http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/tags/help It's Time to Act. OCD Action provides support and information for people affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Mon, 21 May 2012 15:19:45 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/search.php http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/ocd-about-my-girlfriend#post-64602 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:56:02 +0000 Sappy 64602@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Thanks Mike. It actually worked for some time but after a few days the same pain I felt before came back and now I feel really depressed, especially about another obssessive thought that relates to her &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_sad.gif&quot; title=&quot;:(&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/ocd-awareness-week#post-64245 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:22:55 +0000 lb3160483 64245@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p><a href="http://www.lauraburchett.co.uk" rel="nofollow">http://www.lauraburchett.co.uk</a> &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/ocd-awareness-week-2012#post-64020 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:18:30 +0000 Steve (Volunteer) 64020@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi everyone,</p> <p>My name's Steve and I'm one of the volunteers at OCD Action. Joel has asked me to help out with our OCD Awareness Week -- which is coming up soon. (Monday 20 February to Sunday 26 February 2012.)</p> <p>Would you like to get involved in OCD Awareness Week in some way? Have you got any ideas about any activities and events that we could run? Would you be willing to put up some OCD Action posters in your local area, or put out some OCD Action business cards in your local libaries, or supermarkets, or community centres, or GP surgeries? Would you like to hold an awareness raising event of your own? </p> <p>OCD Action would love to hear from you.</p> <p>You can call OCD Action on tel: 020 7253 5272. </p> <p>You can email us at: <a href="mailto:media@ocdaction.org.uk">media@ocdaction.org.uk</a></p> <p>Here's the link for further information about our OCD Awareness Week:</p> <p><a href="http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/articles/ocd-week-2012/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/articles/ocd-week-2012/</a></p> <p>You can also send a message to my profile, if you want to ask me any questions about Awareness Week. I'm an OCD sufferer and a volunteer for the charity. </p> <p>No contribution to OCD Awareness Week will be too big or too small. This Awareness Week will be all about getting our messages out to the general public, and raising awareness about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The more people that get involved and help to get our messages out, the more people we can reach.</p> <p>So please feel free to start contacting the team as OCD Action to tell us how you'd like to get involved.</p> <p>Thanks for all your help. </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/ocd-awareness-week#post-64019 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:17:36 +0000 Steve (Volunteer) 64019@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi everyone,</p> <p>My name's Steve and I'm one of the volunteers at OCD Action. Joel has asked me to help out with our OCD Awareness Week -- which is coming up soon. (Monday 20 February to Sunday 26 February 2012.)</p> <p>Would you like to get involved in OCD Awareness Week in some way? Have you got any ideas about any activities and events that we could run? Would you be willing to put up some OCD Action posters in your local area, or put out some OCD Action business cards in your local libaries, or supermarkets, or community centres, or GP surgeries? Would you like to hold an awareness raising event of your own? </p> <p>OCD Action would love to hear from you.</p> <p>You can call OCD Action on tel: 020 7253 5272. </p> <p>You can email us at: <a href="mailto:media@ocdaction.org.uk">media@ocdaction.org.uk</a></p> <p>Here's the link for further information about our OCD Awareness Week:</p> <p><a href="http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/articles/ocd-week-2012/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/articles/ocd-week-2012/</a></p> <p>You can also send a message to my profile, if you want to ask me any questions about Awareness Week. I'm an OCD sufferer and a volunteer for the charity. </p> <p>No contribution to OCD Awareness Week will be too big or too small. This Awareness Week will be all about getting our messages out to the general public, and raising awareness about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The more people that get involved and help to get our messages out, the more people we can reach.</p> <p>So please feel free to start contacting the team as OCD Action to tell us how you'd like to get involved.</p> <p>Thanks for all your help. </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/ocd-about-my-girlfriend#post-63172 Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:19:45 +0000 Mike 63172@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Yes, that's the point. It will make you more anxious at first - that's what happens when you confront your fears. But if you do it enough you will habituate and the anxiety will be reduced to lower levels than ever before. </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/ocd-about-my-girlfriend#post-63157 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:35:44 +0000 Sappy 63157@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Thanks for the reply!<br /> Well, I only had 3 appointments with my psychologist thus far and haven't been taking medication for a week, so maybe I'll get better &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; About training my mind to believe that it' a possibility, I don't know if I can handle that type of thought, I would get with anxiety even more I think &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_confused.gif&quot; title=&quot;:?