Looking at People Through a Sexual Lens?

Hi everyone, I have been struggling with something for a while and I am starting to wonder if it is related to OCD. For as long as I can remember, I have had this habit of looking at people, whether friends, family, or strangers and even kids, through a lens that feels like it is from the perspective of someone who might find them attractive or sexualize them. I don’t want to feel attracted; it just feels like my brain automatically puts them in that perspective. I’ve done this for as long as I can remember, and I honestly thought it was just part of me being curious or creative. I have always thought this was just a quirk of my brain, but now I am starting to wonder if it is an OCD thing, especially since it feels automatic and I get anxious afterward. Has anyone else experienced this? I did not think this was part of OCD, but now I am not so sure.

HOY

Date posted: 16w

Me, it was actually initial symptom of pocd for me

issphra 🫶🏻

Date posted: 16w

@HOY I’m sorry girl, pocd is such a cruel theme. Have you always felt guilt from using this “lense”? I haven’t always, it feels like curiosity to me, only now is it making me freak out :/

HOY

Date posted: 16w

@issphra 🫶🏻 For me it wasnt even out of curiousity but, it just happened, and it would be accompanied by "what ifs". Initially I brushed them off as I was really worried about other things then. If only I knew then of the things to come..

issphra 🫶🏻

Date posted: 16w

@HOY It can be automatic for me too, you’re not alone in that. I wish we could go back to shrugging things off because I 100% would just move on. Now it’s a million worries and dreadful moments. Maybe I didn’t notice it but mine didn’t come with what ifs until after my OCD diagnosis. To be fair, I don’t really get what ifs, I get “factual” statements. For example I don’t get “what if I’m a p do,” I get “I am a p do, that makes me a p do. That’s what p dos do.” Things like that. Ugh I’m here for you whenever you need 🤍

HOY

Date posted: 16w

@issphra 🫶🏻 thank u for this, I didnt get an OCD diagnosis until after things already escalated for me, it felt a bit relieving, but before and after I still think "I am monster" or "Im just denial". Oh the days I easily shrugged things off, I was still a very anxious person, but now its just straight up agonizing.

issphra 🫶🏻

Date posted: 16w

@HOY I’m sorry you’re going through this :( it’ll get better ❤️‍🩹

Anonymous

Date posted: 16w

Yes I deal with POCD and I’ve felt this way. It’s really hard anytime I see a kid. The more I analyze the worse it gets. Definitely if you can get an OCD therapist, the ones on here seem pretty understanding and can help guide through.

issphra 🫶🏻

Date posted: 16w

@Anonymous I do have NOCD therapist. This just almost feels like switching personalities to me omg idk maybe I sound a bit crazy but I’m scared I’ll just let that other person go rampant. The monster. Idk if that makes sense. I’m sorry you struggle too

anonymous2580

Date posted: 24w

Remembering things from my childhood

(20f) I have been dealing with severe OCD symptoms for as long as I can remember. I recently got diagnosed about a year ago, and even though I know that these thoughts are probably my ocd, I still cant shake them. Growing up I was always very sexually curious. I was sheltered from a lot of things, as I went to a private school and things like sexuality and sex were never talked about. I remember doing some weird sexual things growing up (never affecting another person), looking up taboo sexual things, etc. I always seemed to become aroused no matter what the situation was, even if I just saw someone getting changed. I have no recollection of being SA'd, so i'm wondering where this all came from? Was I just curious and wanted to experiment and try different things? Or am I really a pervert, pedophile, etc. I have all these thoughts racing through my head and it's killing me. Everything I did as a kid I look back on and am disgusted, as those don't align with my views at all today. I never thought growing up thinking these things were wrong, or actually realize what they were until I got older. I'd like to think it was just my curiosity, but i'm not sure. What if i'm in denial and actually do like these things? I just need to know if theres something wrong w me, I cant keep going on like this. Could really use some advice.

Em2003

Date posted: 24w

Purposely Picturing Taboo Things?

Am I the only one who experiences this, or is it more common than I think? Sometimes, I find myself imagining what a couple’s sex life might look like, or what a person’s body might be like. I think it’s driven by curiosity, and I focus on it for a few seconds. When it comes to family members, teenagers, or anyone I feel uncomfortable imagining in this way, I used to be able to shake it off as an intrusive thought. But lately, I can’t seem to let go of it anymore. I’ve become used to the anxiety, but I’m stuck questioning what this means about me, especially since I’ve taken time to think about it. This is really stressing me out because I feel like a pervert. I’m hoping that this is something more common than I realize and that OCD is just distorting something. I feel like I really need some insight here. Any advice?

Elliesmith

Date posted: 21w

Read pls

I feel so ridiculous saying this. Has anyone struggled with looking down a people’s private areas since having ocd. I hate it, but feel I have to look or find myself just looking. I feel so guilty after and especially when it’s a women I kinda shudder after like why did I just do that. Ugh I hate this. I never used to have this issue but now I’m focusing on it my anxiety is going crazy with it . If people have experienced, how did you get over this??? My sexual orientation is thriving off this . I hate it

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Looking at People Through a Sexual Lens?

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