This is kind of hard to talk about online but I have really been struggling in my sex life because I keep on getting intrusive thoughts and/or images in my mind. It just keeps getting worse and I just want it to stop. Can anyone relate?

Oh my goodness of course!!! You are not alone ❤️

I just don’t know what else I can do. I’m going to therapy twice a week but I almost feel like it’s not enough. Did it ever get better for you?

@Anonymous There is no cure or OCD sadly… just like with everything else, you are going to have bad days, some good days and some okay days… when you do anything sexual, absolutely anything can pop in your head. On days where it’s really bad I just will not do anything sexual and that’s okay because it’s your choice. But know that WHATEVER thought you get, is completely normal. I think a big part of OCD is guilt and feeling like you want the thoughts which give you a lot of self doubt and just depression. With anything, OCD takes time. I’m glad you’re going to therapy because they will give you tips and tricks on how you can overcome it all, and I know you can❤️

@Animallover065 Thank you. The guilt is definitly really challenging.

@Anonymous I totally understand that. The biggest part of my OCD in my entire life has to do with guilt. But In reality there is nothing to feel guilty about. You are not alone!

@Animallover065 thank you <3 here for you if you need anything!

Yep! Me too.

Me too!

Anyone have anything that helped them get through these struggles?

Maybe ERP would be to not avoid scenarios you want sexually, while acknowledging and being with the intrusive thoughts. Acknowledge them as a passing train that you’re not going to get onto. You can even make a REALLY dumb belittling joke towards the intrusive thought like “oh it’s you again trying to join me on my date” or “hey intrusive thoughts my night with this person isn’t an episode of the bachelor, I don’t have time for all y’all”. I know that sounds weird/stupid but it’s important to live your life with the discomfort of the thought without submitting the thought as a dictator of what you do/don’t do. OCD doesn’t want us to have a good time. OCD wants to be I control. Show it you have control by being as present as you can in those scenarios, even if you feel sooooooo distracted by the instrusive thought. Try not to panic about the thoughts like “oh no here they come again” nor try to push them away— just be like “what up losers, ur such third-wheels”, and keep trying to ground yourself in the present, physical sensations. It’s NOT going to be easy, but you can do it. Sure, there’s no cure for OCD, but there certainly isn’t any reason why you aren’t capable of overcoming the intensity of your struggle with it. There is HOPE, and in the meantime, you’re not alone. ❤️❤️❤️

Thank you so much! I never thought about doing something like that but I think that might really help me with some of my thoughts. I usually end up overthinking, I think this could help that!

@Anonymous Aw, that’s awesome. Yeah, it’s advice that comes from a lot of listening in the groups, YouTube chat q&a videos, etc. There’s a lot I hear come up about leaning into the discomfort and working on neutral habituation towards it over time, vs. us trying to temporarily neutralize the discomfort with compulsions. It’s so hard, but I know it’s been helpful for a lot of people, and I’m starting to feel it help in some areas of my life too. Very slowly…but surely. Don’t give up.

OCD will try to trick you in any situation. Continue with your sex life even with your intrusive thoughts. Just let them pass! Keep going with what you’re doing and don’t give answer to them.