- Username
- Amanda1988
- Date posted
- 3y ago
I was afraid ERP wouldn't work for me either. But it does. It has been life changing for me. So first, your counselor will help you set up your hierarchy. You will use this to do exposures. You start slow and build your way up. Your counselor will be there to support and guide you. So the key to ERP is not to do any type of physical or mental compulsion during or after the exposure. Before they exposure, you will rate your anxiety level. As you do the exposure, your anxiety will go crazy. It will feel like an eternity, but it only lasts a couple minutes. Then your anxiety will peak then decline. If you ending anxiety is 4 or above, that means you need to do the exposure again. Your ending anxiety should be 1 or 0. You will definitely know when your anxiety is down where it needs to be. Ibhave harm OCD and pure OCD as well. I'm not going to tell you ERP is easy. Its terrifying and incredibly uncomfortable. The urge to do a compulsion can be so strong. It won't happen overnight and it will take hard work. But the anxiety relief you get from ERP is long lasting. The relief you get from doing a compulsive is very short lived. Hope that helps.
Thank you so much. Its horrible isn't it. I need to do whatever has to be done to help this as it is ruining every day now and I want want enjoy my life again. One of my problems is I don't know what my compulsions are (which again makes me think well it's not ocd then if you don't have compulsions your just evil!) I have noticed my intrusive thoughts are worse when I'm not with my family. I have to put something infront of my door at night to 'stop me doing something in my sleep' and have to say 'see you in the morning to my daughter before she goes to sleep' otherwise something bad will happen. Are these compulsions? X
Yes. A compulsion is anything you donto try to relieve your anxiety. They can be physical or mental. I haveva few physical compulsions, like checking and counting. But the majority of mine are mental. Things like when your mind spins into whatifs, avoidance, rumination, critiquing everything you do over and over. Even things like prayer can be a compulsion.
ERP does work well. It is natural to be nervous. The therapists here at NOCD are awesome. They have heard everything before. Congratulations on taking the first step to recovery. We are all here for you.
Agreed!
Thank you both. I really hope it works/helps. Take care of yourselves too! Zx
One last thing...don't be afraid to be honest about your intrusive thoughts. I have harm OCD and suicide OCD. I was terrified to tell my therapist about some of my intrusive thoughts. I thought for sure I was going to end up going to jail or involuntary commitment. When I told her, her expression didn't even change.
You have got this
It also makes me question my love for my family which is absolutely heartbreaking but it makes me think maybe you don't actually love them and that's why your having these thoughts as you actually want to do them. 😭
Thank you for all your advice its very much appreciated! I'm going to schedule a call when I'm home alone Wednesday and get this started! Time to get better and start living my life with my family properly again. Thanks again x
Good for you! That attitude will take you a long way. You got this. I'm so proud of you! Taking that first step is scary, but you won't be sorry you did. My therapist through NOCD is amazing
@Lms526 I hope I can stay brave! 🙏 Does yours ever make you question your love/feelings? Xx
@Amanda1988 I don't really have that theme.
A couple of weeks ago I had an intrusive thought involving suicide it really scared me as I hadn't had it before and thought I was becoming suicidal so I called my gp and he panicked and arranged for a home care team to come round (I think this is to stop you going into hospital and check on your children's saftey) it really upset me and I had to explain to him its a intrusive thought so yes I am a bit more hesitant about what I say. I guess that's why these guys are so good and ocd specialists as they know its ocd and not what we want to do (even if ocd tells us otherwise!) I have woken up this morning with terrible thoughts again :( What if this isn't ocd, what if this is delusions and I'm loosing hold of reality etc. Its getting harder I've got to say. Sorry for going on! Xx
Hello all, I started erp therapy with the nocd therapist. I just really am having trouble saying things (worst fear) and doing the exposures of my worst fear. I know erp has helped many people. Anyone here that has done well with the full treatment? Just some positive advice needed.
Harm OCD Please someone give me any advice you have. I have been suffering for a while but just put a name to why. I have not done any ERP yet and haven't done much of anything aside from talk therapy. I'm so scared and just want this to end. I have created my higharchy plans on here but I'm so scared to get started.
Hello, So I am On the waiting for list for ERP. I have looked into it , as I am nervous for It however I’ve heard that it’s quite difficult and can be mentally straining. I am quite stubborn in myself , as like I don’t want to change myself . As I am scared , worried, and I have been managing for a while now. Why do I need to change. However , I know it’s for the best. Basically I am asking. Has anyone done ERP - how did you feel. Also , how many sessions is there. As I’m worried if it s a maximum I feel like I’m being rushed.
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