Exposure & response prevention
The Exposure in ERP refers to exposing yourself to the thoughts, images, objects and situations that make you anxious and/or start your obsessions. While the Response Prevention part of ERP, refers to making a choice not to do a compulsive behavior once the anxiety or obsessions have been “triggered.” All of this is done under the guidance of a therapist at the beginning — though you will eventually learn to do your own ERP exercises to help manage your symptoms.
What is ERP in practice?
Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) involves first identifying avoidance patterns and the object of avoidance. ERP therapists then create a hierarchy of tasks and support clients in approaching each task, monitoring nervous system activation and supporting decrease in anxiety symptoms. ERP is a structured, evidence based therapy with proven results in helping individuals with diagnoses of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder began to have greater confidence in themselves, rather than avoid life.