Anonymous
- Date posted
- 4y
MikeOH2LAMikeOH2LA
- Date posted
- 4y
I started ERP therapy 2 weeks ago. What it asks you to do is face your fears. OCD is an anxiety driven mental illness that plays tricks on you using irrationality to convince you that you “might” be something you fear to be. It teaches you to “sit” with the anxiety of the possibility. You physically, mentally, and emotionally grow from this process. It is scary initially but it gets better. I understand why this triggered you but I am hear to say to you, that you can do this.
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 4y
Thanks a lot. I wouldn't even wish this illness on my worst enemy. I'm going to talk to my therapist about this fear and I'm sure they will help me walk through it. It's so scary.
Thinking_AddictThinking_Addict
- Date posted
- 4y
Don't put too much stock in what people say on here. It's just a forum and none of the statements have been verified. What people say may be true or may not be true. I will say that OCD makes many people believe they have already become what they fear. ERP in its initial stages does not necessarily get rid of this fear. You have to remember you are your own person, so don't get caught up in other people's stories because you're not them. Focus on your life.
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 4y
Thank you! I always try to tell myself that their story is their story. And like my therapist told me. "possibility does not indicate probability" we just have to be okay with the uncertainty. That statement just really triggered something in me but I'm feeling better now.
ARTnotOCDARTnotOCD
- Date posted
- 4y
Remember that a lot of us might post when we’re feeling at our worst. When in the throughs of OCD it’s hard to be rational. Also, you’re embarking on your ERP with a therapist. That means you have a professional to help you in going through a difficult but very helpful treatment. It’s so unfortunate when we do get triggered here by each other, but now that you spoke out about it, you also know there are those of us here with and for you. Be as brave as you can, and know we’re rooting for you. If you like dogs, mine also offers you some snuggles. Strength and comfort your way. 💪🏼💜
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Anonymous
- Date posted
- 25w
religious OCD
Please help. I have felt so off/wrong all day. I constantly worry that the “bad guy” is going to get me. I have awful thoughts and I constantly want God to know that I don’t mean these thoughts. I am at a point in my therapy where I need to choose to use my ERP but it feels too scary. I then do compulsions, which makes the OCD worse, which makes me want to use ERP less. And the cycle goes on. I am currently sitting in my car crying because I feel so lost and exhausted. I’m not supposed to figure out my thoughts, but today I just went into a spiral of sadness and depression, thinking that I will always feel like this. When my thoughts got really bad at the end of the day, I tried to use ERP even though I was shaking and not believing my responses and I ended up feeling like I missed something and that I gave into the “bad guy.” I have no one to talk when I’m not doing therapy twice a week. I am alone and have no one to talk to when I am like this… please help
hbocd
- Date posted
- 25w
ERP Therapy
I read about ERP and have seen information about it on here. One of the goals is to say, "maybe I am this or that...ect." That terrified me. The thoughts and images that go in my head are disturbing and upsetting. I don't want to even think about saying, "maybe this or that." It's devasting to have these thoughts and question why you're having these thoughts. Doesn't the "maybe" make it worse? The one thing that helps me is that is to remind myself that these are just thoughts and I know I'm not a monster, even if I feel like one. Is ERP not for everyone? Has anyone else had a problem with the techniques used in this kind of therapy? I had cognitive therapy for years with an OCD specialist and that seemed to help a lot. Writing out the worst case scenarios would make me suicidal. Im having a difficult time not obsessing over the "maybe" after intrusive thoughts now. It doesn't make it better.
hestia
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 24w
I Need Help
I’m trying to do ERP therapy, but I keep thinking my subtype of ocd is the worst there ever is. I tried going on a walk tonight and the adrenaline in my body along with the shakes and the burning in my chest got so overwhelming. I felt like I was just about to lay down in the gutter along the sidewalk. I’m not trying to be super negative. I just don’t know what to do anymore. If it’s not one thing it’s another and I just wanna cry so bad and I want it to go away but it won’t I almost feel like I have to call a crisis line or something even right now while I’m writing this I’m crying so bad. I can’t enjoy a single thing. I joined a support group tonight, but I just feel like I feel so bad for everyone because of how awful it is. I know what I’m writing right now doesn’t make a lot of sense but I just don’t know what to do anymore. Part of me wants to quit ERP therapy so bad cause I don’t think it’s gonna ever help. if anyone has any advice or suggestions, that would be greatly appreciated.
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