What's ERP and Why Does It Work for OCD?

OCD is highly treatable, and the gold-standard treatment is exposure and response prevention, or ERP. Wondering what ERP is and why it works? Dr. McGrath, @treatmyocd’s Chief Clinical Officer, breaks it down in a chat with Dr. Gaveras, Co-founder of @talkiatry.

[@samsepiol5533]

This is all true and has already helped me significantly after 3 months

[@nattv98]

Beautiful

[@an4935]

So for example if I try to avoid looking at a certain object because I don't want OCD to later make me doubt that I looked at the object for a bad reason, and then somehow another day I'm trying to avoid that object but OCD is kind of like look around for the object and I actually did, now it has given me anxiety because now OCD is making me doubt about why I looked at or looked for that object. Now the fact that I didn't avoid the object was that actual ERP since I didn't avoid to feel safe? But it gave me so much anxiety when I realized that I didn't avoid the one thing that I usually do. Hopefully I explained myself correctly.

[@Pinkda1sy]

Avoiding is letting the OCD take control. If you look at something and see it for what it is, logically and rationally then you diminish the power OCD has. If you want to analyse it then it's best to write it down and go through it with someone you trust or a therapist. When it comes to understanding what is normal vs OCD or anxiety then OCD will eventually have less power. I hope you're feeling better these days. Know you aren't alone and we can all lead a happy, content life outside of OCDs grips 😊