I have been starting ERP with a therapist but what are some other things I can do on my own that would help me I am a straight woman with a fear of turning lesbian if you experienced similar
Honestly, writing out the things I’m worried over works awesome for me. At my worst points of spirals it made me realize how these worries were a bit silly. I remember saying to my therapist when she asked how I felt about it, “I don’t know, seeing them on paper just makes it feel like that doesn’t need to be the case” Everyone’s brains are different, but for my SO-OCD and ROCD, these really put things in perspective at a time when my mind was loud
@Cat-Mom yes I’ve been slacking on journaling but I do find it very helpful!
Well I’m not sure if this already part of your ERP but imaginal stories. Keeping it short, but writing your worst fears in the present tense and rereading and repeating until the anxiety gets to 1. Watching shows with queer, specifically lesbian or queer women depicted whether a cartoon like adventure time, or a drama or sitcom with gay couples in it. Orange is the new black is great! Watching these and making sure you don’t react with compulsions is the key. I know it’s hard af bc I’ve done it before where I’ve had to resist compulsions in shows when there’s a lesbian character struggling with their sexuality I can easily go down the rabbit hole of “Is that you?? Do you identify like that?” “Have you been lesbian this whole time and lying to everyone??” All of that bullshit
@Chicafreaka420 would resisting compulsions be not to argue with the thought and just simply watch it? or is there more work done?
@goofy goober When I’ve talked to my therapist, she says to always just sit with the discomfort of whatever piece of media that triggered you. She gets annoyed at me a little when I say I’ve engaged with the thought in the form of past memory checking, comparing, arguing that I’m lying to myself. So yeah, trying your best to not respond to the reaction going on in your head
I’ve experienced this form of OCD. It’s gotten so much better over time. For me part of it is just realizing like just because I had some type of involuntary reaction doesn’t mean I’m forced to go date a woman. I don’t want to date a woman. So I just move on with my life. Sometimes I feel weird if I react a certain way but then I remember oh wait that’s ocd
@joyfilled got it sometimes I do enjoy watching certain things and that’s what terrifies me which causes the anxiety all of it and I start spiraling bc I don’t want a future with a woman like you said, im glad to hear it’s gotten better for you and I hope one day to get that point I’ve been suffering for already 5 months it’s awful
When the thought comes say maybe maybe not or thanks for that OCD but I’m not engaging and then refocus on something else and let the anxiety be there. You have to force yourself and work hard to do these things
@ben123 Thank you for your input I do indeed need to be stronger in resisting the compulsions
@goofy goober It’s realy hard and we all find it really hard so you aren’t alone
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