Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and is considered the gold standard treatment for OCD.
Essentially, ERP consists of working with a trained professional to create situations in which you repeatedly force your brain to confront what it claims is an emergency. You have to sit with your brain screaming that you need to take action (the compulsion) to neutralize the danger of the emergency (the obsession). Over time, you habituate and the distress fades. Your brain no longer claims that threat is an emergency.
🧠 #104: Distress tolerance homework
This week’s update shares about my therapist and me being symptomatic together, giving my wife a gift of flexibility, and a realization about feeling like I’m always being tested.
🧠 Symptomatic together
My therapy session last week was an interesting one. Both my therapist and I share an OCD diagnosis, and both of us have been struggling lately.
🧠 #86: Mental toll
In this update, I share the exhausting role of single parenting for a few days, success with timeblocking, and publicly announcing my professional transition to being independent.
🧠 #82: Yes, we’re open
Big news—I’m taking on new projects! This week, I share the challenges of being flexible, a great moment of connection, and realizing my big news that I’ve already started being a contractor.
🧠 #69: Crooked whiteboard
This week’s update shares the story of hanging a whiteboard in my office, and how it will help challenge my OCD.
🧠 #55: Letting OCD win
This week I share about letting OCD win, enjoying General Conference, and seeing friends.
🧠 #53: Staying home
This update describes being a stay-at-home parent for a few days and sitting in uncertainty.
🧠 #51: A piece of peace pizza
Someone close to me was sharing her feelings last week. While not terrible, things were difficult for her. I told her that I hoped she could feel at least a piece of peace. Her near-immediate response was, “A piece of peace pizza.” I knew right away that was the title of my next update.
🧠 #42: Oh, the irony
In this update, I share details of the new app I have been creating, and the deep irony of become obsessed with making it.
🧠 #40: A rough week
This week was a struggle. This update shares what that looked like, and a possible cause. I also share about another craft project, and a teaser of a new app.