What do you do when a compulsion no longer relieves the anxiety? My pocd is giving me hell. Lately my pocd has focused on child pornography and the google compulsion I’ve had isn’t relieving the anxiety. Before just searching the term was enough to clear the get rid of the anxiety and I was always left with the feeling of guilt that I’d done something wrong and that I was gonna be jailed for it. I never want to see the actual thing and I’ve been trying to resist the google compulsion but I feel like I’m not strong enough no matter how hard I try. I want feel like such a monster for it. What do you guys suggest I do?

Compulsions will keep you trapped in the cycle! Exposing yourself to things that give you anxiety, sitting with that fear, and being able to move on from that fear, is the only way to break free of ocd. My compulsions kept me trapped and still get me stuck sometimes. But breaking free of compulsions will bring you closer to healing.

@Scooterino But I’m not working with a therapist and I don’t really know how to do ERP. I’m taking Prozac and have only been taken it for 3 days. I was told that starting meds can make ocd worse for a while while it balances all the hormones out.

@Rhys34 This is true. Meds take a while to work. Hang in there! I would really recommend and ocd therapist if you can find one- mine literally saved my life.

@Scooterino Ok thank you. I just want to get better. Ocd seems to have taken over my life lately. It’s like everything with a search bar my ocd says type in the above mentioned phrase and see what pops up. I’ve been weak and gave in to it but I’m trying to get stronger and with my meds I know I will get better.

@Rhys34 You are already getting better, if you recognize you have compulsions. Even if you can’t always win the fight with the compulsion, you know what you are doing and knowing is half the battle! Proud of you for getting medications and taking your first steps towards recovery.

@Rhys34 If you’re not seeing an OCD specialist and one is available to you, then you should seek out therapy.

@NOCD Advocate - Carl Cornett I’d love to work with a therapist but it’s financially not possible right now sadly.

@Rhys34 If that’s not possible, read these books. The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD https://www.pdfdrive.com/a-guide-to-overcoming-obsessions-and-compulsions-using-mindfulness-and-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-mindfulness-for-ocd-workbook-the-e175505618.html Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts https://www.pdfdrive.com/overcoming-unwanted-intrusive-thoughts-a-cbt-based-guide-to-getting-over-frightening-obsessive-or-disturbing-thoughts-e176334635.html Freedom from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder https://www.pdfdrive.com/freedom-from-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-a-personalized-recovery-program-for-living-with-uncertainty-e200322025.html Needing to Know for Sure https://b-ok.asia/book/5302288/8a1bb7 The Imp of the Mind https://b-ok.asia/book/2925947/40111a

@Rhys34 I’m on day 4 of Prozac. I had a horrible exacerbation of POCD yesterday. I’m restarting therapy though. Therapy or looking into self help (ERP) books online could be helpful.