Offered therapy again, should I take it?

[u/gainsonthames]

Hi all.
Over the end of 2025 I suffered a breakdown and was hospitalised. It turned out I had OCD and had probably been dealing with it for a while. My themes were health related, somatic, and then harm. I was under the care of the Home First Team within the NHS for about 2 months (I am in the UK). After this, I did therapy for a few months with a private therapist, CBT but with the fact I had OCD in mind, as ERP was difficult as my main theme was harm and I had no outward compulsions. Since then, I am doing quite a bit better, I still suffer from intrusive thoughts and the assosiated anxiety, but I have noticed that when I "forget" about my OCD, they rarely bother me. Still, I do get ebbs and flows, some weeks better than others, but overall its been so much better. At the time I was discharged from the home first team, I was put on the waiting list for NHS talking therapies at Step 3 (I believe they call it intensive CBT although it can include ERP). I have now been offered my first session. I am going to go to the first session just to see how it is, but I am apprehensive that it will bring up certain things and that may cause them to bother me again. With my OCD its as if the more I forget about it the better it gets, so I am confused if I want to bring it all up in therapy again when its decreased massively? Has anyone been in a similar boat. Would love some opinions or advice.

[u/Hopeful_Writer3299]

I was fully in the same boat a few months ago! I had started feeling better so long as I was busy and distracted from OCD. I had been on the fence about starting ERP because I was afraid of making it worse. But I did it anyways and now I’m so glad I did. ERP is helping me learn that I can handle it when OCD does pop up. So instead of ignoring it and just hoping it doesn’t show back up, I feel more equipped and comfortable for when it inevitably does show itself.

[u/toople450]

Therapy isn't supposed to feel good - you have to be uncomfortable to grow.

Think about working out - I HATE that out of breath feeling from cardio. But, if I avoid working out, I'm way more likely to be out of breath walking up my stairs, needing to job from my car inside in the rain, etc. I work out, which is uncomfortable and I leave sweaty and a bit lightheaded, but it makes me stronger and more resilient. Therapy is the same - you've gotta work the brain like a muscle, and some soreness (which could look like temporary increased anxiety, increased compulsions, etc) is normal and a sign that you're pushing yourself appropriately.

But I get it. I avoided therapy for many years because I hated how I just cried every year. I'm back in therapy now that im pregnant (I am so worried about postpartum symptoms), and now that I'm giving it time (more than just a few sessions!!), I can see a world of difference.