OCD-Typical ERP vs ACT

[Guest guest]

I have GOOYMIYL and The Happiness Trap. I am also starting ERP with a CBT

therapist for my OCD ( " pure obsessional " type) but he incoporates meditation

during the same session, constantly switching between exposure and meditation

which I think is unconventional and I think it is actually hurting the

habituation process. He was also not familiar with ACT until I told him about

it.

From what I can tell, ACT incorporates exposure and response prevention but it

is not taken to the extent that some therapists take it for ERP. For example,

the " The OCD Workbook " by Hyman and the " OCDONLINE " website by Dr. on

are very aggressive in treating OCD with ERP. The patient creates fear

hierarchies for exposure and even amplifies their worst fear using an imaginal

script until they basically " get used to it " and are able to move on with their

life. These are considered to be 2 of the best therapists for OCD in my support

groups. I also noticed the third edition of " The OCD Workbook " by Hyman is now

incorporating ACT as well in one of his chapters, but I do not have this copy

yet.

I wanted to see if there are any opinions from people that have been through ERP

for OCD and/or have used ACT for OCD. After doing the " Tin Can Monster "

exercise, it was easier because of the methodical breaking apart of my " worst

fear " and I actually prefer it because of this aspect. But it doesn't explicitly

use a numerical anxiety rating system where the patient stays in the worst case

situation a certain amount of time until the anxiety level drops; to say half of

what it was in the beginning of the exposure. Subsequent ERP sessions would

further the exposure and habituation process until the numerical anxiety level

continues to drop. ACT also does not appear to amplify a patient's worst fear

the way that say on does for OCD during exposure.

I think habituation to a patient's worst fear using ACT still happens but it may

take longer since it is not as aggressive? At the core of willingness of ACT, it

appears to be the same as standard ERP for OCD and does not employ any

detrimental " neutralizing " techniques. Any thoughts?

Will Haynes

[Guest guest]

I have also had the best success with " I am having the thought that " for my

" pure o " thoughts and it helps me to keep from doing the mental compulsions of

analyzing and figuring out. But what has helped me most at one time was the tin

can monster audio which is essentially ERP. The moderator for the pure o yahoo

group had a pretty good synopsis of fitting ACT into OCD therapy when I inquired

on that email list. There is also a paper out Title: Alphabet Soup: ERP, CT, and

ACT for OCD

Authors: Tolin, F.

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> I also suffer from Pure O and for me the only things that have worked is

accepting and different ACT exercises. It really depends on the thought. I

have about 3 Pure O themes. The " Milk, Milk, Milk " exercise works for the

most disturbing one. I think because I can't focus on it to much and saying the

theme over and over again is enough. That did take time to work though. I

still have those thoughts of course but they don't take me over the edge like

they use to. Now they are noise in the background(most days). The two

other themes have responded well to " I noticed I'm having the

thought........................ " or imagining something funny with the theme.

IE. That there is something contaminating my water I will imagine that there

is Runts (a type of candy) floating around in my water. I hardly ever even

have that thought anymore but when I do it's like a leaf on a stream. I watch

it go right on by.

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> M.

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[Guest guest]

Thanks, Will.Very helpful. That article led me to another by Twohig as well on applying ACT to OCD.

S.

Subject: Re: OCD-Typical ERP vs ACTTo: ACT_for_the_Public Date: Sunday, 30 January, 2011, 17:08

I have also had the best success with " I am having the thought that" for my "pure o" thoughts and it helps me to keep from doing the mental compulsions of analyzing and figuring out. But what has helped me most at one time was the tin can monster audio which is essentially ERP. The moderator for the pure o yahoo group had a pretty good synopsis of fitting ACT into OCD therapy when I inquired on that email list. There is also a paper out Title: Alphabet Soup: ERP, CT, and ACT for OCDAuthors: Tolin, F.>> I also suffer from Pure O and for me the only things that have worked is accepting and different ACT exercises. It really depends on the thought. I have about 3 Pure O themes. The

"Milk, Milk, Milk" exercise works for the most disturbing one. I think because I can't focus on it to much and saying the theme over and over again is enough. That did take time to work though. I still have those thoughts of course but they don't take me over the edge like they use to. Now they are noise in the background(most days). The two other themes have responded well to "I noticed I'm having the thought........................" or imagining something funny with the theme. IE. That there is something contaminating my water I will imagine that there is Runts (a type of candy) floating around in my water. I hardly ever even have that thought anymore but when I do it's like a leaf on a stream. I watch it go right on by.> > > > > M.>