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Postpartum Depression
bhession
member
PPD/OCD/Anxiety: Exposure Therapy?
bhession
member
As you know from some of my previous posts,I am a long time sufferer of anxiety that definitely hit a new high when I had my daughter 16 months ago. Anyway, I battled PPD/OCD this past summer, which was a complete nightmare (I shared my story on this board in hopes that it might help others going through the same hell).
Thankfully, I am doing much, much better thanks to meds, a great therapist, and a very supportive network of friends and family, but I still have some anxious days from time to time. This afternoon my therapist is going to try exposure therapy with me, which is basically having me meditate and focus intensly on my worst fears as if they are happening. Apparently it is supposed to "de-power" the fear, and make you more less afraid of the thought...kind of like making someone who is terrified of spiders hold a tarantula. Sounds a little kooky, I know, but can be very helpful I've heard.
Has anyone ever undergone this exposure therapy? Just curious how it worked for you. I'd be interested to hear from any moms who also have experienced PP OCD/Anxiety with Intrusive Thoughts. It's nice to know that you're not the only one who has been through this.
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Re: PPD/OCD/Anxiety: Exposure Therapy?
Yes, it's very helpful! You might also check out the book Overcoming Obsessive Thoughts: How to Gain Control of Your OCD. It has some great tools for planning exposure exercises. My therapist used it as a guide for some of our work together.