&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/ocd-about-my-girlfriend#post-63152 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:53:25 +0000 Mike 63152@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Bruno,</p> <p>This is a very common OCD topic, and I had suffered with relationship-oriented OCD as well. The way I overcame it was ERP therapy, which is the most proven therapy for OCD, and you don't have to deal with side effects the way you do with medications. What is happening is that OCD has targeted the fear of not loving your girlfriend, not loving her enough, etc. Your mind is unable to deal with the sheer possibility of these things being true, which is what OCD is all about. Since just the POSSIBILITY makes you so scared, you begin to obsess and worry about it and feel the need to perform compulsions to reassure yourself that it's not true. So even in the absence of any evidence that it's true, you're STILL terrified of it constantly. </p> <p>The reason your therapy is not working is because no matter how much reassurance you, or someone else, gives yourself, the OCD will never be satisfied. The OCD will only be satisfied if you can prove 100% that you love your girlfriend enough, but proving anything 100% is impossible. Therefore, the way to treat OCD is not to give reassurance (which is just a form of compulsion) but to expose oneself to his/her fears so that they became less scared of them. Your goal should be to train your mind to accept the possibility that you don't love your girlfriend. Notice that this does not mean that you actually BELIEVE it, but just that you acknowledge and accept that it's POSSIBLE. Once you can think in this way (which is the way your mind works for every topic except the topics the OCD targets) your anxiety will decrease markedly, and you will be able to continue your relationship with your girlfriend largely anxiety- and guilt-free. And the way to accomplish this is ERP therapy.</p> <p>Some people say they have benefited from various cognitive therapies, but there are many types out there and ERP is more proven in peer-reviewed studies. Ideally you should find a therapist that is trained in both cognitive and behavioral (ERP) therapies, which is known as CBT.</p> <p>-Mike </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/ocd-about-my-girlfriend#post-63136 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:45:35 +0000 Sappy 63136@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>By the way, can some administrator move this to the teen section? &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_confused.gif&quot; title=&quot;:?&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/ocd-about-my-girlfriend#post-63135 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:05:12 +0000 Sappy 63135@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> <p>My OCD volves around doubting everything I feel, I suffer so much...now I have a girlfriend and guess what? Now I doubt about her too! I love being with her, but I usually think stuff like "maybe I don't love her" or "maybe I'm doing the wrong thing". The thing is that she loves me a lot and I don't want to hurt her in any way, so I obviously start getting worried and thinking about these things &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_sad.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-(&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; Yesterday I spent the day with her and I loved it, today I woke up more depressed and when I saw her at school it was like I didn't feel the same way...I started thnking "Maybe I don't like her. But I want to be with her, I dont want to break up with her! But what if I don't? I don't want to hurt her, but I also don't want to break up with her!" My medication ended like one week ago, I bought it today so I haven't taken it, can't wait to start the treatment again and see if I get better &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_sad.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-(&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; the thing is that I don't even know what's guilt and what's OCD. Maybe I don't like her, even though I don't want to break up with her either...I love being with her...help &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_sad.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-(&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; I'm also in a psychologist, she said that I might love her, but everytime I have the tiniest doubt I give it too much value, but even with an hour of explanation and trying to help I still feel the same...<br /> Good thing I found this Forum, OCD has been aa big part of my life since I was 11, maybe you can help me solving my problems easier &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_sad.gif&quot; title=&quot;:(&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless/page/2#post-62048 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 23:17:38 +0000 wannabefree 62048@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi everyone, thank you for your kind words... It has been wonderful to read your posts too, Mike, a big welcome from me, if I haven't already done so...<br /> I'm just starting to get into the christmassy spirit now... I'm not going shopping tomorrow, I've had enough... If there is anything else it will have to wait until after Christmas now... I've got enough meds til at least new year, enough food in (I think) certainly enough chocolate and fruit, damn, I've just remembered we have no bananas in, oh well, we'll be okay... The electric will stay on, and we have a spare TV just in case... And loo rolls, plenty of those regardless of how much I try to use! &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; <br /> wannabe </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless/page/2#post-62030 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:09:25 +0000 Mike 62030@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>The problem with that website is that he hasn't updated it in months! But there is occasionally some good advice there. Merry Xmas to you too! </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless/page/2#post-62010 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:23:05 +0000 Anonymous 62010@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi Mike,</p> <p>re: your post above, I had a quick look around the internet and found this link for a website connected to Jon Grayson:</p> <p><a href="http://www.ocdhelpdoc.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ocdhelpdoc.com/</a></p> <p>It looks very interesting, so it might be of interest to other readers too.</p> <p>Thanks for all your excellent posts so far on this forum, Mike. It is great to hear positive, practical advice like yours, which will be incredibly helpful to many of the people on this forum. </p> <p>I think that you have excellent knowledge and insight into your experiences of OCD, and that suggests that Jon Grayson, or one of the other mental health professionals that you have worked with, was really on the ball.