The difference between denial and HOCD

I’ve been doing research on the difference between the two and it says that HOCD is lead by anxiety, while denial is lead by fear. This has been one of the most confusing parts about this process for me What if they thought of becoming homosexual scares me, isn’t that fear? But I also feel anxiety. I feel like it’s not that simple to make a distinction between the two. Anyone have any other way of differentiating the two?

Username: Dothewalkoflife.

Date posted: 119d ago

I’m scared of this too. But I remember someone saying. The fear that gay people have is a fear of not being accepted. They get pleasure and relief from the thought of being gay. People with hocd get anxiety and don’t like the idea. This is what I was told

Username: Mak46

Date posted: 119d ago

This is what I have heard as well

Username: eooek

Date posted: 119d ago

Interesting. My first thought was that the first one would be "discreet" while the second is "in denial".

Username: Dothewalkoflife.

Date posted: 119d ago

@eooek Oooh. That’s true. I also heard that denial is when you chose to stop thinking about it. Hocd is when you can’t stop thinking about it

Username: JSwerw54

Date posted: 119d ago

As a gay guy with other obsessional themes, I can confirm. Would like to add that the fear and shame you feel from living in denial feels subjectively different from the fear and shame you feel in OCD. Within the context of HOCD I don't think making fear equal with denial is particularly helpful.

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 119d ago

@Myheadhurts35 Yeah I definitely can’t just stop thinking about it

Username: KeepPushing

Date posted: 119d ago

@Anonymous Same

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 119d ago

But the goal here is to stop seeking reassurance!!!!!!