Harm ocd

[Mydogb]

Has any one beat harm ocd with out medicine? And just had CBT?

[runaway12]

well not for me, but CBT seems to be better way to beat OCD!

for me medicines didn't work that much, but i do think it helped a little to contain OCD and avoid it from getting worst

[HELLNOCD]

I did not, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Honestly, there isn’t anything wrong with medicine. Medicine is not a crutch and it doesn’t mean you are week; especially with regards to OCD it is helping to correct a chemical imbalance.

Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) is the killshot for harm OCD, that combined with the appropriate medicine can be truly amazing!

Is the problem that you don’t want to take medicine? If so, why? There is a lot of false stigma around medicine.

Anyways, I am recovered from severe harm OCD so let me know how I can help. All the best!

[Mydogb in reply to HELLNOCD]

Hi HELLNOCD thanks so much for your reply, I had a bad time on medicine so now scared to take it, I know I should really try again.

[HELLNOCD in reply to Mydogb]

You’re welcome! I completely understand and that fear is very common with us OCD folks. I have had a few challenging time with medication myself, but I’m glad I’ve persisted because I’m on medication and it’s working really well. I think the key to medication is using side by side with ERP.

Personally, I believe success can be done with ERP alone, but medication can help make it easier and help you reach success quicker. That being said, I don’t believe medication alone can solve the problem and that’s what I believe the mindset should be... ERP first, put in the hard work and then the medication helps supplement and reinforce.

[MyOCD123 in reply to HELLNOCD]

Love your reply! Just out of curiosity what medicine are you on? I’ve been on Sertraline for 9 years now with no negative side effects and I also take Klonopin to help with some of my more severe anxiety symptoms.

[madisonelizabeth]

ERP(Exposure-Response Prevention) is one of the better treatments for OCD, in conjunction to CBT and medication, if you'd like.

[MyOCD123]

I definitely couldn’t manage my symptoms without my medication but that’s just me. I also couldn’t manage my symptoms with just medicine and not ERP. It really has been the perfect mixture of the two that has helped me to begin recovery. I hope you’re able to find one that works for you, if that’s what you choose to do! But I do believe that in some cases people can beat it without medicine. I suppose it depends on your brain chemistry because typically people with OCD can’t produce enough serotonin on their own. Keep pushing on!