My ocd story

[Leastexpected]

I have been suffering from ocd since my childhood and I took medicine at the age 18 and now I'm under medication I have suffered enormously from this disease and still I'm suffering from some of the symptoms I need to get over this problem as soon as possible to get adopted to a normal life can I know how the exposure and response therapy can be beneficial with this critical condition and now I have the symptoms where I have to do the same thing more than twice if I do something twice I think that's the end of my life and I have no life hereafter and I get depressed everytime over this problem and still I haven't got a solution for this problem even though I have visited several physiatrists because of this issue so can someone help me with this problem and I'll always be thankful for that person as I suffer from this problem a lot ! thank you everyone

[deValentin]

To feel compelled to do certain things so nothing awful will happen to oneself or a loved one is typical of OCD. It’s not easy to ignore an OCD urge because there is nothing absolutely certain in life, everything is possible. So, the question comes down to, how to deal with uncertainty. Well, people need a certain degree of certainty in order to function well in life. You need to be reasonably sure you and your family are safe, you have enough to satisfy your basic needs, you’re in good health, etc. So, the first step is to live in such a way as to be reasonably sure your future will be okay.

The problem, if you have OCD, is that good reasons aren’t enough to have peace of mind, you need more. In your case, you need to do certain things a certain number of times. This may make you feel better at first, but, in the long term, it’s never enough. This can be time-consuming and stop you from carrying out your other activities. This is when exposure and response prevention (ERP) is helpful.

ERP enables you to tolerate a reasonable degree of uncertainty. If you don’t engage in compulsions, yes, it’s possible that the worst-case scenario may happen. However, when faced with triggering circumstances, you do what an OCD-free person would do in the same circumstances (people with OCD are still able to distinguish between what's sensible and what's not) . It’s not easy, but, with the passing of time, it gets better. Reality isn’t always pleasant or certain, but, with ERP, you regain some self-confidence. You learn, or relearn, that if you tend to make sensible choices in life, you can face the future with some serenity. I wish you the best on the road to recovery.

[Leastexpected in reply to deValentin]

Thank you so much earlier I hadn't a belief about this exposure and response prevention therapy but after listening to your words I got a hope to regain my life now I have a trust about this therapy as everyone say that it's beneficial for a disorder such as ocd

[Mcfly64]

Are you on medication or seeing a therapist?

[Leastexpected in reply to Mcfly64]

On medication but still I have some symptoms!

[Mcfly64]

It would be good if you can see a therapist

[Leastexpected in reply to Mcfly64]

I am in contact with a therapist but still I have some symptoms that's what I said