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?
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.