- Username
- Belle91
- Date posted
- 3y ago
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- Username
- Lms526Lms526
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Talk therapy doesn't work for OCD. Prior to realizing I had OCD, I did about 10 years off and on of therapy with several different therapists. I did everything I was supposed to, but never made an progress. ERP is not fun or easy, but it works and will change your life. I made more progress in 3 weeks doing ERP than I ever did in talk therapy. The key to ERP is starting slow and gradually working up. Also, not doing a compulsion during or just after an exposure. The hardest part is when your anxiety is going crazy. It feels like an eternity, but its only a few minutes. Then your anxiety will peak and start to decline. It also helps if you can channel your rage and anger about OCD into ERP. I read a really good book about ERP. Its called Daring to Challenge Your OCD by Dr. Joan Davidson. She does a good job of explaining ERP, how and why to do it, and also barriers that can hinder your progress. Available on Amazon. Good luck! You can do it!
- Username
- OCD WarriorOCD Warrior
- Date posted
- 3y ago
I’m also doing talk therapy and while I feel good about talking about what I feel, I don’t think it’s been effective in alleviating my OCD symptoms. I’ve heard great things about ERP and people swear by it, so if you don’t think talk therapy is helping, maybe you should consider ERP. You can always back out if you think it’s making things worse. I hope things get better for you!
- Username
- Belle91Belle91
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Thank you. I'm gonna try this. I'm determined to get rid of this or at least get control of it.
- Username
- OCD WarriorOCD Warrior
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Good luck! Keep us posted. Rooting for you!
- Username
- outdoormanoutdoorman
- Date posted
- 3y ago
So my best advice to you is- any thought your brain throws up at you, is bananas. Thoughts are like farts. They mean nothing. When you fart, it’s just your stomach doing natural digestion and the fart is the by product. When you have thoughts, just think of it as brain digestion, because that’s all it is. Your brain can throw up ANY thought and that’s perfectly fine! How we get into this mess is by performing compulsions to get rid of the “unwanted” thoughts, feelings and sensations we don’t like. When in reality we can experience ANY thought, feelings or sensation and still carry on what we value! You are not your farts or your thoughts!
- Username
- Belle91Belle91
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Thank you!! This is great advice!
- Username
- Belle91Belle91
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Thank you. I'm definitely gonna look for this book.
Related posts
- Username
- Amanda1988
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Hello I am looking to start ERP on here with a therapist. I am quite nervous about it incase it doesn't work, I've had BWRT Therapy, CBT privately for months and I'm still horrified and scared of these thoughts. I haven't been officially diagnosed either which leads me down a horrible thought path.. but every therapist I have seen has said I have got harm ocd/pure o. Any advice on starting ERP? Thank you
- Username
- G.M
- Date posted
- 45w ago
I need to rant
Hi, so I’ve been dealing with OCD for the past four years intrusive thoughts and all. At first it started with being scared of panic attacks then the thoughts went to being scared I’d harm myself and now they’re associated around harming other people especially my family which is very very scary. It feels like I’m deeply rooted a bad person. I can’t even tell anyone my thoughts. It also makes me confused on if I want these thoughts. I’m not even sure if I have any compulsions bc I try to just ignore the thoughts and distract myself. Lately I’ve noticed my anxiety getting a lot worse Notjhing seems to calm it down anymore and I just want to stay alone in my bed and make it all go away. I’m scared I’m scared of myself and I’m scared these thoughts could happen one day and I’m scared I want them. Sometimes my thoughts can make me feel like that… does anyone have any good resources im doing ERP but it’s so expensive. I haven’t tried medication but I want to I’m just scared it will make me worse or make me gain weight. But I’m at the point where I’m desperate and something needs to change bc I can’t live like this. I feel like I’m fighting my thoughts all day. And one second I feel confident I’m ok and the next my whole body gets hot and I feel like it’s all possible and I want these thoughts. Someone please give me advice?
- Username
- KS24
- Date posted
- 43w ago
Intrusive thoughts/urges - Harm OCD
I’m wondering if anyone could please give me some advice/tips on breaking this cycle? I have had OCD for 12+ years, however I have only recently been officially diagnosed. I’m struggling significantly with harm OCD, involving thoughts/urges of harm towards other people, particularly my loved ones. This is incredibly distressing to me, as I don’t want to harm anyone and it is constantly sending me into severe distress and panic attacks. I understand that I need to lean into the discomfort/accept my thoughts to move forwards, rather than pushing it away as this adds fuel to the fire - but every time I do, I have a panic attack. My mind constantly tells me I have to act on the urge to get relief and that it’s the ‘only way’ out/to feel better.. I’m stuck in this habitual/learnt behaviour cycle, as I’ve always acted on my urges (not involving harming others) for the past 13 years to get temporary relief and to neutralise thoughts - Every time I think that I need to act on the urge or as though I’ll snap and act on it, I feel terrified and scared, then feel very distressed or have a panic attack.
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