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@gp Hello ! I was in intense therapy for about a year. ERP is a lifesaver. I felt the same exact way as you. Like all of a sudden I was a different person. I know it’s hard but through ERP, you’ll be able to see when you come out on the other side how “stupid” this all was. If you are a straight male (which I’m assuming based off profile avatar forgive me if f I’m wrong) then you’re still a straight male. You don’t just miraculously turn gay over night. You see ocd picks on what we hold dear to us. If you have always regarded yourself as a straight man and women and your sexuality are important to you, then you are a straight man. I know it’s hard to see in the depths of this horrible disease but once you start not caring everything starts to be easier

@JessIsConfused Hello I apologize I didn’t even see this !!!! So there is a huge difference between people with POCD and pedophiles. The main difference being that people who are actually pedophiles, even tho they know it’s wrong, enjoy having these thoughts. They aren’t confused and scared and checking all day everyday if they like it and worrying about if they are a horrible person. A person with POCD is scared confused and constantly checking to see if they are a good person or not. Lean into it during erp!!! Just tell yourself if that’s who I am oh well! There’s a great support group that I’m apart of on Tuesday nights it’s sexual content and OCD 18+ ran by A NOCD therapist. I highly recommend it help me a lot !!

@Anonymous Thank you so much! I would love the info about that group

My question is really just what should my next steps be from here, therapy?

@GgJuan My opinion would definitely be therapy! I suffered for about 3 months before I finally caved and said I needed therapy. I knew my thoughts were not me they just would not leave me alone ! Obviously there were days and weeks I thought they were true but through ERP, a great therapist, and a little medication, I can proudly say my HOCD thoughts are non existent

@Anonymous Everyone is different. I honestly didn’t start seeing an improvement in my mental health until I started to take Prozac along with therapy. Right now I’m lowering my Prozac dose along with prolonged periods without therapy. I would say if you’re not in therapy I strongly suggest doing so! ERP is a life saver. Try to live your days how you would want to live them before OCD tried to ruin you.

@Anonymousesti Correct it can, But there are so many differences between the two. For example, People who come out WANT to come out. They long for the day where they can be accepted in their circle and society as the person they are, free to date who they please. They don’t spend every waking second trying to figure out if they should or not if it’s a right idea or not. They just know it’s who they are. The anxiety and fear they feel is fear of being accepted by family friends peers etc. the anxiety and fear that your are feeling is over whether or not you are the person you thought you were all along. You can’t randomly change sexualoties overnight. It does not work like that. People who are gay are born gay and have known they are gay since a young age. They didn’t just wake up one day after years of relationships and attraction to the opposite sex and go “yea I think I’m gunna switch over” Pretty much what I’m trying to say, if you’re even asking yourself this question, you have SOCD. If you have always liked men, have had relationships with men, been attracted to men, etc. then you are straight. This is just OCD trying to ruin you. (I’m assuming your a woman based off your avatar. Also going to assume your a straight woman who likes men. I apologize if my assumptions are incorrect!)

@Anonymous (If I am incorrect in my assumptions I apolgize and do not mean to insensitive !!!!! This App doesn’t give you much to work off besides avatar)

@Anonymous - Hahaha its okay you assumptions are indeed correct (however I do have to admit that there a some memories and feelings from my childhood that feel like proof)… I just keep telling myself that if I was really gay I wouldn’t have stayed with my bf for 6 years and I would’ve been disgusted when being intimate etc etc… so I dont really care if im not 100% straight I just care about not living a life full of lies and hurting people on the way ( like my bf). What do you think?