After 3 months of ERP it has finally paid off and I can now say I feel recovered! If anyone wants some advice let me know ❤️

Thank you!!

Thank you :) !

Thank you so much! It’s good that you’ve been applying ERP but the trick to recovery is to do it for everything - especially ruminating. The best thing for ruminating it to catch yourself when you do it and say “I am doing a compulsion, I’m going to stop now” and revert your attention elsewhere. It’s tricky at first but eventually it will become so easy it’s automatic. And most importantly don’t justify!!!! There is no justification, that’s what your ocd is telling you, it’s not the truth. Even if you think of a justification ignore it and don’t ruminate anyway. It helps short term but in the long term that is what will be holding you back. You’ve got this!

@HS369 Thank you SO much! I really appreciate your help! Congrats again on your recovery, and thank you!!

The anxiety itself is not a compulsion but things like ruminating, “problem solving”, racing thoughts are. They are very tricky to stop doing at first because It almost happens automatically. The best thing I did was stop myself when I noticed myself doing it and say to myself “this is a compulsion, I’m going to stop” and then revert my attention elsewhere . The more you do it the easier it gets to stop quickly before it eventually becomes an automatic response.

@HS369 Yup ruminating is the worst compulsion for me, so all u do to stop it is to tell urself to stop and take ur attention elsewhere? What did u do to busy urself?

@jasminex123 Do something you enjoy :). I used to play a game on my phone or chat with a friend on the phone. If you talk to someone though make sure it isn’t for reassurance.

Of course! I promise it does get better. If you have any questions let me know.

Thank you! My biggest thing would be perseverance and consistency with your ERP. It starts getting easier and easier to resist compulsions and it’s the best feeling!

ERP is very difficult especially at first, my therapist even told me it might get worse before it gets better. Persevere I promise it’ll get easier.

You don’t need to prove anytbing to your ocd anymore ❤️ simply ignore the nasty voice telling you to feel guilty, stop doing what it tells you to do. It feels weird at first because this ocd makes us feel like we’re bad people but you deserve relief and recovery. Guilt was my biggest feeling with ocd. Sending lots of support because this theme was the worst for me I know how horrible it is. Here’s a good link, this really helped me. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.turningpointpsychology.ca/blog/real-event-ocd%3fformat=amp

It will be hard at first. The best thing to do is be compassionate and kind to yourself, tell yourself that you do deserve good things even if you don’t believe it at first. And keep going with your ERP

This seems to be really common in the real event theme. I’m not going to give you any reassurance but I would recommend you read the website I linked it’s very helpful. I would also suggest you don’t avoid hanging out with your friends for that reason because avoidance is a compulsion! Luckily real event ocd is treated the same as every other theme with ERP. If you follow it you’ll be able to move on guilt free x

I know it’s hard . Are you seeing a therapist at the moment?

This is good, I’d express this clearly if you haven’t already. Is she a CBT therapist?

I’m sure you’re in good hands then ❤️ make sure you are following the ERP perfectly though you can’t miss certain things out. Especially avoidance, confessing and ruminating.