HJOx
- Date posted
- 3y
AnonymousAnonymous
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
I am still far from recovery but ERP has allowed me to overcome my fear and anxiety regarding unwanted groinal responses. They used to send me into full on panic, but now I know they’re meaningless.
HJOxHJOx
- Date posted
- 3y
I did this post for positive posts… there’s too much negativity on here so please can we share positive stories ♥️
KaylaisabelKaylaisabel
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
It all starts with negatives but becomes positives when doing ERP. While my post sounded more negative, I’m beyond happy I’m doing the treatment and I can feel it working. It takes a long time, and it’s not a straight line but it works and you will get better.
KaylaisabelKaylaisabel
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
I have started ERP and I have had three sessions so far. They have been really hard and anxiety provoking, but I can feel it working already.
KaylaisabelKaylaisabel
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Ope My response yesterday definitely scared me and made me feel weird. But I know I need to keep going. It’s so scary but I need it.
KaylaisabelKaylaisabel
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Ope Yesterday I felt a lot of arousal. It was really unnerving and anxiety provoking.
KaylaisabelKaylaisabel
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Ope Yes. It definitely felt like proof for my intrusive thoughts.
KaylaisabelKaylaisabel
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Ope Thanks!! I know that if I stop now it’ll get worse and I want it to get better, so I’m pushing through.
alexisrae1999alexisrae1999
- Date posted
- 3y
Although I have been practicing ERP for a short time, I feel much more educated and capable of handling my ocd. I didn't even think I had ocd up until a year ago, when i had been struggling for 15 years. :)
HJOxHJOx
- Date posted
- 3y
Can I ask which theme you deal with and if it has reduced? ☺️ x
alexisrae1999alexisrae1999
- Date posted
- 3y
@O94 Sexual orientation, relationship, and harm ocd mainly...at the moment. I have been in talk therapy (super bad for OCD), but when I am just doing ERP, it is good :)
HJOxHJOx
- Date posted
- 3y
@alexisrae1999 Do you feel ERP helps differentiate HOCD and your actual orientation ? I’m starting this week! X
alexisrae1999alexisrae1999
- Date posted
- 3y
@O94 I am beginning to feel the ability to differentiate things, but I am also under a tremendous amount of stress at the moment...stress and ocd is like fire and ice haha. I'll say that at first ERP will feel super wrong and make you want to die 😂 but its because ocd hates it
HJOxHJOx
- Date posted
- 3y
@alexisrae1999 Do you feel your heading in the right direction? X
alexisrae1999alexisrae1999
- Date posted
- 3y
@O94 I sure hope so :) once I graduate and start doing ERP with a therapist instead of on my own i think things will continue moving forward!
Related posts
Andrea Wells
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 23w
My OCD Journey
Looking back, I realize I’ve had OCD since I was 7. though I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 30. As a kid, I was consumed by fears I couldn’t explain: "What if God isn’t real? What happens when we die? How do I know I’m real?" These existential thoughts terrified me, and while everyone has them from time to time, I felt like they were consuming my life. By 12, I was having daily panic attacks about death and war, feeling untethered from reality as depersonalization and derealization set in. At 15, I turned to drinking, spending the next 15 years drunk, trying to escape my mind. I hated myself, struggled with my body, and my intrusive thoughts. Sobriety forced me to face it all head-on. In May 2022, I finally learned I had OCD. I remember the exact date: May 10th. Reading about it, I thought, "Oh my God, this is it. This explains everything." My main themes were existential OCD and self-harm intrusive thoughts. The self-harm fears were the hardest: "What if I kill myself? What if I lose control?" These thoughts terrified me because I didn’t want to die. ERP changed everything. At first, I thought, "You want me to confront my worst fears? Are you kidding me?" But ERP is gradual and done at your pace. My therapist taught me to lean into uncertainty instead of fighting it. She’d say, "Maybe you’ll kill yourself—who knows?" At first, it felt scary, but for OCD, it was freeing. Slowly, I realized my thoughts were just thoughts. ERP gave me my life back. I’m working again, I’m sober, and for the first time, I can imagine a future. If you’re scared to try ERP, I get it. But if you’re already living in fear, why not try a set of tools that can give you hope?
Sosa2loud
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 20w
Kind of Spiraling
Hi guys! I’m new to the community and I’ve recently received my OCD diagnosis (tho I’ve known about it since childhood). I’ve been somewhat spiraling lately as I wait for my first ERP session (hooray!) I was just wondering if any of you guys have received ERP for existential OCD and if it was successful? My existential OCD compulsions are more so mental and have been affecting me in the sense of dream/memory flashbacks and giving me a sort of “uncanny” feeling about everything around me. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you❤️
Anonymous1990
- Date posted
- 19w
ERP
I’m starting NOCD. I had several years of cbt as a child (well over 20 years ago) and I see a trauma therapist. But now I’ll be seeking further help for OCD and just really scared. CBT wasn’t helpful for me. How has ERP been helpful for you? Do you feel like you’ll finally get your life back? I’m consumed by my obsessions 😢 Would love others feedback if ERP helped you ❤️
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