- Date posted
- 6y
- Date posted
- 6y
Respond with uncertainty: maybe I’m gay. Maybe I’m not. Can’t know for sure. Sit with any anxiety that develops until it dissipates. Do this again and again each time the thought arises. Think of the thought on purpose just to think the uncertain response. It’s called ERP therapy and it’s the most effective treatment of OCD. You have to face your fears directly and sit with them without trying to neutralize, suppress, and analyze.
- Date posted
- 6y
@ocdsucksbutt — Its a skill you have to learn through practice. A lot of people’s knee-jerk reaction to unwanted thoughts is to try to push them away. But you can always bring them back. Next time your mind sends you an intrusive thought and you start fighting it, take a second to stop, take a deep breath, and invite the thought back in. Have it again, but this time sit with the anxiety without fighting it off with rituals and compulsions. We all have a natural fight or flight response to danger, but as we habituate to the thoughts, that too will dissipate with time. You’ll start responding with “oh it’s one of these again. Sigghhhhh... ok.” Rather than kicking into high-gear fight mode automatically.
- Date posted
- 6y
Ask, have I ever actually been gay? And say hey, it’s okay I will give it a few weeks and see if this goes away. It’s no biggie if you are or aren’t
- Date posted
- 6y
I’ve tried that and the truthful answer is no I haven’t. Same thing with the thought of being Bi pops up too
- Date posted
- 6y
Me but in reverse lmao
- Date posted
- 6y
pureolife, but how do I not fight the thoughts? I feel like my mind automatically fights the thoughts without me wanting to, it’s just a defense mechanism
- Date posted
- 6y
Thank you. I truly hope I can manage, if not I’m not sure what I’ll do. A part of my anxiety is the fear of the longer I’m having this the worse it’ll get and it’ll be too late to fix.
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