ERT Hi all, my ocd is around bad things happening in the world and I have just started ert. At the moment it is just reading news articles but it has been really difficult and led to high anxiety and stress levels. I don't know what to do! I feel like it's not going to help as surely reading about bad things is going to make me think that everything is bad as the news is extremely skewed towards negative things. So I don't see how it's going to help! I feel to lead a more happy life you would avoid the news and focus on the good, no?

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Does anyone know why I can't see the comments that were here previously on my post?

oh hey! i finally found someone who has a similar obsession as me. in a way, i'm glad because i feel like my subtype is so rare! the world is pretty scary, but i hold onto a lot of hope. for me, checking the news is actually one of my compulsions. i feel a need to check the news constantly throughout the day in order to seek reassurance about issues going on in the world (usually about specific issues). i don't currently have a therapist to help me with ert. so what i have done to minimize my compulsions is looking at specific websites that are more straightforward and not as negative. i have found that many large news websites like CNN and fox will put out articles with a strong bias that only talks minimally about the facts, and often misrepresents what has actually happened. i read BBC and my local news outlets instead, as i have found they contain a lot less bias and less triggering content, while still keeping me informed. i also have goodnewsnetwork as part of my lineup! this website focuses specifically on positive news and really takes the edge off of bad days. it always helps to remind me that good things are always happening in this world as well.