- Date posted
- 4y ago
- Date posted
- 4y ago
OCD is often triggered by stress. But your exact theme has more to do with your values, not your circumstances. Plenty of people with OCD can go through breakups and not get that theme. But whatever themes and triggers they do struggle with will likely feel more intense due to general stresses of going through a breakup. You aren’t going to figure out exactly why you have this theme and even if you could it would do absolutely nothing to help you recover. What you need is ERP with an ocd specialist, CBT, and mindfulness training. STOP trying to figure this out. That’s a compulsion. Lean into uncertainty: “maybe this is caused by my breakup. Or maybe it’s caused by something else. I don’t know and I don’t need to know.” STOP comparing your attraction to you ex and all other men. That’s a compulsion. When you feel the urge to do this, remind yourself: “checking this is a compulsion, and compulsive checking when you have ocd only leads to more uncertainty, not less.” STOP reading stories online. This is also a compulsion. Internet research is super common and it’s about seeking reassurance. These stories will not help you. Do people break up and then come out as gay? YUP! Does that mean that’s what’s happening or will happen to you? Of course not. And reading these stories over and over again to “make sure” isn’t going to make you any more sure at all. You can tell this is OCD and not an actual case of coming to understand more about your sexuality because of everything I listed above: obsession, compulsion, repeat. Textbook OCD cycle.
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Thank you, this helps a lot. But of course my mind just thinks "yeah, but" or "what if" and it's a never ending cycle. Also, I read coming out stories because I thought that was a form of erp but all it does is trigger me. For example, if I can relate to their experiences or "signs" then I start freaking out. And no matter what I try to do whether it's read a book, watch a movie, exercise, work, my mind just keeps telling me "your gay" "come out" "your in denial" "your forcing yourself to like men" it's so exhausting and gives me anxiety. I just want to be normal
- Date posted
- 4y ago
@a01 It sounds like you’re confused about how to do ERP. ERP is supposed to trigger you! That’s the whole idea. And then you’re supposed to resist compulsions during and after being triggered (ie to not engage in any of the things I already pointed out and instead lean into uncertainty.) You mind will always find a “yeah, but” or “what if.” That’s OCD in action. It’s up to you how you respond. You can: perform compulsions to try to answer those questions or reason with each point endlessly OR lean into uncertainty, accept all possibilities, and move on. Let the anxiety and fear just be and leave on its own when it’s ready.
- Date posted
- 4y ago
@pureolife PS you are 100% normal.. for someone with OCD. And luckily we’ve developed a lot of great treatments that do work with ocd and we can improve over time with proper treatment. Are you able to see an ocd specialist?
- Date posted
- 4y ago
You will never be able to convince yourself that it's ocd .......... Trust your behaviours - if you're doing compulsions or if you're ruminating then most likely it's ocd
- Date posted
- 4y ago
You’re ruminating and engaging in a reassurance and checking compulsion to try and answer it.
- Date posted
- 4y ago
So what is the difference between someone who is questioning or in denial of their orientation and someone who is experiencing ocd?
- Date posted
- 4y ago
@a01 That’s not a question anyone can really answer with the kind of clarity OCD would demand. The issue isn’t that you’re having the types of thoughts you’re having, it’s the obsessing and ritualizing you’re doing around the thought. Like checking for reassurance or trying to answer if you do or don’t have OCD.
- Date posted
- 4y ago
@NOCD Advocate - Carl Cornett I don't know what to do anymore my mind is making me so depressed
- Date posted
- 4y ago
@a01 There’s treatment that is very effective and works. That usually involves some sort of medication and ERP.
- Date posted
- 4y ago
The thing is idk if it's really ocd because I've never been diagnosed. And I've been to 3 different therapists who specialize in ocd and whenever I tell them my thoughts and what I'm experiencing they make the indication to explore my past and my sexuality or my relationships etc. Which is not what I need to do. I'm also so scared that it gets to a point where I become crazy or suicidal or not able to live a normal life. My bf of 8 years just broke up with me because I was "too much" and now nobody is going to want to be with me I'm just so depressed
- Date posted
- 4y ago
It sounds like you’ve gone to therapists who actually have no understanding of pure O themes. They probably work with contamination clients or other people with overt compulsions but not mental compulsions. That’s a common hurdle to run up against in getting treatment (happened to me!) and I’m so sorry. Their advice would be fine for someone without ocd but for someone with pure o themes it’s actually harmful. I’m also sorry to hear about your bf. OCD can take so much from us when it’s not managed properly and we’re not given the correct resources and education. Are you able to work with the therapists available on this app? They are well versed in mental compulsions and pure O. I’ve been exactly where you are and I’m sorry you’re suffering right now. I promise that with proper treatment OcD is actually very manageable for most people and you can/will feel happier and more in control of your life. If you can’t work with therapists in this app, just be sure you’re seeking out someone who’s worked with pure O clients — even better with people with HOCD themes. Ask those questions up front and don’t waste your time with anyone who hasn’t heard of this. Also know that that’s unfortunately very common in modern mental health care. That’s why I had to seek out an OCD specialist at an OCD center who diagnosed me right away as a pretty classic case after others failing to do so. I worked with her for about 7 months and regained so much of my life back. Recovery is very realistic, you just need the right help!
