The Gold Standard for OCD Therapy

ERP is considered the gold standard for OCD treatment — not because it removes fear, but because it teaches you how to live without obeying it. In this deeply personal, emotionally aware post, The Cynical Romantic explores why OCD feels so convincing, why reassurance keeps us stuck, and why exhaustion is not a personal failure. Blending dry humor with hard-earned insight, this piece reframes ERP as an act of courage rather than control — and compassion as the missing ingredient that makes healing sustainable. If you’ve ever mistaken fear for responsibility, this story may feel uncomfortably familiar.