So, I’m gay, but I have obsessive thoughts about being straight. The idea of being with a man is not something that I find appealing, but a mix of OCD and compulsory heterosexuality causes a lot of anxiety for me. Does anyone else have similar issues? If so, do you have any advice on how to cope?

I have hocd you I’m sure you know what it is but somethings that helped me was stay away from the internet not in general just stay away from looking up articles and stories because that never helped me and also don’t test yourself what I would do to test my self was see if I could get an erection from gay thoughts and even gay porn never got an erection to either but my mind always still makes me question and one more thing is just live with uncertainty and go to a therapist for erp

I’m bi & worry if I really care about my male partner because I’m actually a repressed lesbian, so I can relate a little. It seems like ERP could be the way to go with this! I’ve heard it responds well to it.

(Comment died) and worry about similar stuff! It seems like ERP is the way to go with this, since theorizing yourself out of it is just a compulsion most of the time.

I wanna add that sometimes people act like comp het is something to cure or realize your way out of, but it’s not: like homophobia, it’s a social force that always exists.

So like, never feel bad about struggling with it, just like you wouldn’t judge yourself for struggling with homophobia or sexism!

Know the feeling ...

It’s called sexual orientation OCD

Also hocd will never be rational I even started to push away straight thoughts and feelings when ever I would find a girl attractive my mind would say what if you’re not really attracted to her then i would get discouraged and would push the feeling of attraction away so I don’t get the thoughts but whenever I would test my self and not get an erection my mind would go to it’s cause you’re supressing it gay thoughts to me is like thinking of a chair it doesn’t do anything to me

The book Pure by Rose Brotecher is extremely helpful for feeling less alone! The author writes about her experience with this.

Spencer, it’s a memoir of Rose about her childhood path into adulthood trying to figure out if she is straight or attracted to women and how she accepted that type of OCD. She is funny, relatable, and provides good insight. It’s nice to read because A. It makes it very clear that she’s sick and her responses help solidify that your thoughts are purely Obsessive so you feel less alone and B. Helps give advice for how to cope. Her Instagram is Rose Cartwright!

I have ocd around being gay when I’m not. So I understand what you’re going through and I’m sorry. Just know there’s tons of lgbt people with it too that I’ve seen so you’re not alone. Erp will totally help you with thus

@kdot what does the book talk about?

Is her book online for free?