Hope for OCD: Exposure & response prevention - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

garylovesnadja · 05-21-2008, 06:22 PM

Did anyone else see the Oprah show today May 21st? Several doctors were working with a group who had OCD so bad that it was wrecking their lives. In a several day group get-together, they were all introduced in varying stages to their phobias and compulsions and encouraged to confront, then finally to embrace them. This was done with OCD therapists and experts leading the group, and after a lot of panic and tears and gut-wrenching, they had virtually all made life-transforming changes. The therapy is called Exposure & Response Prevention. The doctors on the show ( one was DR. Oz) stated that this therapy is now widely available throughout the country, and when I did a search engine check, that appears to be true. Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know, this looks like exciting stuff!

ocdsux108 · 05-25-2008, 05:58 PM

I too saw Oprah but find it hard to believe that these people were "cured" in just 3 days of this "hands on" therapy. Especially the man afraid of toilet bowls...all of a sudden, he's able to sit on them? I think it's a little more in depth than that. I had a similar therapy...i have emetophobia (fear of vomiting), fear of poisoned food and an extreme fear of illness/germs and my therapist would make me eat out at fast food places without washing hands & many other terrific therapeutic things. BUT, in no way, shape or form was I "cured" or even helped remotely right away. In fact, 2 years later, I'm still suffering and probably always will. There are days when I'm better but never 100%. I just hope others seeing this Oprah episode aren't misled into thinking it's a quick cure being confronted with your phobia. Sometimes, it takes more than that. Good luck to all of us!

chickenxx · 05-25-2008, 08:08 PM

I don't think OCD will ever be cured; fellow sufferers will understand that its more than just irrational actions to cancel out an irrational fear, its actually our thought pattern that causes us so much suffering. Although I do believe that there are benefits from the way our minds work, because we process and store information differently or for some focused on perfection etc, we usually have a greater ability to learn or understand amongst so many other things our unusual but brilliant minds allow us to do or see, and given the chance I wouldn't change a thing about how my brain works. I do believe, however, that the negative aspects of this (ie. the anxiety and time consuming behaviour, etc) can be relieved through therapy, I also believe its possible for us to regain control over our minds. This is just my opinion however, and I hope this hasn't caused any offense, I wasn't in any way trying to trivialise OCD, just being optimistic.