Help! How do you do exposures without checking yourself for arousal? It seems impossible. Right now I’ll do anything to get rid of this HOCD.

Allow the sensations to happen. Don’t question them or compare. Accept that groinal responses can happen and that you don’t need to put meaning into them.

Thank you. What are you supposed to use? Porn? YouTube? This Is for HOCD...

Hmmm, I’ve read that for HOCD therapists sometimes expose the patient to gay porn and simply tell them to accept whatever reaction they get and not question them. I think it’s best if you work it out with a therapist first so you can create a proper hierarchy for that. I think for now if you are avoiding certain youtube videos, films, tv shows, etc because they trigger you maybe start off with that.

Just one question i think it is more of a reassurance but will erp make me gay

Shiv00 - That is definitely a reassurance question lol. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. I know that’s not the answer you wanna hear but you will be able to handle OCD more easily once you accept that uncertainty.

So some follow up. I started just looking at guys fitness pages on IG for some makeshift ERP and it feels like my anxiety is going down.. Yes..no duh that guy looks good with his shirt off. But I’m less anxious and my fear seems to be going down. Am I doing it right if I can still tell that I’m not aroused? Or should I try not to think about it at all

It’s okay to notice you’re not aroused. But if you’re looking at the images just to prove to yourself you won’t get aroused, that’s not ERP, that’s a compulsion. Look at the pages, accept that you may or may not get aroused and keep doing it anyways. Every day. If you get aroused at some point, accept it and brush it off and keep going until you’re bored. Boredom is the ultimate antidote but boredom only comes with time. Loooooots of time.

Ughhhh it all just feels so terrible and dirty smh lol

Feedback...so I just started googling handsome gay men to help ease my anxiety..and I actually started laughing lol They were trying to pose all sexy and it was Just seemed laughable...face your fears everyone...just do it....