Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be a very isolating condition, but you don’t have to manage it alone. While getting exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy is key to overcoming OCD, you can supplement that treatment with peer support groups. Access to support groups is included with NOCD membership, and we have over a dozen unique groups centered on different aspects of OCD.
While participating in a support group may seem scary at first, that vulnerability in sharing your experiences can often have a tremendous impact on your life—and in the lives of others. You can lean on your peers and they can provide encouragement in return. These connections can also help you gain more OCD awareness, provide additional accountability, and release any shame you’re holding on to.
Keep reading to hear why NOCD Members benefit from peer support and how it can be paired alongside ERP therapy.
1. You’ll realize you’re not alone
If you’ve had trouble finding other people with OCD, you’ll find that support groups are a great way to connect over shared OCD-related issues.
“Peer support helps people feel like part of a community of others who can relate and identify with their struggles and celebrate their successes in treatment,” says Tracie Ibrahim, NOCD’s Chief Compliance Officer and leader of multiple OCD support groups. “Oftentimes, just hearing someone else share about something that you thought only you struggled with can feel really validating.”
Support groups are also a great tool to help manage and reduce stress because they show you that overcoming OCD isn’t some perfect, linear process. Just talking about the things that you usually hide away can be cathartic in and of itself. Establishing a safe place to be your authentic self and meet others who have similar experiences is also a great confidence booster. That’s important because you will need to trust yourself (as well as your therapist) as you approach difficult exposure exercises.
2. You can learn more about OCD
If you want to deepen your understanding of OCD, support groups are a great resource to tap into. At NOCD, you can join support groups that center on different themes, like obsessions that focus on taboo topics. Gaining more knowledge about any subtypes you might have can help you better identify obsessions and compulsions you may have overlooked before.
You’ll also have more time to get into nuanced conversations about OCD and get to hear from diverse perspectives. Support groups are a great place to begin some of your own OCD advocacy, too.
3. You’ll stay accountable
While there’s no substitute for working with a therapist trained in ERP, there are great benefits to having additional accountability partners rooting for you. “Knowing that you will be attending a group where others also regularly attend can help people feel more motivated to follow through with their own treatment,” Ibrahim says.
Peer support has been found to improve quality of life and overall health. Studies have shown that peer support reduces depression, anxiety, and loneliness in young adults.
The connections you form during group meetings can also keep you on track in OCD recovery. Your peers may check in to see if you’re staying on top of your ERP homework and point out when you’re engaging in compulsions, like seeking reassurance. Instead of just you and your therapist keeping an eye on your symptoms, you’ll have a whole squad of peers ready to assist if needed.
Find the right OCD therapist for you
All our therapists are licensed and trained in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the gold standard treatment for OCD.
4. You can easily pair ERP therapy with peer support
ERP therapy works by intentionally changing your compulsive behaviors, which requires a significant amount of effort and commitment. That means you need to come to sessions with a willingness to feel discomfort, as well as the ability to be honest with your therapist about your obsessions and compulsions.
While ERP has been proven successful time and time again, it’s not easy. Support groups provide the opportunity to unpack any challenges you’re dealing with in treatment. When treatment gets tougher, you’ll be relieved to have peers cheering you on.
“One of the beautiful things about support groups is that people who attend are at different stages of treatment, so you can get the perspectives of those who are still suffering and struggling to come on board with their ERP treatment, as well as those who have completed ERP treatment and are doing really well,” Ibrahim explains.
5. You can release shame—and inspire others
Support groups can provide a non-judgmental place where you can learn from others and feel comfortable to express difficult emotions. Being vulnerable can be especially helpful with the shame aspect of OCD. When you talk about intrusive thoughts out loud, it tends to take away their power.
Additionally, developing a sense of purpose from your own painful experiences may even inspire your fellow support group members. You may be the very person who helps someone realize that they too can get better and live in recovery. They may regain confidence in treatment and in themselves.
Join a support group today
As a part of NOCD Therapy, you are able to join others in support groups who are on a similar journey. It creates a space to share your personal story—if you choose—and learn ways to overcome challenges related to OCD. There’s no added cost to participate. Support groups are hosted on Zoom and are led by NOCD therapists.
Some of the support groups we offer cater to specific subtypes, including groups for just right (perfectionism) OCD, religious (scrupulosity) OCD, and relationship OCD, as well as common obsessions like sexual content, harm, health, and taboo themes. We also have identity-based support groups for parents, teens, as well as our LGBTQIA+ community and education group.
Other support groups we offer include:
- Managing OCD
- Recovery Strategies & Self Compassion
- Autism & OCD
- Depression & OCD
- ADHD & OCD
- Autism & OCD
- Communication & Boundary-Setting
- Creativity Expression in OCD Management
- Hoarding
- Supporting Others With OCD: Education For Family & Loved Ones
- Management & Support for BFRBs/Tics
- Dealing with Mental Compulsions
- Navigating Uncertainty