</p> <p>Thanks for sharing your knowledge and insights with the forum, Mike -- and please continue to do so as much as you can in 2012! &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> <p>And have a Merry Xmas!!! &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_lol.gif&quot; title=&quot;:lol:&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless/page/2#post-62005 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:58:50 +0000 Mike 62005@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>I really hope both of you can get the help you need. OCD is not worth dying for. I had suicidal thoughts in 2010, and I thought my life was ending. It was torture. But I found the right type of therapy, and now I'm probably 90% back to the real me. The help is out there, it's just a matter of finding a good therapist, or even trying the therapy on your own. If you both are interested in trying ERP therapy, I HIGHLY recommend you read "Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" by Jon Grayson. He was my therapist for a couple months and he is an absolute expert in OCD. I strongly believe that his methods work way better than those of Dr. Schwartz. Please don't hesitate to ask any other questions you might have. I wish you both the very best, and remember, learning to live with uncertainty is the key. If the therapy makes you anxious at first, that's a GOOD sign - if it reassures you, that's a BAD sign cause that's just a temporary band-aid that will NOT reduce your obsessions. I hope trying ERP therapy is part of both of your New Year's resolutions!</p> <p>-Mike </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless/page/2#post-61995 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:10:54 +0000 slogsweep 61995@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Indeed Wannabe, you certainly deserve a relaxing Christmas period. I'm not chasing bright lights or excessive nights out like I used to. A quiet Christmas is all I want. I've bought the family extra presents this year to make up for their support while I've been horribly low so I'm looking forward to seeing them open their things. </p> <p>I hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas Wannabe, and that you continue to improve as you seem to almost every time you post. With any luck by the middle of next year we can both look at ourselves and realise that we've beaten a horrible disorder. </p> <p>Slog </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless/page/2#post-61992 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:02:01 +0000 wannabefree 61992@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi Slog, yes, I feel very similar... It is scary, but yes, wanna get started so I can break the awful hold OCD has on me... The idea of acceptance is a good one... Relaxing into, and accepting how things could, might, or may not be anyway, feels a good thing, especially in the evening, my best time of the day... I'm certainly happy for us to go through this together, our CBT maybe coming at a similar time... I agree, having a friend to share the experience with is gonna be a massive help to us, and will even improve the outcome of treatment... Let's hope it happens soon... &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; I too have had thoughts of ending my life during this past year, but thankfully I and you too have made it thus far, so hope is still there for a good recovery from this horrible illness... Meanwhile, lets have a relaxing Christmas, and let's have hope that 2012 will be a great year for us all...<br /> wannabe </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless/page/2#post-61987 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:43:20 +0000 slogsweep 61987@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>I don't know about you Wannabe but I'm very scared, yet anxious to get going with this therapy. Maybe as we're at similar stages with regards to waiting time for CBT we can help each other through our CBT experience. A problem shared is a problem halved &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; . It would mean a great deal to have friends who are suffering as I do to talk through what's going on. </p> <p>Big thank you again to Mike, I know it probably sounds like I'm gushing, but it was only October when I genuinely wanted to end my life. You've given me some real attainable hope for a decent quality of life again. </p> <p>Best wishes to the both of you,</p> <p>Slog </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless/page/2#post-61985 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:24:18 +0000 wannabefree 61985@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi Slog, Hi Mike... This is really interesting, bringing the word of acceptance in... If we can accept things instead of trying to control the world through 'magical thinking' then all of a sudden things get easier...<br /> It is difficult to do, but certainly good to try...<br /> Thank you for sharing... &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/bb-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; <br /> wannabe </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless#post-61974 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:47:38 +0000 slogsweep 61974@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Sounds terrifying but I understand the logic behind it at least. So by accepting the thoughts, you're not accepting them in a moral sense, it's more of a "it's a remote human possiblity" kind of way if that makes any sense? </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless#post-61972 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:13:01 +0000 Mike 61972@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>We can't get rid of catastrophic thoughts, we can only learn to accept that catastrophic things MIGHT happen, and learn to be OK with that possibility. Once you are OK with the possibility that a catastrophe could happen at any time, your catastrophic thinking and obsessing will stop. As for a learning experience, yes, I think having OCD is a constant learning experience in terms of learning to live with uncertainty. </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless#post-61971 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:02:22 +0000 slogsweep 61971@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Thank you for your brilliant advice. It's the catastrophic thinking, I'd do anything to get rid of that! It's a constant learning experience, OCD isn't it? </p> <p>Thanks Mike, really appreciate what you've done for me. Actually looking forward to Christmas barring the odd spike now, </p> <p>Best wishes</p> <p>Slog </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless#post-61958 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:25:01 +0000 Mike 61958@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Slog, I think you should probably wait until you see a therapist before you do anything drastic, but I think you can at least start by refusing to do any compulsions. That should make you anxious enough for now, but it will help you immensely in the long run. By stopping the compulsions, you are, in a way, training your mind to accept the uncertainty about your fears. And once your brain sees again and again that even when you don't do the compulsions nothing bad happens, it will begin to habituate and make you less anxious. As for intentional exposure to your fears, you might wanna wait until you see your therapist.