OCD & Anxiety Treatment - ERP with Pure O OCD

Understanding ERP Treatment for Pure O OCD

OCD & Anxiety Treatment - ERP with Pure O OCD

What is Pure O OCD?

Pure O OCD involves intrusive thoughts that can manifest in various forms, such as:

• Harmful or violent obsessions:

  Thoughts about causing harm to oneself or others.

• Sexual obsessions:

  Unwanted and intrusive sexual thoughts, distinctly different from sexual urges or fantasies.

• Faith or religious obsessions:

  Intrusive thoughts related to one's faith, religion, or existential ideas.

• Relationship obsessions:

  Intrusive doubts and fears about the status and integrity of one's relationship.

Misconceptions About Pure O OCD

Initially, Pure O OCD was believed to lack any compulsive behaviors, making ERP seem inapplicable. This is a myth. In reality, most individuals with Pure O OCD engage in mental compulsions, such as:

• Analyzing and worrying

• Thought blocking and suppression

• Mental rumination

• Compulsive praying

• Mental avoidance and reassurance checking

Step-by-Step Guide to ERP for Pure O OCD

Identifying Compulsions

The first step in ERP treatment is to acknowledge the compulsions, whether they're physical or mental. If you believe you don't perform any compulsions, it might lead you to incorrectly assume that ERP won't work for you. This is a major error to avoid.

Changing Expectations

Many start ERP with the aim of eliminating intrusive thoughts and anxiety. However, the goal of ERP is not to get rid of these thoughts but to desensitize and reduce their impact.

Personal Story: Impact of Misunderstanding OCD

Matt shares a pivotal personal story about his encounter with OCD. He once believed that his problem was demonic possession, leading him to seek religious solutions. A significant turn happened when someone suggested that his condition might actually be OCD. Recognizing OCD was the first step to finding the right treatment and breaking out of the loop.

Common Mistakes in ERP Therapy

Two key mistakes that many make include:

• Misidentifying the problem:

  Often, people see their intrusive thoughts as the main problem rather than understanding that OCD or anxiety is at play.

• Expecting immediate results:

  ERP isn't about instantly eliminating thoughts and feelings. It’s about habituation and reducing the appraisal of these thoughts as threats.

The Right Approach to ERP

Removing All Behaviors: The primary aim of ERP is to stop the mental safety behaviors and compulsions that reinforce anxiety.

Shifting Mindset: Understand that ERP helps you become desensitized to intrusive thoughts over time, not immediately eradicate them.