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Mental health

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Original poster

ERP for intrusive thoughts/OCD.

2 replies

Ilovedogs1 · 17/10/2023 10:16

Hi. I've posted about this before. I've had the intrusive thought OCD for years and have recently started trying to really stick to the ERP strategy after a really bad spell earlier this year. On a whole I feel better but as its early days I'm still getting periods of anxiety/ excessive doubt etc.
Has anyone else managed to stick with it to the point that OCD only affects them sporadically/minimally?
Just would love to hear a success story. X

OP posts:

aletterfromseneca · 17/10/2023 11:28

Hi @Ilovedogs1 - I am one such success story.

After more than a decade of not even knowing it was OCD (my compulsions were very internal thought experiment things I would do), when the pandemic hit I happened to stumble across the right resources while I was having a really bad spell and then found my way into a support group and then eventually to ERP.

It was hard going at first! Everyone in the support group agreed it was the same for them. And it's going to be tough the whole way through. It's really that process of seeing how uncomfortable you get but then how nothing happens after letting yourself feel uncomfortable that makes it work.

I do still get sporadic moments, but I feel much more able to recognise them and deal with them: or rather, not deal! just let myself feel scared for a bit!

I'd really reccomend joining some of the OCD Action support groups if you haven't. It was a massive help to me while going through things to hear from other people at all those different stages and to just not feel so alone:

https://ocdaction.org.uk/online-support-groups/

Support Groups - OCD Action

OCD Action run a range of Skype / Phone support groups which provide an informal and supportive environment to share experiences and to offer encouragement to each other.

https://ocdaction.org.uk/online-support-groups

Original poster

Ilovedogs1 · 19/10/2023 09:39

@aletterfromseneca thank you for your reply. The problem I have is that most of my intrusive thoughts are the false memory type such as 'what if I've hurt someone and can't remember it' .
As you say it's the being uncomfortable then seeing nothing bad happens that helps. But if your worried you've left the oven on you eventually get to a point where you return home and see everything is ok. With the false memory doubts of the past you don't get that. Did you ever suffer with the false memory thoughts?

OP posts:

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