I've known I have OCD since I was a kid but recently it's gotten completely out of control. I am terrified of doing ERP but I know it will help. I want to feel happy and at ease again! Thank you for sharing your story.
You can 100% feel happy and at ease again. It's a tiny tiny tiny part of my existence most of the time now. ERP can be scary and difficult but I tended to think of it as short term Vs long term harm. It's a quick short difficulty - it's brutal and tough at points, but then... you've done it. You've won a battle and you're onto the next one. And it's very fun to win those battles. The long term harm is keeping this thing - and as you say, it sucks the happiness out of so much.
Give it a try, would love to hear how it goes for you!
Thank you so much for this. The numbers is my worst.. I won’t open my phone.. get out of my car.. or do much of anything until the clock changes from that number… I touch door handles or sides of things.. flicker lights.. tons of repetitive behavior to whatever feels suitable to the beast.. I won’t wear certain clothing if I touch it and it doesn’t feel right.. I can’t even type out what my fears are if I do.. I feel like I’ve gotten so used to it and so used to hiding it that it’s just become my normal.. but I’m suffering. I know whenever I’m stressed it gets so much worse… but I feel like when I do certain rituals then it brings me good luck… I think of other people in bad situations and “why wouldn’t that happen to me..” and these rituals protect me from it. Or maybe I’ll just go crazy without them bc it’s all I’ve known since I was in middle school… Ugh.
I really felt understood and hopeful for the first time ever reading this post, so thank you. I’m going to try ERP.
Fantastic piece man - it really resonated. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks man, really kind comment, very much appreciated!
I've known I have OCD since I was a kid but recently it's gotten completely out of control. I am terrified of doing ERP but I know it will help. I want to feel happy and at ease again! Thank you for sharing your story.
You can 100% feel happy and at ease again. It's a tiny tiny tiny part of my existence most of the time now. ERP can be scary and difficult but I tended to think of it as short term Vs long term harm. It's a quick short difficulty - it's brutal and tough at points, but then... you've done it. You've won a battle and you're onto the next one. And it's very fun to win those battles. The long term harm is keeping this thing - and as you say, it sucks the happiness out of so much.
Give it a try, would love to hear how it goes for you!
Great, great piece, thank you
Thanks for leaving such a kind comment - much appreciated!
Thank you so much for this. The numbers is my worst.. I won’t open my phone.. get out of my car.. or do much of anything until the clock changes from that number… I touch door handles or sides of things.. flicker lights.. tons of repetitive behavior to whatever feels suitable to the beast.. I won’t wear certain clothing if I touch it and it doesn’t feel right.. I can’t even type out what my fears are if I do.. I feel like I’ve gotten so used to it and so used to hiding it that it’s just become my normal.. but I’m suffering. I know whenever I’m stressed it gets so much worse… but I feel like when I do certain rituals then it brings me good luck… I think of other people in bad situations and “why wouldn’t that happen to me..” and these rituals protect me from it. Or maybe I’ll just go crazy without them bc it’s all I’ve known since I was in middle school… Ugh.
I really felt understood and hopeful for the first time ever reading this post, so thank you. I’m going to try ERP.