Anonymous
- Date posted
- 1y
Doing the "RP"
What differences did you notice when you started to actually resist compulsions? Are intrusive thoughts less frequent? Less intense?
Wolfram Wolfram
- Date posted
- 1y
It'll get more intense and more frequent at first as you're stressing yourself out, and then will go down gradually to a point where its almost non-existent and intrusive thoughts are just like anything else running through your head. Time span is different for everyone
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 1y
Thank you!!!
Wolfram Wolfram
- Date posted
- 1y
@Anonymous Always remember why you're doing it when it gets tough. You're not running away from ocd, you're running towards a better life. The perception helps massively. You're not doing it out if fear but out of hope
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 1y
@Wolfram Thank you I needed that. I'm feeling so burnt out in the process.
Wolfram Wolfram
- Date posted
- 1y
@Anonymous It's OK to take little rests. It's tougher the faster you go. The more driven you are, the easier it is. I used to have a mantra I'd repeat pretty much every morning and every time I got to my limit with Erp. "I will get better. Nothing or no one will stop me"
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 1y
@Wolfram I'm going to start doing that. I had that attitude at first, quit medication and had a bad relapse so I'm picking up the pieces now and unfortunately get negative thoughts like "what if this never gets better" but I know that's not the mindset to have!
Wolfram Wolfram
- Date posted
- 1y
@Anonymous Something I came across recently which I'm trying is replacing the "what ifs" with "even ifs".
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 1y
@Wolfram Oh I REALLY like that thank you!! You've got great advice much appreciated
Wolfram Wolfram
- Date posted
- 1y
@Anonymous Np. You're heading in the right direction
[Deleted][Deleted]
- Date posted
- 1y
Comment deleted by user
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 1y
So is mine!
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 1y
@Lovemyzachary102. Harm ocd! Ugh 🙄
AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 1y
@Lovemyzachary102. Thank you and I hope it does for you also!!
Angel20Angel20
- Date posted
- 1y
It’s the feeling of being in denial that I struggle to deal with when trying to not do compulsions
Liv24Liv24
- Date posted
- 1y
Apparently your mind realises the thoughts arnt as important anymore because your not trying to force them anyway and get less frequent. I’ve really tried today to not do my compulsions and my anxiety is though the root when I try!! My compulsions are repeating words and ruminating!!😭😭 hope it gets easier
Related posts
Anonymousssssss
- Date posted
- 23w
Do you have to do erp?
I’ve noticed that I’m somewhat happier also ignoring my thoughts than I am instead of doing compulsions (I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired atp) but I’ve heard you’re technically supposed to do erp rather than pushing under the rug. But idk if I have a thought I just refuse to think about it again and im fine even if I want to do compulsions
Mika05
- Date posted
- 20w
Ocd pattern
Sometimes I notice my intrusive thoughts cause me to spiral and sometimes not. I've been practicing ERP for quite a while so it's a bit easier for me to not spiral. But I wonder why that happens. Does anyone else have it? Also I'm on medication idk if that plays a role.
Jennifer Dal...
- User type
- Therapist
- Date posted
- 18w
Let’s talk about Therapy
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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