Taboo Tuesday intrusive attractions; imaginal exposures

[Anxiouslybalanced]

It’s time for Taboo Tuesday! I am Krista Reed OCD specialist in Wichita, KS and IOCDF advocate here to give you taboo only topics!

Let’s continue with this month’s theme: Intrusive Attractions- the fear of becoming attracted to someone or something you really do not desire. 

Check out last week’s post about in vivo exposures if you missed it! 

Today I want to chat examples of imaginal exposures! Verbal or written stories to use when the obsessions cannot be performed in real life for safety purposes or the concept of time and space! 

Imaginals are not examples of inception- we are not putting the hard thoughts in our clients minds.  Whatever OCD is telling someone, this story is to reflect those hard thoughts so the individual does not feel the need to perform a compulsion anytime these thoughts pop up.  So if your client is concerned about being sexually attracted to anyone or anything; have them tell the story, in completion, and discuss what the bad thing is so the individual will not react to these thoughts when they appear in their mind. Rather, they can feel empowered and ready to fight OCD no matter what their obsession is. 

Exposures are not to be practiced with a medical professional who is not properly trained in OCD; harm can result if someone were to attempt this. So ask your therapist about their training and if they are not trained in ERP or ICBT, search elsewhere. 

Check out next week’s new taboo Tuesday for the month of May as I discuss aggressive sexual behavior.

Remember- Stigma and shame die where communication and validation live ❤️