Country56
- Date posted
- 3y ago
AnnieauAnnieau
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Yes! Well, I still have ups and downs and I'm always going to be a work in progress but yes. I had severe contamination ocd 2 years ago and I worked with a therapist doing ERP for 2 years to get to a point where I can live normally. The ERP was really hard - I used to feel so sick and disgusted when I started. With a lot of work and commitment and support from my therapist I got such better. You can do it!
AnnieauAnnieau
- Date posted
- 3y ago
@lo2000 I have been taking Cymbalta (Duloxetine) for about 3 years. I started taking it before I was diagnosed with ocd, initially for anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. I didn't start any additional medication when I worked with my therapist. It was the ERP that really worked for me and I'm starting wean off Cymbalta now. I did find the medication super helpful - it lowered my baseline anxiety a lot!
Country56Country56
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Thankyou so much, that's really hopeful, I am really hoping to over come this, but your reply has really helped and makes me realise to have some faith
AnnieauAnnieau
- Date posted
- 3y ago
I'm glad! It's totally possible to get your life back! To be honest, it was extremely hard and terrifying to go through ERP, but the results are sooo worth it. I could not have done it without my therapist. It helps to have someone to be accountable to, to make sure you're keeping up with the ERP exercises. Because you will not want to do them 🙂 I still struggle frequently but I feel like I have the tools to deal with flare ups now, which is an awesome feeling. Its a combination of faith that the treatment will work, and just really hard work and perseverance. Wishing you all the best!
Country56Country56
- Date posted
- 3y ago
@Annieau Its amazing you have come so far, I do hope you keep getting stronger each day! Its a struggle, but thankyou so much for your help! X
hanajadehanajade
- Date posted
- 3y ago
I have overcome contamination ocd and now I don’t care about germs anymore
Country56Country56
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Wow, how did you manage that?
hanajadehanajade
- Date posted
- 3y ago
@Country56 I constantly did exposures and realised that nothing bad happened and eventually my fear of germs went away
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hopelytle
- Date posted
- 25w ago
Question for those who have been in therapy
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EllieH95
- Date posted
- 23w ago
How do you do ERP without spiraling?
I have contamination OCD that causes me to excessively wash my hands/clean items with disinfectant wipes. I know I just need to start with small exposures but how do I do that without spiraling? I tried a while back by just touching the outside of my dishwasher and not washing my hands after and it led to me being unable to even exist in my house. I basically lived on my couch for three weeks as it was the only 'safe' space that I had not touched with my dirty hands. I had to take a week off work to clean my house to make it somewhat liveable. I still haven't got round to cleaning everything though so things like my kitchen are still no-go zones that I don't enter. I just don't know how to start ERP without it making everything worse. Any advice would be appreciated. I am not seeing a therapist at the moment due to financial constraints.
Josh M
- Date posted
- 22w ago
Winners
Those of you who have overcome at least a bit, if not all, of your OCD. When you went through the CBT and ERP, did it feel like the end of the world? And how did you face the fact that your fears and uncertainties might actually come to life?
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