- Date posted
- 4y
- Date posted
- 4y
If you’re experiencing the memory as an intrusive thought, response prevention would include allowing the thought to be there and not engaging with it. Work on accepting your uncertainty about the memory and move on with whatever you need/want to do instead of doing compulsions. If you have any other compulsions related to the memory (like checking to see if people involved are OK), replace those compulsions with acceptance of uncertainty, too. Exposures could include writing and rereading a script about the memory, reading articles about similar situations, going to the place where the memory happened - whatever triggers your anxiety/distress and urge to do compulsions - without doing any compulsions during or after. I hope that’s clear and helpful. Good luck!
- Date posted
- 4y
The E (exposure) is only half of ERP… the other half is response prevention. So the point of triggering the thought and experiencing the anxiety spike is giving yourself the opportunity to practice not-responding with a compulsion. So just looping through the cycle over and over isn’t the point… the idea is to break the trigger-emotion-thought-reaction cycle into its components and work with each part.
- Date posted
- 4y
Yes. But don't try to neutralize the fear. Play it once. Sit with it, don't do anything, wait until it gets a tiny bit better and repeat. Over and over. Until it gets easier
Related posts
- Date posted
- 25w
If your mind purposely keeps fetching a repetitive word, and you’re afraid it will never go away, is the ERP therapy to STOP the mind from doing it? Or ALLOW the mind to do it, and not react? Also, is repeating a word in your head a mental compulsion? Or would that be the obsession? So then what’s the compulsion? Posting on here? Lol
- Date posted
- 22w
What would I do for ERP if my OCD says because I didn’t do something correctly or remember something I will have panic attacks that don’t end?
- Date posted
- 11w
I'm trying to get my head around ERP. What is the best way to describe how it's a "solution." Imo I think OCD happens with people who are very concerned with their own genuine integrity and probably their own "morality." So when something (like an uncomfortable "real event" that actually happened) messes that up, it's hard to grapple with that...hence the endless rumination and trying to "problem solve" it. But the mind doesn't let you sleep (i.e. OCD) if something is controversial and doesn't sit with you. Or if you obsess over something and it's based on a rooted fear. You just can't "let it go," it has to be addressed and dealt with. But what happens when it is NEVER dealt with? How does ERP address that dilemma as a permanent solution? Or does ERP only address compulsions and anxiety, but it doesn't actually deal with the issue causing it. Do you ever get REAL peace of mind? Or is just something to make you feel "less anxious" etc? Thanks I just want peace of mind. I haven't had true peace of mind in several years.
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