Was this CBT or Counselling?!

[Surreylady]

Hi everyone,

I have been suffering from OCD for quite a few years. Recently I have been having free therapy through the NHS. I have had about 5 sessions up to now that have made me feel better but my last couple of sessions with my therapist have been quite not what I have expected them to be.

My last session was based on exposing myself to something shocking, which was visual like we went on a news website and had to find something that would shock my mind like a disturbing indecent image, so we both chose this man who nearly had his leg cut off by a cement mixer bowl. I looked at it and it looked gross! I didn't want to look at it anymore, she insisted that we clicked on the story and that I would look at the image a couple of times to see how traumatized I was. I don't like the look of blood and it was a nasty image.

I wasn't so frightened by the image as I calmed down and it wasn't really mine or had happened to me. But when I told my Mum later on that day of what happened in my session, the picture of the leg with blood popped back into my mind and for a good 5 minutes I had to get rid of it. I personally think someone who is sensitive to horrible and gruesome images and words on the web, should they be looking at that constantly? wouldn't that trigger the OCD more?

Plus she said we can try different techniques that can stop us behavouring and thinking in a negative way, such as breathing techniques, put your head down near your legs so you feel light headedness and then lift up and see how you feel. Another one where you sit on a chair and spin around until you feel really sick. All of these activities are supposed to get your heart rate up and make you feel what it feels like to have those anxiety thoughts. I am not sure about all of that, has anyone tried any of that?

I am gutted as my sessions will be ending and she said we have learnt techniques so you will have a toolbox of ideas to cope for your OCD. I will just self refer if I need anymore help.

She based my problems on anixety. I would say yes I have that but I also have OCD 100%

When I would refuse to do the breathing techniques or say I don't think that's been working for me or visa versa she would respond and say "why is that? why don't you tell me what you mean by that?" So I would have to keep rethinking of what to tell her so she can dig deeper from my angle of what I am delivering to her. I found it quite annoying.

Does anyone else think this was Physcotherapy or Counselling?

Thanks for reading x

[Wheeloffortune]

It sounds like you’ve had some great therapy!! Your therapist was doing ERP with you which is exposure and response prevention. You expose your brain to the things you fear and then over time your brain calms down. At first it’s scary and hard but you are teaching your brain to not respond. Many of us with ocd have avoided the things our brains have taught us are “scary”!!! This just reinforces the fears. We have to learn to live with doubt and uncertainty. Go to the IOCDF’s website for some great resources so you can continue to get better!!

God Bless🙏🙏😊😊

[HannahMae]

Hi there, I am sorry to hear what you're dealing with. I also have OCD and it is super challenging to handle. One of the most important things in my opinion is to find a therapist to help you do the exposures. That way, you don't feel so alone and you know to have his/her support. It sounds like your therapist was doing just that, which is great. But I can totally understand why you feel the way you do. It's completely normal to feel uncomfortable, disturbed, anxious, or any form of distress while doing an exposure. But just me, your doing the right thing!

For me personally, I haven't any technique that actually help, they sometimes just make me feel worse, which is what it sounds like you're experiencing. I would try things that are calming to you, like maybe rubbing on lotion that has a scent you like or sipping your favorite drink. My therapist recommends trying to use your five senses when your feeling very anxious and the thoughts get too intense.

Don't give up, it's gonna get better! Also, don't be afraid to open up to your therapist. Explain to him/her how the activities make you feel, and if he/she asks questions like, "Can you explain a little more?" just tell them you can't really explain it any more than you already have. Just be honest, even if it's a little hard!

If you need more support, I'm here!

-Hannah