ROCD and gronial response

I wanted to see if this is an experience, that others share. I have been in a relationship and for a long time now I have experienced groinal responses in situations where I feel anxiety. For example, if I’m in a classroom and there’s male students around me I may get a groinal response. or if I’m watching a TV show and I find an actor to be attractive and I get an ongoing groinal response. And it’s not that I’m having intrusive thoughts about the person or that I have some sexual attraction, but I simply find them attractive, and I guess I have a fear of finding someone else, except my partner attractive. I have just had a very bad relationship with finding others than my boyfriend, attractive and it’s almost like a fear that I have. When I see some more attractive, especially on TV, it’s almost like my body is conditioned to get that groinal response. Can anyone else relate to this?

Username: lightlovelightlove

Date posted: 50w ago

you are allowed to appreciate beauty in others without your mind automatically accusing you of craving romantic/sexual intimacy from such beauty in any way. groinal responses are pure anxiety and it comes with the anticipation of undesired stimuli invading you in some way. it comes from subconscious thinking that such stimuli is inherently irresistible and therefore you are guilty, which is irrational cuz that would make everyone guilty

Username: icg23icg23

Date posted: 50w ago

@garlicamoeba thank you for replying

Username: Tea and HoneyTea and Honey

Date posted: 50w ago

I think the big thing to remember is that a gronial response is just like an intrusive thought. It can come and go. It does not matter if it is there or not. It is just part of OCD. So don’t worry about. Don’t engage it, don’t fight it, don’t do anything with it—just ignore it like you do with intrusive thoughts, etc. Just like an intrusive thought, tell yourself that the gronial response is welcome to do whatever it is going to do. It can stay there all day. It can go away. You don’t care. Because it doesn’t matter. The answer to anything comes up that is OCD (like a gronial response or an intrusive thought) is to JUST IGNORE it and go on with your life. Let it be there. You can notice it, just like you notice the rain. But you don’t try to fight it or engage it. That just makes the anxiety worse. You just let it be there and go on with your life.

Username: icg23icg23

Date posted: 50w ago

@Anonymous thank you. it’s jus hard to not “punish” myself for it. when i try to just be passive about it it’s almost like I feel like I have to think over it. I have to reassure myself. I have to feel guilt, if not it feels like i’m ok with it. like i somewhat enjoy it and don’t mind it, but ofc i do. but for example when i watch tv, i just let it be there and continue watching a show but afterwards I feel wrong, guilty, and dirty for letting myself experience that and not stop it or for it even happening in the first place. especially when I go talk to my boyfriend after and all.

Username: Going to fight OCDGoing to fig...

Date posted: 50w ago

I get this but with looking at women. I have a bf

Username: icg23icg23

Date posted: 50w ago

@Going to fight OCD I feel you. I’ve experienced that too, and honestly with anything that looks the slightest of sexual nature like a sound someone makes or a certain face they make. If it’s the least bit sexual, I may experience a groinal response.

Username: Going to fight OCDGoing to fig...

Date posted: 50w ago

@icg23 How do the groinal responses feel for you?

Username: MichaelOLangleyMichaelOLangley

Date posted: 49w ago

hey, i totally get how distressing those experiences must be, especially when your feelings don't align with the reactions your body is giving you. it sounds really challenging to navigate those groinal responses while in a relationship and trying to stay true to your partner and yourself. you're definitely not facing this alone, and it's super brave to reach out about it. 🙌 have you heard about "unstuck", an ai-powered therapy tool for ocd? it's been a lifesaver for me in the past month and could be useful for you too. someone here recommended it to me, and i just wish i'd known about it sooner!

Username: icg23icg23

Date posted: 49w ago

@MichaelOLangley i haven’t but i am going to check it out. thank you!!

Username: Ríona

Date posted: 5y ago

Anyone else read about "groinal response" and "arousal non-concordance"? Basically anyone can feel a slight "twinge" of arousal at a random time, but for people with OCD, they immediately latch onto it and think it MEANS something about them. This is how many cases of HOCD, POCD, BOCD, etc begin, I'd imagine. I can have felt something one time 3 years ago and nothing since then, but still be worried it "means" something about me. Or, sometimes that first incident causes repeated intrusive thoughts every time you come in contact with that thing, so it become a self fulfilling prophesy. I can be doing fine for weeks and then suddenly start worrying about one of these again. Anyone else have any experiences similar?

Username: TT2022

Date posted: 1y ago

ROCD? Cheating OCD?

Is it normal to find someone else attractive. When I get this thought or feeling.. whatever it is.. I feel as though I’m about to act on something. Or I guess my fear is that I WANT to act on something even though I know I don’t want to because I love my partner and family and I don’t want to jeopardize it. But I still get this urge when I find someone attractive and so my best idea is to avoid them. Does this happen to anyone else in a long term relationship/married? It makes me feel horrible and I hate having to confess this.

Username: Becky234

Date posted: 1y ago

Groinal feels automatic

Does anyone else feel like the groinal response comes without specific thoughts? I suffer with POCD so sometimes I just see a child or hear someone talking about a pedophile and I’ll instantly feel the groinal and a lot of anxiety. You so often read that the groinal follows an intrusive thought, but for me it’s gone beyond this.

POCD

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond

ROCD and gronial response

Related posts

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Be a part of the largest OCD Community