The intention of Exposure and Response Prevention therapy is NOT to get rid of the thoughts so that you can live the life you want. It is to live the life you want WITH the thoughts. I would love to hear about what you are doing to live your best life, even though your OCD thoughts are present!

I haven't quit my job even though my emotions and thoughts often overwhelm me and I feel like quitting and hiding in my bed instead.

Although you're right, it's still very hard. Which just proves that we are very strong people even if we don't think we are.

I’ve started to get back into studying and school. I have even deepened my relationship with my bf even while having moral Scrupulosity and ROCD fears and doubts.

My boyfriend is Portuguese and I’m American, so we can’t see each other because of the COVID border restrictions. I’ve only recently been diagnosed with ROCD, though now that I know what it is, I know that I’ve had it for almost 2 years (the length of our official relationship). I’ve begun counseling for it through this app, seeing a psychiatrist/getting medicated, and my boyfriend and I are in the process of getting a civil marriage so I can go to see him for a few months. My hope is that we will get engaged and married in the next year or two. My ROCD makes the whole thing terrifying and heartbreaking at times, but I’m so relieved to finally be learning how to heal and taking that journey.

This is a great post. I’m doing much better with my contamination symptoms but the thoughts are still there, so I agree with you. Personally I see each time I’m afraid as an exposure possibility and visualize my “OCD monster” decrease in size in my head. I tell myself I could die from touching the unknown stain and that if it’s my time, it’s my time, and the anxiety lowers and I can keep living. It’s a great feeling.