Okay, I think a lot of you need to hear this. It isn’t gonna help you, but it will hopefully be a piece of motivation to encourage you into ERP if you’re not there already. I had health OCD, I was debilitated with it, entirely convinced that there was something seriously wrong with me and I was just unaware. I went through ERP for that, and realised how absurd it was. I have a completely different reaction to anything health related now, it practically reprogrammed my brain and I’m more than glad that I took the jump to do ERP. I had HOCD, that also debilitated me and made me feel like my world was collapsing in on itself and I was convinced without a shadow of a doubt that it was real and that my brain wasn’t lying to me. I went through ERP and again, I realised how absurd it all was. I realised that the whole time I was straight, and that the fear was manifesting itself as an OCD ‘test’ ERP works. it’s scary, and feels worse before better, but ultimately, it will change your life. Sending you all my best wishes!!

That’s almost every OCD individuals fear, so you’re not alone and you’ll soon find th answer to that question and you’ll look back and realised it was completely irrational to fear that, lmao

Hey!! I’m glad it encouraged you a little. So as much research as you can. After beginning ERP, symptoms almost always get worse - after all, you are literally forcing yourself to do what you’ve been vehemently avoiding. It’s natural to feel worse. But, let me tell you, when done correctly it. Does. Get. Better!!! It’s best to do it alongside an OCD therapist, so look into whether that’s an option for you. There are ways you can do it on this app, but I understand not everyone has the means. In that case I’d just advise you to research ERP and OCD to the point where you could tell someone about it at length. Of course, you’re still not a professional, but you’ll have a good grasp and you’re just making your success rate much, much more likely. Search on YouTube ERP, watch podcasts on OCD and ERP. Whatever’s easiest. Dr Pat McGrath does a live stream tomorrow and you can ask him whatever question you want to do with ERP, ask him about it! But yeah, there’s so many different areas on the internet that you can find out about ERP. You can still do this with a therapist. The knowledge you have will help you even more with a therapist!! Sending you my best wishes, research as much as you can!!! You’ve got this

@Itsgonnabeok Thank you so much for your advice! ☺️

Thank you! I noticed before my own recovery I felt like I never heard any ‘true’ success stories. There was just people saying ‘ERP’ helped with my anxiety, etc. No one ever saying truly what their experience was. I’m aware these were efforts to avoid reassurance giving, but sometimes you do need a little reassurance if it’s whats going to send you to therapy where you get better

@Itsgonnabeok Yeah I agree on that and I think you did a good job avoiding reassurance in your post. Erp often feels like kind of abstract to me because I have a hard time understanding how it is supposed to help and post like yours give me hope and a better understanding of how recovery looks like. Have a great day <3

@Heleni I’m so glad!! Have a great day too <3