4 - Habituation & OCD: Why Facing Anxiety Changes Everything

About this episode

Jaime G. Miralles discusses habituation and its role in overcoming OCD and anxiety through exposure therapy.

Welcome to The Online Therapy Clinic. I’m Jaime — CBT & ERP therapist, EMDR practitioner, and Clinical Supervisor. In this video, we’re talking about habituation — the process of getting used to anxiety by staying with it, not running from it.🧠 Imagine standing on a bungee platform. Your heart races. You back out. Relief hits.But what happens when you repeat that pattern ten times?👉 The fear grows stronger.👉 The anxiety feels harder to face.👉 Your brain learns: “This is too much.”Now imagine you jump. You survive. You jump again. And again.By the tenth jump, you’re not terrified — you’re calm. Maybe even exhilarated.That’s habituation. That’s ERP therapy. That’s how recovery begins.💬 In this video, I’ll guide you through:• Why avoidance feels good short-term but keeps OCD alive• How habituation rewires your brain through repetition and courage• What it means to be willing — not fearless — in the face of discomfort• Why this approach works, even when it’s hard✨ This isn’t about pushing through pain. It’s about learning that you can survive it.And over time, you’ll feel less anxious. Less stuck. More free.🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe to support the channel and help…

People in this episode

Host: Jaime G. Miralles

Topics covered

• habituation
• OCD
• anxiety
• ERP therapy
• mental health
• exposure therapy

Keywords

• OCD
• habituation
• anxiety
• ERP therapy
• mental health
• exposure therapy
• recovery

More episodes of A Mental Health and Wellbeing Podcast - CBT | EMDR and beyond

• 7 - 🔄 How is OCD maintained: Meaning, Interpretation & Response - ERP OCD Treatment · June 5, 2026 · 11 min
• 6- OCD Intrusions: Emotions, Sensations & Urges as important as Thoughts - ERP OCD Treatment · June 1, 2026 · 11 min
• 5 - Understanding Intrusive Thought in OCD - ERP Treatment - “I Just Want These Thoughts to Stop!” · May 29, 2026 · 10 min
• Male Rape - Information Validation and Normalisation · May 25, 2026 · 8 min
• 3 - 🎥 Why Avoidance Keeps OCD Going Understanding Anxiety, Habituation & ERP · May 13, 2026 · 15 min
• 2 - 🎥 Where Does OCD Come From? Understanding OCD & Moving Forward · May 9, 2026 · 5 min