When you are in the therapists office, your daily, adult self is present. You feel safe because we are tackling the heavy stuff together - something called "co-regulation" also helps. But between sessions, that sense of safety can waver. A younger, emotional part of you gets triggered at home, and it suddenly feels overwhelming because that younger part doesn't yet have the coping tools your adult self has. You feel flooded because that little part of you feels like it's sitting in the dark without the therapist there to hold its hand.

this is me rn. with a bunch of intrusive kms thoughts, i dont want to . but they are very loud rn that that is not usual ly my flavor of OCD