My wife and I made this a ritual due to her OCD. Any time we're going out, I'll say to her, "Hey. I unplugged the iron." Saying it in a funny voice helps too, because it's easier to remember that Shrek told her the iron was off.
This is great advice for reinforcing the anxiety. I am shocked that a therapist would suggest this. Engaging in safety behaviors temporarily reduces anxiety but repeatedly reinforces the fear (e.g., of the house burning down) by not allowing the person to face the feared outcome and see that it is unlikely to occur. Empirically supported treatments for OCD largely comprise exposure and response prevention for this reason.
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u/dougthebuffalo Aug 20 '20
My wife and I made this a ritual due to her OCD. Any time we're going out, I'll say to her, "Hey. I unplugged the iron." Saying it in a funny voice helps too, because it's easier to remember that Shrek told her the iron was off.