- Date posted
- 6y
- Date posted
- 6y
You probably get other reactions like depression or guilt. Also, I know for me that even when the original obsession stops causing as much anxiety that the things I’ve been avoiding still do. It’s all part of the process though! Over time, anxiety diminishes. Then your brain waits to see if it can find a way back in or if you’re really sticking to your OCD recovery. In time, you should see less intrusive thoughts, but be patient. It’s not immediate.
- Date posted
- 6y
Hi, maybe this helps.. for me in the first 8 months to a year when that theme started - full blown panic, obsessions 24/7 no time to rest at all not even in my literal dreams. Now the thoughts and the anxiety diminished a bit but instead I noticed I am getting more and more a depressed mood. I sort of think of it as the time where the backdoor spikes start to hit you. When I finally had a therapy place I told my therapist about my worries about not having the anxiety I used to have and instead just feeling down. She told me that it's a quite normal process for OCD. She often notices that OCD and Depression go hand in hand but in the beginning when the thoughts are there in such an intense state there is simply no room to feel sad and guilty like pureolife said because your in panic mode all the time. What I am trying to say is that it's a long process and it's important to have someone by your side who can help you to guide you through this. Best wishes!
- Date posted
- 6y
Thanks. That really helps Ruthi. That describes very closely to the other things I am experiencing as I recover too. That really makes a lot sense. Really, thank you for sharing that!!
- Date posted
- 6y
And it gets into my dreams too. And I had not found anything that supported that. But I knew it was true because it was happening to me.
- Date posted
- 6y
And thank you pureoflife too! Thanks for sharing and helping.
- Date posted
- 6y
I get anxious wondering where the intrusive thoughts went! Ain’t that some bullshit. Of course that gets a little something going again usually. And yes, if I’m calm and I really think about it, it’s like brain searches for anything that might possibly be left. I’ve only been doing treatment for 5-6 months so I’m new to this.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 17w
I’ve had hocd for around 11 months now. It’s gotten to the point where I’m just convinced that I am bi. I still like boys like I always have, but I feel like I like girls too. I have no anxiety either or active thoughts. It’s just kinda there like yep I’m bi and ok with it. Anyone else? Just curious.
- Date posted
- 14w
I’ve been struggling with HOCD for years, and it started with an intrusive thought about being gay when I was younger. It came up at age 12 and ever since, I’ve been trapped in a cycle of doubt and anxiety. I obsess over whether or not I’m secretly gay, even though I don’t feel that way at all. What makes it worse is the fear that I might have internalized homophobia, and that’s why I’m having these obsessive thoughts. I worry that my anxiety is a sign that I’m repressing something or rejecting part of myself. It feels like my mind keeps repeating the same question—am I gay?—and no matter how much reassurance I get, the fear doesn’t go away. I used to pray for my family members, fearing that if I didn’t, something bad would happen to them, and now it feels like I have to control these thoughts, or something will go wrong. For a while, it was quieter, but a week ago, the thoughts spiraled up again, and now the anxiety feels overwhelming again. It’s exhausting, and I don’t know how to break free from this constant loop of doubt. Has anyone dealt with the fear of internalized homophobia alongside HOCD? How do you manage the anxiety that comes with it?
- Date posted
- 13w
I haven't had anxiety for 1 week, I haven't had so many thoughts, but when it comes to sexuality I feel discomfort and I feel like something is pressing on my chest, it's very disturbing, and I still have attraction (false I hope), I wasn't diagnosed with hocd but I had all the symptoms, (now I don't have anxiety anymore, except when a feeling that I'm gay appears), I no longer felt that strong need to watch videos on yt or look for things that would make me feel comfortable, so somehow I managed to keep this under control, but I don't know if it's recovery or if I'm just lying to myself that I'm not gay. If anyone has any ideas, I hope they write something here
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