![OCD is a cycle.](/try-erp.png)

# ERP Therapy Sucks

I was recently diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. I was like "woah"
and then I was like "duh".

But "OCD" is just a diagnosis. I don't care about labels -- I care about
treatment. I want results.

So I started [NOCD](https://www.treatmyocd.com)'s program a few weeks ago. It's
good, but it's not what I expected. I thought it would be stuff like "tell me
about your childhood" and "how does that make you feel?". Nah. It's just
"enumerate your fears and let's go purposefully do all those things". It really
sucks. But that's the whole point.

This is the essence of
[exposure & response prevention (ERP) therapy](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposure_therapy#Exposure_and_response_prevention_(ERP)>).
You purposefully provoke fear/anxiety without resorting to your usual coping
mechanisms. This feedback shows your brain the futility of familiar rituals. All
this time, you've been experiencing anxiety with extra steps.

ERP therapy seems valuable beyond OCD treatment. I suspect that most people
could benefit from listing fears and systematically tackling them.

ERP sucks. I hope you try it.