch this movie, thank you brother! I love Mel Gibson... I hope he's doing well cause I heard he got the virus.

@Crassus1 I hope you enjoy it!

What's ERP?

@amineb04 Exposure Response Prevention. It intentionally exposes you to your fears and then you sit with the anxiety so you become used to it.

@Ben84 Ah wow :/

Thank you for the article, it is very interesting... So basically in contrast to ERP, ACT doesn't challenge and change the thoughts but accepts them as normal. Just to make sure: while during ERP the patient deliberately exposes himself to the most unconfortable and disturbing stuff and then forces himself not to do the rituals and waits the anxiety to go away, in ACT the exposures are more accidental and what matters the most in both of them is avoiding to do the rituals

@Crassus1 In ERP you would start with what you fear least and work your way up. I think you might have ACT right (I'm still learning myself ☺). Let's keep learning together ☺.

@Ben84 Here's a podcast with the founder of ACT. If you don't have iTunes, just look for episode #4.

@Ben84 ☺

Maybe it's a bit too soon to start?

@amineb04 Yes, I'm so scared to start ?

@Crassus1 Ayy, that's okay if you're not ready yet. Maybe don't start it yet and think about it again in a few months? Do you think you could do that?

@amineb04 Yeah, maybe ☺

@Crassus1 Good :) It's gonna take time but I'm sure you'll be ready. If you need to talk I can give you my snap?

You're so right, I appreciate your honesty. Easier said than done lol, I feel you. It's horrifying for me to even think about ERP, let alone take that first step you were talking about. I'm sorry I am not brave enough, but that step seems to me a giant leap, probably the hardest thing I would do in my life... I wish there was a hypnotist that could simply wipe/delete this ocd crap from our minds like a computer virus ? All the best

@Crassus1 I'd like to keep this connection going with you as I feel we are at the same place . When I do "easier" exposures, I do find that the anticipatory anxiety was much worse than the actual exposure work. And taking ERP on with my own planned exposures is easier than dealing with unplanned triggers that pop up.

@dutchgirl Wow, I'm happy to hear that planned exposures are easier for you... Ofc we'll stay in touch, my weed-smoking, gouda-eating, tulip-planting, orange-wearing, bike-riding, windmil-user, rich atheist tolerant friend :3

@Crassus1 Lol. I wish I lived there!

@dutchgirl Wait, aren't you... dutch?

@Crassus1 Yes, on my mother's side; but I live in the US

Sounds good... Little by little. But if it's too much and I don't have to do it isn't that rejecting the treatment? Idk

@Crassus1 It’s more like if the exposure your therapist suggests sounds like too much you can try something smaller. You work with the therapist, the therapist doesn’t force you to do anything.

For me it sounds worse than capital punishment. It sounds like torture! But really... After the first session? WOW

Thank you so much! This is really helpful! :)