Overcoming OCD by myself??

[JesusisKing]

Hi I struggle with Contamination OCD. Is it possible to do ERP by myself and overcome it? I lost my job because of OCD and cant afford expensive treatment.

Thanks

[Weirdgorl]

Yes you can do it! Don’t give up. Don’t overthink because if you do it won’t change. Make sure your treating your body well by eating and drinking enough water. Don’t let this hold you back life is good when you are happy. You got this

[Hidden]

I am sorry to hear that you are going through a rough time.

Therapists are getting very expensive nowadays, especially

those that are OCD specialists.

I know it is frustrating.

Since I do not have a therapist, I am try to do ERP on my own.

I have some forms of OCD contaminations.

Below is a portion of an article on OCD and Contamination.

I hope it gives you some support.

OCD and Contamination

" Behavioral therapy would be in the form of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). This remains the most widely used and accepted form of behavioral treatment for OCD. This type of therapy encourages patients to gradually encounter increasing doses of that which is contaminated, while resisting washing, checking, avoiding, or conducting magical rituals. "

"By staying with the anxiety, sufferers come to learn the truth of the matter — that nothing really happens when they face their fears, and that their efforts at taking precautions serve no real purpose."

"Gradually, patients learn to merge their clean and dirty worlds as they cease to protect themselves. They also concentrate on learning to accept that there will always be a certain amount of risk in life that can never be eliminated, and that life can still be enjoyed and lived freely in spite of this fact. By trying to eliminate risk, they come to see that along with it they will eliminate their ability to function. I like to tell my patients that “When everything is contaminated, nothing is contaminated.”

by Fred Penzel, PhD

iocdf.org/expert-opinions/e...

[LuvSun in reply to Hidden]

I really like a lot of things that Fred Penzel has written about OCD especially this one.

[philoso]

At first u should not avoid touching doorknobs or things u suppose as a dirty. This is exposure. Response is washing hands again and again. Try to delay prevent this response as long as possible. If u avoid touching dirty things u will always fear from contamination OCD. BT if u faced the problem i.e. exposure to threat /danger u will no longer get disturbed from contamination OCD. Practice this.