Serio?
- Date posted
- 4y
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 4y
ERP is definitely challenging and not easy. For me it really intensifies the thoughts and spikes my anxiety. It also really urges me to do compulsions to quickly calm my fear. The beauty of it is that, in doing ERP, you are intentionally facing your fears and anxieties and not running from them. This results in an overall decrease in anxiety and OCD over time. It’s like if your scared of going on an elevator, the first 10 times on one will be really scary, but by the 100th time on an elevator, the fears won’t even matter anymore. Just be patient with it and allow the anxiety to spike, knowing that, eventually, it will come down for good.
SheebySheeby
- Date posted
- 4y
^^^ this. Don’t rush feeling less and less anxious. It will happen naturally
Serio?Serio?
- Date posted
- 4y
That makes a lot of sense. I’m on week two and it’s been getting pretty difficult. The OCD dreams and disturbing thoughts and urges have come back. This motivates me a lot, thank you
Evelyn4416Evelyn4416
- Date posted
- 4y
I’ve been doing ERP for about 8 months through NOCD. In the beginning it was pretty heightened and tears were involved at one point, but wow the results that come afterward is incredibly worth it. I would consider my OCD severe last year, it was the same severity for months until I started therapy/ERP and that’s when I finally started seeing progress. In the beginning I’ve heard it’s common for it to get worse before it gets better, I slightly dealt with this but it barely lasted and you have to keep pushing yourself. Now I’m a lot better than I was last year. I still have the OCD symptoms for sure, but the intensity and frequency of it are less. There are days where I really feel like myself again. You learn what to do when you’re having an off day or even an off moment. Overall it’s the best course of action I have ever taken.
kmecrozkmecroz
- Date posted
- 4y
Hey Sheri! So - ditto to above actually. I'm on week 4 of NOCD and it's tough! I'm having more OCD and more anxiety - but before I was just forcibly pushing it away. I'm learning to deal with it now instead of trying to force myself to ignore it. That way I can do it naturally. It's totally reprogramming the brain and so hard. But - that being said - I am noticing a little difference and know at the end of this I'll be so much better. Just stick with it and don't give up. :)
Serio?Serio?
- Date posted
- 4y
Thank you! I wish you luck as well. It’s getting tough but I’m tougher!
Related posts
Jennifer Dal...
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 25w
Let’s talk about Therapy
So you got to ask me anything… Now I’d like to ask you something! I’ve heard from Members that they were so scared coming to their first ERP session. They were terrified that I would think they were crazy, that I would tell them their worst fears were true. That I would confirm they are some form of a terrible person or have them hauled off to prison for their thoughts. I’ve also had Members share how they’re very scared to begin ERP treatment because they’ve researched enough to know it means facing the fear, without the compulsions that have kept them feeling safe (but not really safe) this entire time. They struggled to see how they could be capable of doing this, while simultaneously acknowledging that they did not want to live like this anymore. If you have had your first session, what were your thoughts before? Did you have any hesitations or fears going into it? How did it turn out? If you haven’t yet begun to work with an ERP specialist, what is holding you back?
Hailey.7e
- Date posted
- 25w
What is ERP?
Can I hear some examples of specific parts of ERP that has helped you? I've been doing talk therapy for a few years and the major issue I have with it is that I already have analyzed all of my problems from every angle, so I'm kind of just sitting there yapping about it for an hour. I need solutions and things that make me feel better.
Anonymous1990
- Date posted
- 25w
ERP
I’m starting NOCD. I had several years of cbt as a child (well over 20 years ago) and I see a trauma therapist. But now I’ll be seeking further help for OCD and just really scared. CBT wasn’t helpful for me. How has ERP been helpful for you? Do you feel like you’ll finally get your life back? I’m consumed by my obsessions 😢 Would love others feedback if ERP helped you ❤️
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