Why talk therapy can make OCD worse
Because our executive reasoning capabilities go offline when we're in the throes of OCD, talking about the content of obsessions tends to make OCD worse.
Keeping your OCD recovery strong: the ERP lifestyle
What I've learned in the almost 15 years of my OCD recovery is the more I live a lifestyle of ERP and the less I interact with OCD either physically or mentally, the fewer intrusive thoughts I have, and the more my life stays my own.
Motivating yourself to do ERP therapy for OCD
Here are some creative strategies you can use to motivate yourself to do ERP for OCD.
I was held hostage and scammed because I’m a therapist. Don’t let it happen to you!
I was held hostage and scammed because I'm a therapist. Here's how to recognize the scam so it doesn't happen to you. Plus....forgiving those who hurt us and becoming anti-fragile!
Self-punishment as an OCD ritual
The belief that we're bad can turn into its very own sub-type of OCD: self-punishment as a ritual. Here's how you can use an expected type of exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) to break free.
The OCD blame game
When was the last time you blamed someone or something for a negative occurrence in your life? I’m asking because I used to be an expert at blaming (both myself and other people), and for that I blame (yes, pun intended) my OCD.
Is your brain deceiving you? | Ashley Smith’s TEDx Talk
Is your brain deceiving you? If you have OCD, you'll probably say yes, but you may be unaware that your brain's deception can go far beyond OCD.
How to Find an OCD Therapist
Finding an OCD/ERP therapist is often not as easy and straightforward as one might hope, so here are the steps I recommend to help you find a therapist that's right for you.
Positive News: the opposite of OCD
If the news sounds a bit too much like your OCD, read Positive News for "journalism that inspires."
The “trying on compulsions” compulsion
Thinking about the compulsions you could do, aka "trying on" compulsions, IS an OCD compulsion, even if you don't do them!
A Day of ERP (plus self-indulgence vs. self-compassion)
If you've been engaging in self-indulgence when it comes to your OCD instead of self-compassion, a day of ERP might help you get back on track!
The truth about regret, part 1
Regret is keeping some secrets from you, and the truth about this common emotion can help set you free.
Act as though OCD is irrelevant
Telling OCD it's irrelevant lets OCD know that you think it's important. Instead, act as though the OCD doesn't matter!
ERP for OCD: Fun with the Invisible Ink Game
Want to really poke your OCD? Try the Invisible Ink ERP Game!
Escaping the Nursery of Nonstop Negativity
If you have OCD or related disorders, you can use self-compassion to escape from the mental nursery of nonstop negativity.
The Attitude of OCD Recovery: COVID-19 and Beyond
Join Reid Wilson, PhD, Ethan Smith, and me to learn more about the attitude of OCD recovery for COVID and beyond!
A Simple Motivation Trick: This Before That
Having trouble motivating yourself? Try the simple yet effective "this before that" technique!
Show yourself some love!
When you have OCD, you might not have had a lot of practice in demonstrating self-love. Knowing your love language can give you a starting point for how to best communicate kindness and compassion to yourself.
Shower Scripting
When life throws curveballs (as it’s been doing to all of us lately!), sometimes I need to either proactively or reactively remind my OCD that I can use scary content as a weapon just as easily as it can. This is when I do an exposure and response prevention (ERP) exercise I call shower scripting.
3 questions about impact of media on mental health
The pandemic has reinforced my OCD’s twisted, negative view of the world. As I've been working to identify what could help me strengthen the healthier worldview I gained through ERP, one activity has risen to the top: changing my intake of news and social media.
Don’t Give OCD Credit for Your Strengths
Giving OCD credit for your strengths is making a deal with the devil. Here's why.
We Don’t Need OCD Now … or Ever
In this era of COVID-19, OCD is being misused ever more frequently, such as “I wish I had a little OCD” or “we need OCD now,” as if having a mental illness is an adaptive benefit that can protect people from becoming infected with coronavirus. As a person who has obsessive compulsive disorder, I can tell you that nothing could be further from the truth.
An Open Letter to My OCD re: COVID-19
My OCD has been extra riled up lately due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so much so that I decided I needed to reestablish my authority over it. After writing my OCD a letter and reading it out loud, I felt empowered, and my OCD has been much quieter as a result.
Expectations for OCD Recovery During the COVID-19 Pandemic
If you have OCD and it’s acting up because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not alone. But don’t let your self-critical voice or OCD get you down if you’re struggling right now. Instead, empower yourself by validating your experience, modifying your expectations, and self-compassionately accepting your OCD recovery efforts.
When Fear Stops Making Decisions for You
I’ve let fear make a fair number of decisions in my life. But no more. I put my shoulders back and do the things I want to do, acting like all the noise in my head is irrelevant. And you can, too!
OCD’s not always wrong—but that doesn’t mean it’s right
Just because OCD gets lucky sometimes does NOT mean it's right, plus what we're really trying to prove with ERP therapy for OCD.
An OCD-Taming Attitude: Making OCD Pass Out
Have you ever thought about taking the same arrogant attitude with your OCD that it takes with you when you do ERP therapy? Watch this video to watch how I approached ERP with a new attitude that helped me turn my life around.
#FaceYourFear: Transform your triggers to win
With practice, you can learn to transform your OCD triggers into opportunities where you can #faceyourfear and win.
Turn “I have to” into “I want to”
Words have power, and changing "I have to" to "I want to" can be tremendously empowering.