What is ERP like for Contamination OCD

Ben Eckstein, LCSW, discusses the use of exposure and response prevention (ERP) when treating contamination obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He explains hierarchies, which are the ratings of triggers that cause the least amount of anxiety to the most amount anxiety.

Presented in partnership with Anxiety and Depression Association of American (ADAA) and the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). For more resources, please visit ADAA.org and IOCDF.org.

[Arkadi-rjvc]

Nobody is talking about when you get rid of one type of ocd another one kicks in. I completely switched fron organization to contamination ocd. You get rid of one another one will kick in. Ocd is a deeper problem than just reacting to an obsession. It is a mechanism that gets rid of anxiety by artificially creating problems and solving it. When you get rid of that your brain starts looking for other things to be able to relive the anxiety somehow. Since childhood fear of asteroid hitting us, earthquake fear, switched to organization now contamination, plus perfectionism ( will do it later to do it perfect)

[tfergii]

I am using this video throughout the week to remind my self to not compulsively sanitize a sink for 5 minutes before using it. Hopefully, anyone else out there in the future will see that the gradual 'dip your toe in the water' analogy is a great working process.

[hilenijoseph]

Feel like I'll go mad at some point in my life 😭😭, what's worse is my family doesn't understand and they keep on doing things that they know I can't tolerate, like sneaking in my room and contaminating everything 🥲.

I use gloves and plastics to touch or clean "contaminated" objects, the clothes I go with outside don't make it in my room until they're clean again because I hop in the shower the moment I'm back from school.
I really need help 😫.

[ggstylz]

In my ERP therapy 30 years ago, I started desensitisation exercises with the worst thoughts first. There were no shortcuts. I still have general anxiety here and there but my OCD is almost non existent.

[Imakeawesomeeditsforreal]

It's so freaking unreal how I was able to overcome contamination ocd all by myself. I never expected that I'd get through it. It was complete hell. I wash my hands like 10 times+ a day. I never ever wanna go back to a time like that.

[CaptZenPetabyte]

Wonderful therapeutic metaphor! Thank you for sharing

[rolbebas]

How can I recognise if it's a real danger or an CCD thought? Having contamination OCD I don't want to put myself in real danger

[ptf]

i have bad contamination ocd compulsions i cant handle anything, i need to sanitise my hands every time, its so exausting, its just an existance, but think i will really struggle with erp.