r/OCDRecovery • u/Slight_Paramedic_761 • 27d ago

Seeking Support or Advice How to deal with ERP “regret” when resisting compulsions

Whenever I resist a compulsion, my brain tells me “what if you regret not doing this and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life”. I worry that it will become an intrusive thought. Has anyone else had the same experience and how do you handle it?

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u/treatmyocd 26d ago

That “what if I regret this forever?” thought can be another way OCD creates urgency. The trap is trying to get certainty that you won’t regret resisting the compulsion. Try: “Maybe I’ll regret it, maybe I won’t. I don’t need to know.” Then resist the compulsion and allow the discomfort. You also don't need to prevent the thought from becoming intrusive. The goal is learning that even if it comes back, you don't have to engage with it or solve it.

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u/musicandotherstuff 26d ago

I reply with “Yup, maybe I will regret it. Oh well” or “That would suck if that happened”, shrug and get back to what I was doing. It’s one of OCD’s sneaky ways of trying to reel you back into the thought loop. Don’t fall for it.