- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 1y ago
Worse before it gets better?
Has anyone who started ERP therapy felt that your ocd or anxiety has gotten worse (at first) before it gets better?
Has anyone who started ERP therapy felt that your ocd or anxiety has gotten worse (at first) before it gets better?
Yes. In my experience, tackling my ruminations and compulsions head on with ERP made them feel stronger. For me, it was because I was practicing not giving in to them for the first time. So don’t worry if things feel more stressful in the beginning-it gets easier.
Yes, my first month was rough. I had no idea how bad my OCD was....I thought I just had a little issue. Understanding my OCD triggers has been a breakthrough. Be patient and work the steps. I just began to see my own progress over the last week.
@Anonymous I’m had/having this same experience ❤️🩹
How long have you been working on your erp? I'm literally just starting. I have had 2 weeks of sessions for doing the evaluations and beginning my fears and response list. Just now starting the erp.
Yes, the hyper awareness was exhausting but revealing. I had to give myself some space for processing it all. Got better in a strong way. Keep working 💛
The hyper awareness is like all the time for me, and like you said, so exhausting. I'm just starting my erp and looking forward to better days and having peace.
Super common
As an update, I did my ERP homework today. I was very stressed during but felt a sense of accomplishment after. Sometimes I dread moving up the hierarchy and not knowing how I will cope with it. But I have a bit of hope that I can eventually get there. Thank you everyone for your input. This is one of the hardest things I've ever dealt with!
@OCDlikewoah Congratulations on doing your homework despite the stress!! It’s not easy. Hold on to your hope, you will get there ❤️
@OCDlikewoah glad you’re feeling better about it !
Yes
Yes, excited for when the trigger feels less immense. I am new starting, so the triggers are still quite stressing
@Bryar___ Oh me also! And my triggers and themes jump around trying to latch onto anything. I have been through so many hard things before and overcame them.
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?
Hi everyone. I'm feeling kinda scared because I have to wait a whole month to start ERP therapy, but I feel like I need to start doing exposures now because the longer I wait, the more anxiety I get. It just feels like the OCD monster is getting worse. One thing that helps me is asking one person about an obsession I have...asking a person that I trust, and then doing an exposure after I get the "ok" to do it. I feel like I do need 1 reassurance and then I can go ahead and do it. I know i'm not supposed to ask for reassurance at all, but i dont think you're supposed to do ERP on your own right? Does anyone have any suggestions for what to do while waiting for therapy? PS-the reason there is a wait is bc she's on vacation. After she's back we will meet regularly.
So you got to ask me anything… Now I’d like to ask you something! I’ve heard from Members that they were so scared coming to their first ERP session. They were terrified that I would think they were crazy, that I would tell them their worst fears were true. That I would confirm they are some form of a terrible person or have them hauled off to prison for their thoughts. I’ve also had Members share how they’re very scared to begin ERP treatment because they’ve researched enough to know it means facing the fear, without the compulsions that have kept them feeling safe (but not really safe) this entire time. They struggled to see how they could be capable of doing this, while simultaneously acknowledging that they did not want to live like this anymore. If you have had your first session, what were your thoughts before? Did you have any hesitations or fears going into it? How did it turn out? If you haven’t yet begun to work with an ERP specialist, what is holding you back?
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