I have my first appointment next Monday and I’m basically just trying to bide my time til then. I’ve struggled with OCD for my whole life, but I’m 42 and am in a deep valley at the moment. I’m headstand to share my struggles on places like this because I’m afraid I’ll pass my fears on to others. (Which has happened to me before). Any comments about how quickly ERP will start to show results?
I was in a rough patch when I started ERP therapy with NOCD back on December 1, 2023. I also started Lefapro the same week. I found that I started to pick up momentum with feeling gradually more empowered to resist my compulsions within a few weeks. Since then it’s continued to get better, but not perfect, still working at it. I’ve begun to look forward to some exposures to test and push myself, but other ones still scare me. There’s something to be said for buying into the therapy and believing there’s finally a light at the end of this OCD tunnel, it helped me make my outlook on life and the future more positive for the first time in a long time. Best of luck to you!
*Lexapro
ERP has been life changing for me. I did it for the first time in 2007 in an IOP setting. Then I went to residential treatment in 2010 and 2015 with ERP. Now I’m an ERP therapist (in training) and just started ERP again for myself in December here with NOCD. I usually find small changes in myself very early on with how I talk to my OCD. I’ll get moments where there is a pause in my mind where I catch myself about to do something. A lot of the time in the beginning I still choose to do the compulsion or listen to the thought but that’s always when I notice things begin to change for me in a positive way. I think the timing is different for everyone.
While you bide your time in the deep valley, I just started trying out some of the groups they have through this app and they have all been really positive. They might be a helpful way to boost your morale. Specifically the self compassion one today (Tuesday) at 2pm Central/3pm Eastern. That valley is such a difficult place to be so I am sending strength your way.
@ChipperChelsea Thanks so much!
This is the first post I’ve made here, as I have just recently been told I have OCD. I started therapy when I was 15 for an eating disorder, and have been pretty much consistently going for the past 5 years. It is incredibly scary to me that it has gone undiagnosed this long, and it took a few horrible spiraling episodes and me admitting I had a fear of smelling bad for a therapist to tell me it might be OCD. I’m primarily concerned about having another undiagnosed mental illness, that I have done unforgivable damage to other people’s mental health, and the general fear of losing my sanity. If someone could share the benefits of accepting the OCD diagnosis and starting ERP even if it is petrifying, I would greatly appreciate that. Warm wishes and peace to all of you struggling right now:)
How did others do after first getting diagnosed? Did the diagnosis cause you to spiral initially? It feels like all the symptoms have become so much worse since, maybe because I am noticing them and focusing on them. I have been stuck on looking back through my whole life but now through an OCD lens and it’s been incredibly overwhelming realizing how much OCD has impacted me my whole life. I had previously assumed all the symptoms were part of my having ADHD and Autism, but I am now realizing a lot of my struggling was actually OCD. I’m 45 and I was diagnosed with severe OCD a week ago. Tomorrow I start ERP and I’m quite anxious about it. I feel pretty unfixable at this point, but I’m trying to be hopeful. I have my doubts that I will be strong enough to do this.
Hi, I’m new here. I’ve been dealing with OCD since I was 9 or 10 but only got diagnosed at 19, and started actual treatment a few weeks ago. I’m 21 now. I have severe emetophobia that fuels my health ocd and my intrusive thoughts have been so bad lately that I can hardly eat or leave my house. I don’t go anywhere except my bedroom and work. I even get anxious thinking about going to my living room. I started ERP with a new therapist, and I want to get better, but the therapy is so scary and overwhelming. I’ve lived this way for so long that confronting my fears feels impossible and I’m so scared to do it. I do everything I can to avoid anxiety attacks. I feel so unsafe in my own body because of the way I can’t stop fixating on certain actions and sensations. Does anyone who’s gone through something similar have any advice, or encouragement? I’m doing my best, but I don’t know anyone else with my ocd themes. Thanks y’all <3
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