Does anybody’s ocd try to make them dig incredibly deep into ‘conceptual’ stuff. I have gender identity themed ocd and in the past so-ocd amongst others and it’s almost as though I no longer actually know or understand the concept of gender, identity, sexuality etc because of all the overthinking?

@helloyes555 By not reassuring I mean when I get really scared or feel “uncertainty” I don’t do my compulsion which is a little phrase that I stay or I’ll hug myself or something. My reassurance only makes me feel safe and better for about 2 seconds and causes a lot more damage so I’m trying to stop it and I think it’s a crucial part of ocd recovery

Ok thank you!! Where can I find it?

Ya I think that’s the difference with actual dysphoria and gender ocd,(you’ve never questioned gender identity before and have a history with ocd sometimes, also it’s scary the thought of a different gender not like liberating or something)

@Ellab Do you mean that I am trans?

@Imaan7 No that wasn’t what I was saying I was just trying to maybe help you navigate what’s ocd so you can understand that you most likely have it? Because I know soemtimes the doubting part of ocd can be scary and that the fears even if it’s a fear about coming out is probably just your ocd

@Ellab But i am not doubting it i think bc I feel like i have no identity left to doubt at. Like I dont even feel like a man anymore and coming from hocd and like realizing that Im gay in a way its goes to the trans thing and it feels like I want to change and stuff. And apparently tons of gay/bi people are also trans, its all just connecting in my head.

@Imaan7 Ya whatever’s right for you is good but soemtimes ocd will try and convince you of things fully and play tricks on you so you have to stay mindful of that but if you really don’t think it’s ocd than I’m excited for you to start your journey whatever it may be

@Imaan7 At this point for me I’m terrified of this and have never questioned my gender identity and have always and still felt like a girl and wanted to be one these thoughts just instill some doubt in me which makes me want to do my compulsion and can get very scary. Maybe understanding the differences between tocd and dysphoria could maybe help you figure out your next steps?

Oh god... I really don’t wanna have this theme for years, I just wanna feel like fully myself again without reassurance. Do you have any tips?

@Ellab I think the best advice i have in all honesty is that if it weren’t this theme it would be another one which feels just as rubbish - once you then do apply the techniques such as act and erp and simply build up the confidence in the ability to know that you can and will handle the thoughts no matter what then they have far less affect on you, it’s only when we insist on getting rid of them or not wanting them to surface that they become problematic

@Anon Ya I agree with that and know what you mean I just want to feel like me again so badly and have no idea how to do that without reassurance!!

@Ellab don’t wanna reassure you too much but you will as I have felt far more like myself lately - however the sheer desire to ‘feel like yourself’ is part of the reason you won’t, before this ocd you weren’t focussed on ‘feeling like yourself’ everyday, it came naturally so tryna force it will have the opposite affect! Fully get what you mean though, but that need to feel like yourself is the ocd talking rather than you!

@Anon Ya that’s definitely true it was before more of just soemthing I never even thought about. But then my ocd is like what if your not you and you wanna be someone else and are in the wrong body and hate being a women... which is just so so false yet scares me into wanting reassurance but I’m not sure if there’s anything wrong with more remembering who you actually are and want to be or compulsive reassurance. Not sure the difference and if there both harmful