A reminder to HOCD sufferers who keep “testing” their sexuality: “A 2015 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology undermines long held beliefs about heteronormative sexual orientation. The study looks at gender expression in women and measures their physiological response viewing a variety of pornographic material. It found that, regardless of how women self report their sexuality, their bodies respond positively to both hetero- and homosexual sex. Meaning, women's sexuality is complex and not within the bounds of strict hetero- or homosexuality.” https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ypa7vk/straight-people-dont-exist-new-research-says

This is a kind of reassurance for us... all of these studies and such xd And actually invalidates other sexualities. "Only bisexual people exists." We are too many in this world and too different to that to be true. You can be horny about a lot of things in general, but what you choose in the moment is what build your orientation. People sometimes need labels. Some others not. And both are okay. Bisexual people are real just as ace, or gay, lesbian and straight. Let it be as an experience itself for everyone.

@Brooklyn33 I see the point you’re making. And I totally agree that the headline is inflammatory (probably on purpose to get clicks and all that.) I was focused more on the study than the article itself. The point I was trying to get across was that a physical response to any kind of sexual stimuli is present in everyone of ALL orientations — NOT that anyones subjective sexual orientation is invalid. Rather than seeing this info as reassurance, I see it as adding to the uncertainty while challenging the compulsion: your body is an entirely imperfect testing ground! In fact, the response it’s providing is probably even more contradictory and confusing than you thought! Most people aren’t even fully aware of how they’re responding physically. I know testing is a big compulsion for people with SOOCD (I know because I read about it a lot here and because I once suffered from it). You’re right that the article itself has some issues and I’m glad you pointed them out!

Thank you for that response ♡ you seem a pretty nice person ♡ I guess the idea is really good but the essay was a little agressive hahaha

Totally! I should have paid more attention to how the article itself was written rather than just getting excited about the study and posting it right away.

It does make sense

You are great~ and also for people with soocd sometimes is more like fear of seeing people... than attraction. I found it really complicated either