TO EVERYONE SUFFERING W HOCD: i haven’t been on here in like a week and i just checked the app again to see how everyone was doing and i was very very surprised to see a huge amount of posts about HOCD. sounds like we all could use some hope, and some help!!! 1. if you check online or read stories about people with HOCD, or gay people, trying to find the difference or trying to see what symptoms of HOCD you have or don’t have, STOP!!!!!!!!!!!! this is a huge compulsion. i used to do it all the time and my therapist literally had to ban me from doing it bc it was causing me so much anxiety. reassurance is my biggest compulsion and it never helps you!!! it just gives you fake relief. the only way to get over this is to deal with the anxiety until you’re not scared of it anymore. 2. finding someone of the same sex attractive is totally okay. sexuality is not one or the other. i’m sure there are some people who are dead set on being 100% straight or 100% gay, but the truth is that no one is 100% one thing or the other. it’s a spectrum and everyone varies on it. 3. don’t try to rationalize or check or have mental dialogues with yourself in your head. another reallyyyyyyyy bad compulsion. i.e. “omg i just checked that girl/guy out. they’re attractive. does that mean i’m gay? well since i did it that means i have to be gay. let me look at someone of the opposite sex who i think is attractive now to see if i get aroused. if i get aroused that means i’m straight but if i don’t i have to be gay there’s no other answer. why am i not aroused? was i aroused with the person of the same sex?” etc. stuff like this. it’s never good. DONT DO IT!! just ignore it the best you can. 4. do things that make you happy. whether that be hanging out with your friends, staying at home and reading a book, going to a park, whatever it is. just because your OCD is part of you doesn’t mean it has to be all of you. don’t let it take over your life. you have more power than you think. 5. be patient. easier said than done, i know. but HOCD, or any type of OCD, doesn’t go away overnight. (as much as i wish that i did lol) my HOCD was really bad in june-july that i would have panic attacks so bad that i would almost pass out and couldn’t leave my house, but now with lots of therapy and some light exposure i’m able to do things that i wouldn’t even consider doing back in july. patience is key. if you’re patient and hopeful, you will get the results you need and the results you deserve. you guys are all so strong!! we’ve made it this far despite millions of bumps in the road and we’re doing just fine. be happy!! don’t let your OCD take over. it is making you think it can control you when you can actually control it. good luck to all of you, i hope this helps!!! ❤️❤️❤️