</p> <p>I haven't read Brain Lock, I only know about the 4 R's and I know that's the basic gist of the treatment approach in the book. All I can say is that the 4 R's did absolutely nothing for me and I actually ended up having suicidal thoughts and living a completely tortured life until I discovered ERP, which has restored me to (almost) a happy life. I also know Edna Foa and Jon Grayson, two experts in the field who use ERP. Dr. Foa was selected as Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world a couple years back for her use of ERP in OCD and PTSD. </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless#post-61952 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:33:46 +0000 slogsweep 61952@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Sorry for some reason I've replied on the wrong thread! After reading it on my phone I came on my computer to reply. Rather dumb of me, </p> <p>Slog </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless#post-61948 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:19:55 +0000 slogsweep 61948@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Thank you Mike, I've had no idea what to expect from CBT to be honest. I'm really grateful for you shedding some light on what I'll have to go through. Frankly the idea of accepting thoughts like these terrifies me so do you think I should wait until Feb when I see a therapist? That way I'll have a bit of guidance at least, or do you think I should start asap? </p> <p>One final question, do you think Brain Lock has any use at all? I know it divides opinion on here quite markedly. </p> <p>Thanks Mike, that's a pretty wonderful thing you've done for me there. Happy Christmas</p> <p>Slog </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless#post-61900 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:29:55 +0000 Mike 61900@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>You have no choice but to accept the potential validity of what any of the intrusive thoughts are saying. You have no choice but to live in a world in which there is uncertainty. You drive a car because you can accept the possibility that you might die on the road at any moment. You walk in the street because you can accept the possibility that you might get killed on the road at any moment. You have done countless things in your life that could have gotten you killed, just like everyone else. But for your obsessions, you all of a sudden cannot accept the possibility that your feared consequences might be true, or might come true. This is the OCD. Your goal should be to deal with those feared consequences the same way you deal with all the other feared consequences in life - acceptance. Any time you have an intrusive thought that tells you that "X" might be true, answer it by telling yourself "YES IT MIGHT, AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO KNOW FOR SURE, SO I'M GOING TO LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT EVER KNOWING FOR SURE". Do this constantly.</p> <p>The methods in "Brain Lock" are basically compulsions. Reassuring yourself will never free you from the obsessions, because reassurance is a compulsion in of itself and feeds the OCD cycle. The only way to overcome any kind of fear is by exposure, NOT reassurance.</p> <p>Would you mind telling me what your biggest fears are? Feel free to send me a private message if you'd like.</p> <p>-Mike </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless#post-61899 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:28:14 +0000 citaloman 61899@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>From experience they die down and become less of an issue. That's me saying it..! Jeez must have had a good day. </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless#post-61882 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:25:25 +0000 slogsweep 61882@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Thanks Mike, I think the "yes maybe I did" thing would work with the compulsive checking, but I can't accept my intrusive thoughts. I'd rather be dead than they be true. At the moment I use Brain Lock against those, are there any alternatives?</p> <p>Slog </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless#post-61875 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:41:35 +0000 Mike 61875@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Yes, ERP therapy is designed to expose you to your fears. It consists of 2 parts: 1) the exposure, and 2) refusing to engage in any behaviors that might reassure you or make you feel better or less anxious (compulsions).</p> <p>In your case, you must stop doing all compulsions, such as checking things to make sure that they are OK. And every time a thought enters your head that says "maybe I did X wrong", answer the thought by saying "YES, MAYBE I DID". Repeat this constantly, every time you get a thought in your head, and refuse to do any compulsions no matter how anxious you get. If you tell me what your specific obsessions are about, I could give you more specifics. </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless#post-61860 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:33:58 +0000 slogsweep 61860@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>I haven't to be honest, I thought I'd be doing that as part of CBT. Do you know what ERP would be like for me? I worry constantly that I've done something wrong and I check all the bloody time lights, locks, plug sockets all sorts, </p> <p>Thanks, I'm always relived to find another option. </p> <p>Slog </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless#post-61846 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:19:14 +0000 Mike 61846@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Slog - have you tried ERP therapy? </p> http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/cried-my-eyes-out-today-feel-so-utterly-hopeless#post-61837 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:31:56 +0000 blueboy 61837@http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/ <p>Hi Slog,<br /> reading your posts and hope you get some peace in the next few days..i have improved with the ocd.. thru meds... but there are other parts of my life that need addressed... but thankfully i can now see those as more normal issues.. that anyone can face and not that ocd is destroying my whole life...my main ocd was the thought i harmed someone... similar to what you said about your nan...i would like to see the thing you are going to post pertaining to thi type of ocd.. or have i missed it? take care ...PAUL </p>