- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
The thoughts probably won’t reduce at first. We do compulsions to try to make the thoughts go away, so when we stop doing compulsions, the thoughts might feel multiplied or magnified for a while, and the urge to do compulsions is strong. But over time, your anxiety will go down and the thoughts won’t feel as big and scary. ERP can be very anxiety-provoking, but by going through that anxiety, you free your future self to live a full, happy life, unburdened by fear of intrusive thoughts. There is sadly no way to make it all go away. Everyone on the planet has intrusive thoughts; OCD just makes us fear the intrusive thoughts, which makes them difficult to accept and ignore. Medication can help if ERP alone isn’t enough.
- Date posted
- 3y
I’m on medication but it’s only been a couple weeks. Erp has been so hard to do because I I have intrusive thoughts because of pocd and other family members. It’s terrible
- Date posted
- 3y
@Just Breathe ❤️ Ah, it will probably take a little longer to see if the medication is helping. I know the ERP is extremely hard. Please believe it gets better. Try to be kind to yourself and speak up if you find the exposures too difficult to tolerate - therapist can always scale them back to be at a better level for where you are now.
- Date posted
- 3y
Are you seeing an ERP therapist? I think you will need that support
- Date posted
- 3y
Yes through NOCD
- Date posted
- 3y
@Just Breathe ❤️ That’s awesome!
Related posts
- Date posted
- 21w
I feel like one of the worst things about ocd are the disturbing images or the ‘little movies’ that replay in your head over and over again. I have the worst sexual images with one of my family members that actually so bad that I can’t even look in the mirror. And it’s even worse that I have a lovely boyfriend and I’m so disgusted of myself that I feel like I don’t deserve him and I feel like I can’t be with him because of these thoughts, even he is the most precious thing in my life. These sexual images are so horrible and what makes it even worse that in these pictures I always see myself as someone who enjoys it. I know how to deal with this anymore. My mind is trying to convince me that that I actually like these images and thoughts and this is the hardest part, that I’m doubting myself. These images pop up in my head so naturally that I always question myself if I actually don’t like it why it comes so naturally or how can my brain picture things like this if I don’t like it. It’s getting worse day by day. It’s in my head 24/7, can’t concentrate on anything else, I can’t eat because I’m constantly throwing up. And my mom has to sleep with me every night because I’m so disturbed by my own mind. My parents know that there’s something wrong with me, they think I’m depressed but sadly It’s not something I can talk openly about with them. I’m seeing a therapist next week but I’m genuinely scared to open up about these thoughts that I’m having.
- Date posted
- 18w
How do I stop letting my intrusive thoughts control me? Ive been having them for almost a year, once I graduated, become more isolated and lost more friends they've become worse. I feel like when I had friends and was still going to school they weren't as bad probably because I was living more so I didn't take them as seriously. But now that Im home all day and alone they've gotten worse and it feels like they're starting to control my life. Theres times where Im on social media and eventually I forget about them but then when I realize I forgot about them they come back. Sometimes the thought just lingers it doesn't even just pop in my head and go away. I can't tell anyone in my family because they'd judge me for the thoughts and they don't really believe in mental illnesses. I also sometimes think of what other people may think of me if they knew the thoughts I had and it makes it worse. How do I stop letting these thoughts control/trigger me and stop reacting or feeling some type of way about them.
- Date posted
- 10w
My OCD has become so bad and I feel so alone. I have religious OCD (Christianity) and I’ve been doing okay with letting the blasphemous thoughts go in the moment, but I’m so overcome with guilt and shame I can barely function. I can feel okay and hopeful for a few minutes and then I’m reminded of the horrible thoughts and how nothing can take them back and I can’t handle the guilt. I’m becoming a burden to my family and feel so alone. I do not know what to do. Please help.
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