In this episode of OCD: Making Sense of It, we cut straight to practice with a clear, at-home ERP exercise you can try this week. Host Sloane walks through exposure and response prevention step by step, showing how to face a moderate trigger, block the compulsion, and let anxiety rise and fall on its own. Using the example of contamination fears and touching a doorknob, she explains how to time twenty-minute waits, label urges, stay present, and track real habituation instead of feared outcomes. Research from Foa et al. (2005) and IOCDF 2023 guidelines backs the approach: start moderate, repeat daily, and build from there.

Key takeaways:
- Choose a manageable trigger and prevent the usual response long enough for anxiety to drop by half.
- Repeat the same item daily until it feels ordinary before advancing.
- Combine home practice with professional support for lasting results.

This bonus drop keeps sessions short, focused, and practical. 📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at ocd@senseofthisshit.com. Support the show at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ocd-making-sense-of-it--7148788/support

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at ocd@senseofthisshit.com.
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If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line). In an emergency, call 911. This podcast is not a substitute for professional care.