I need help with something. I have severe OCD. To the point where I will start at 7AM and won't stop until I go to bed. I have a fear of the number 6. Also, I get the word "devil" and "God" stuck in my head. It is intervals of 9 and at 6PM I started a habit where I have to say "devil" and "God" over. But the main one is saying "God" over a bunch of times until it feels just right. I'm scared of stopping my habits at anything with the number 6 because that will really be the day I stop the 6th? If that makes sense. In all honestly I know nothing bad is going to happen and I know I will be fine, but it still gets stuck. I am interested in exposure therapy. So with that being said...would people think it would be better to stop at the number 6 so that way the fear will go away or should I try to stop around 7 or 8? What would be the most helpful?

BeachedMermaid

Date posted: 4y

I’m so sorry you are struggling. I have had fears of certain numbers my whole life, it jsut doesn’t feel right when it’s off. You really should seek professional help since it is very severe for you. Exposure therapy is very helpful in the long run. If you’re anxiety is so high then you should work with someone to get it down so you can start to doing exposures that will be easier for you. ERP can be hard, but if you go at your own pace it can really help you heal. 💕

KayceeyaisSad

Date posted: 4y

What does erp do?

BeachedMermaid

Date posted: 4y

@KayceeyaisSad ERP means exposure response therapy, so basically you will work to face the things you fear slowly. Like for me with contamination fears, I am afraid to eat off a plate someone else touched, so an exposure would be for me to take that plate and eat off it. Exposures vary on the person. It’s really helpful for being able to live with your OCD, and not avoid so much. Hope that explains it!

KayceeyaisSad

Date posted: 4y

@BeachedMermaid Ok thanks :)

lucas..

Date posted: 4y

Well I recommend you getting a professional to help on that one, but I can share what I know. I am on ERP and when we start a new exposure we think very small, little steps. For example I have fear of going to school , so to help my first exposure was about imagining myself entering the school for a few minutes, Then as time went by, little longer. Now I’ll walk to school since is very close to my house, just pass through it and go back home. All of this is to prepare myself when school actually starts and you can see how I’m slowly increasing the level. If the number 6 gives you extreme anxiety, try doing a progressive approach like my example. maybe imagining what would be like if you stopped at the number 6 for 10 minutes or so. Then increasingly adding until you get to your goal. You can do it :)

Vannafaith

Date posted: 4y

I want to stop though. But it is giving me anxiety because I should have did a more positive compulsion to stop with. I don't know if should just do the more positive but annoying compulsion and then stop or what? I don't know what to do.

KayceeyaisSad

Date posted: 4y

@Vannafaith The complusions are annoying to me n give me headaches

Vannafaith

Date posted: 4y

@KayceeyaisSad They give me headaches too trust me but I rather block it out with a more positive compulsion than a negative one.

KayceeyaisSad

Date posted: 4y

@Vannafaith Same here... U on meds?

Vannafaith

Date posted: 4y

@KayceeyaisSad I'm on a bunch of meds.

KayceeyaisSad

Date posted: 4y

My ocd is severe... It starts when i wake up till the time i go to bed or sometime in my sleep... Yeah the number 6 can be scary cause 666 is associated with the devil... I hope u get better.

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