DOCD
- Date posted
- 4y
[Deleted][Deleted]
- Date posted
- 4y
Comment deleted by user
Madison the ERP NinjaMadison the ...
- Date posted
- 4y
Yes! Dr. Michael J. Greenburg believes we completely recover from OCD. It’s not that we never have uncomfortable thoughts — everyone does — but with time once we stop doing compulsions, we move right past them like everyone else does!
bluebellbluebell
- Date posted
- 4y
I’m glad that I’ve found this post, because I genuinely believe that the core fear is unbelievably useful to understand - and it was an integral part of my recovery. I’m not a psych expert, but I know that ERP is a specific form of CBT. Identifying ‘core fears’, and ‘deeper meaning’ is associated with psychodynamic psychotherapy, which isn’t as effective as CBT (ERP), and a lot of CBT therapists dislike this type of therapy because it can be ineffective and potentially damaging. That’s very likely why it hasn’t been explored in your treatment! HOWEVER, there are aspects of the psychodynamic theory that I think are heavily overlooked, when they are actually immensely valuable. Here’s two articles by Dr Michael Greenberg speaking about the nature of OCD, and core fears: https://drmichaeljgreenberg.com/a-simple-explanation-of-ocd/ https://drmichaeljgreenberg.com/the-core-fear/ The second article includes a link to a worksheet that will open up in Google drive. It’s really useful and helped me identify my core fear, and subsequently begin my recovery with ERP with much more effect. If you want to do it and don’t have Google drive, just download it!
Madison the ERP NinjaMadison the ...
- Date posted
- 4y
Your therapist will help you identify your core fears. And actually, for me, it can differ from obsession to obsession, but usually, my Core Fear is experiencing a permanent feeling of guilt. I have Scrupulosity and my obsessions are all moral concerns — what I’m doing right or wrong. I know God will forgive me but my fear is if I don’t do the right thing, I will forever live with the guilt. I have to face that fear and do ERP and realize when I don’t try to solve it, the guilt passes! :)) Core Fears are important. Your NOCD therapist may help you find them in therapy. Mine does.
DOCDDOCD
- Date posted
- 4y
Thanks Madison, I will bring this up during my next session.
Madison the ERP NinjaMadison the ...
- Date posted
- 4y
@DOCD You bet. Also, regarding your question in the post, you’ll know if trying to figure out your core fear becomes a compulsion if you feel like “I HAVE to figure out what this is or I’ll never get better”! (In that case your core fear for *that* obsession actually could be that you’ll never get better/whatever that means for you) If you can’t identify what scares you when an obsession pops, actually, that’s okay sometimes. Instead of trying to figure out why you’re threatened you can accept those feelings and not ruminate about them. It’s still a good exposure. I do agree that getting down to the Core Fear will be really beneficial though. Your therapist will know how to do this in the best way. Good luck!
DOCDDOCD
- Date posted
- 4y
Thank you both for your posts and insights. E L, you say you’ve largely overcome your SOOCD theme. Can I ask what core fears were driving this for you?
Related posts
Crook
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 24w
My biggest fear
My biggest fear is that I will stop doing compulsions, but my mind will continue obsessing. My core fear is basically being trapped in the OCD cycle forever. What can I do about this? I don’t see how I can possibly stop fearing this.
littlecreek24
- Date posted
- 24w
Compulsion vs ERP
I'm thinking of trying some ERP on my own while I wait for treatment, but I'm having some trouble knowing what is a compulsion and what would be good exposure. For example, I have huge fears of being a narcissist and/or a generally bad person. So whenever I watch a movie or read something that has an evil character in it I automatically compare myself to that character and stress over if I'm like that person. A couple of things I do when this happens is Google other people's experiences, seek reassurance, rumination, etc. Sometimes I'll also google different symptoms of narcissism, freak out over things that I relate to, then get relief over things I don't. So my confusion is, would researching people who have narcissism be an exposure, or a compulsion since it's something I sometimes do during a spiral? Or, would the exposure be watching movies/living life hearing these stories, and refraining from the spiral of rumination and no Googling at all?
anxietypoops
- Date posted
- 24w
The RP in ERP
Hi! I've been on my OCD healing journey for about half a year and I have seen a lot of success. I'm reaching out for advice, I am very willing to do exposures because I know the more I do them, the more I get better, but I struggle with the response prevention part. I don't know how to control my brain when it comes to facing the fears especially since most of my compulsions are mental. I can tell myself the typical things "I am okay with the uncertainty of this happening", etc. but its like my brain doesn't believe them. I've been stuck in this disconnect for a while and would love advice you have heard from a therapist or learned that has really help you.
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond