My therapist is saying that if I have a thought that I've thrown away something valuable (my watch, wallet, credit cards, money, etc.), that the exposure would actually be throwing away my valuables. I'm just confused because I thought the goal of ERP was to sit with the thought & not do the compulsion (check). Not to actually make our thoughts become real...

Thanks, that's what I thought too. Maybe I need to find a different therapist

@canigetawitness I mean they are in the right ball park... But like I said it needs to be in a controlled environment, so if you are in their office and you throw it out during the session but then they retrieve it for you after maybe that could work? Or just thinking about it happening to you and sitting with that feeling. But you couldn't just on your own throw out your valuables and leave them there to actually get thrown out. That is really tricky.

@Anonymous Yes, but they said they would want me to go down the street throwing things away.

@canigetawitness 🤔 Do they want you to pick it back up afterwards or will they? And do they want you to use your real valuables or pretend cards etc? That's unethical to have you actually throw your valuables away! 😯

In a way, I can understand what she's saying. It's 'normal' to have thoughts like worrying about if you threw something important out or wondering if you left the stove on etc and then some rituals or compulsions like checking. However, with OCD it is to a much greater extent than those without OCD. The way she worded it was weird and without explaining it, it can definitely come off as misconstrued!

@Anonymous Yes, I think so too thank you for giving your opinion it helps understanding 🥰

@Anonymous One of my ocd is hilarious because I have to rub my feet together 15 times + 3 to get in my bed 😂

@Jade You're welcome! And I suppose for some rituals it is 'easier' to eliminate for the rest of your life meaning once its eradicated you don't have to come across it naturally. Some things checking, we may all have to do still during our lives. But it all depends on the individual and the specifics! Either way I know it's a tough battle, but we can get through it! 💪 @Jade Me too!! Some of my compulsions make zero sense at all. My brain will tell me "tap on the steering wheel 5 times or your family member will die" ... like whaaaat? That makes zero logical sense but I have to do it. It's the struggle. 🤣

@Anonymous Yes same here 😂 Yes, we will arrive and we will win 💪🥰