Doing the Hard Work

Exposures suck, but I know they help in the long run. Facing fears head-on is not easy,, but doing the hard work is worth it. Right now, I feel “contaminated,” and my OCD is trying to convince me that I’m spreading that contamination. My anxiety started out high, and the thought was, “Don’t sit on that couch- you’ll get it dirty… But OCD is a liar.

I do not have to run from the discomfort. I can sit with the feeling, let the anxiety rise and fall, take my power back, and show OCD who’s boss. And I’m noticing that when I sit with the fear, face the OCD thought, and ride out the wave of anxiety, the anxiety eventually comes down.

Sitting with anxiety is not fun, but every time I conquer an exposure, it is a baby step toward more freedom from OCD. My encouragement for today: embrace uncertainty and ride out the wave- OCD does not get to win.