- Date posted
- 4y ago
@a01 Maybe start with an ocd workbook or other readings while you seek out a qualified therapist. And just let yourself grieve for awhile. You lost someone important and that feeling of loss will take time to heal.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 19w ago
I feel so sad, alone, scared and hopeless. Until two months ago there was not even the remote possibility of being anything other than heterosexual and now the idea that I could find out that I was lesbian or bisexual terrifies me to death. Everything was born from the fact that I didn't feel sexual desire towards my ex-boyfriend and I started to be afraid that it was because I was a lesbian... how can I be a lesbian or bisexual if everything was born from this? I would like to run away from myself and my head. I would really like to go back and go back to my life before. I can't take it anymore. I just want to live my life like before
- Date posted
- 15w ago
Idk what else to title this. I was watching a film cooper video cuz why not and he mentioned smthn about wall paper customization and icons and stuff and I just kinda had a groinal response followed by the memory of me having my first crush on a woman (my friend at the time) that helped me figure out that I’m bi and I felt kinda intensely for her but that’s cuz a) it was new and b) we were kinda on again off again friends who haven’t spoken in a few years now and I’m over her entirely. It was toxic I think. She was too much like the person who bullied me in elementary school (they were friends as well so my mom made me cut her off which is. Fair. Made me really sad but eh that’s life) I saw her at prom cuz someone brought her. It was nice to see her but yeah that was it. And now I’m mentally comparing what I felt for women in the past (idk intense crush, listening to a lot of gay songs (think she by dodie) dressing semi masc cuz funky, we had nicknames for each other despite not dating or anything) to men (less intense crush but still big crush, I’ve only dated and kissed men so sparks rhere) and now I’m just slightly nauseous and worried that I don’t like men as much as I like women but I think that’s normal for any bi person? To have different levels of attraction to different genders? Idk I feel gross and icky now like I shouldn’t even be thinking about it or her cuz I have a bf. And I do look fondly upon it, now I’m nervous cuz I got more excited about her calling me a specific nickname than I do from my bf calling me honey even at the beginning? Honey felt more traditional and I love it but we do switch around nicknames and it’s always nice, not many butterflies anymore, and sometimes I get anxious when he does lately, if it’s a nickname in Portuguese. Or if he called me a shortened version of my name. What does that mean? I’m nervous now. I was doing half decently today now I’m nauseous again. I’m worried that cuz I liked the nicknames she and I had that means I don’t like the ones my bf and I have and that I just don’t like him or men cuz I’ve been feeling off around him. But I love when he calls me honey, it still feels good when he does it now but no butterflies. Idk what’s wrong with me. Is it even ocd at this point. Even if I do like women slightly more it doesn’t erase that I love my bf. I’m worried I’m leaning too much towards women tho and I’m a lesbian. Idk if my bi cycle is cycling or if I’m just a lesbian entirely cuz I don’t feel much when my bf takes off his shirt, sex feels different, and things feel stale and slow. But maybe that’s cuz I’m checking and comparing. Now I’m anxious fuck. I’m trying not to think about her idk why. I’m worried I still find her attractive or am attracted to her or smthn. She’s in my city. I didn’t care before but now I do. Or if I think about her I’ll think about other women and will only want to have sec with women which not really tbh. I wanna be able to enjoy sec with my bf. It just hasn’t felt right lately cuz I’ve been so depressed and obsessive. I wasn’t obsessing much last night when we had sex but it still didn’t feel passionate. It didn’t feel uncomfortable but I thought it’d be more? Idk. I know it’s normal to not feel him inside me cuz the vagina isn’t very nerved up compared to the clitoris but it felt like more the motions. But tbh. I needed it. Idk I wanted to have sex and it was a nice stress relief. I just didn’t feel butterflies which kinda bummed me out but we’ve been having sex since august so that’s normal. Idk. I haven’t been able to fantasize about sex. The fact that I’m bi makes all of this so confusing. Cuz yes hypothetically I can enjoy the thought of sex with a woman. But I don’t want to rn cuz I’m dating a man. And I can’t fantasize about sex with him cuz I’m getting intrusive thoughts about my friends and I having sex. I have this urge to watch porn cuz it’s been a while but I’m not going to. I’ve cut down a lot on masturbation. Partially cuz this partially cuz I wanna do things with my bf (when I’m mentally ok) but jow my brain is saying “Oo you think all these women are so hot you’re gonna go feral blah blah blah” and yes women are hot but I don’t wanna have sex with a woman. Idk saying women are hot doesn’t bring me anxiety but the thought of sex with one or leaving my bf and saying I’m a lesbian bother me. Cuz I know it’s not true. I love him I know that. I’d be happy if we stayed together. I wouldn’t regret a thing honestly. I like having sex with him. Idc if it’s not like porn or the movies. As long as I’m being pleasured and he’s being pleasured we’re good. That’s what sex is about. I think the loss of butterflies is normal cuz the excitement of like (sorry tmi) fingering and oral eventually wears off right? But still feels good. I don’t feel as excited about intimacy anymore cuz we have done it so often but it still feels nice. But my brain perceives that as me not liking sex with men and therefore I’m gay. No I just don’t feel the need to jump his bones every single time I see him?? Idk the friend thing is bothering me. Idk if I feel any joy behind it. The groinal response really really throws my perception off
- Students with OCD
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- Date posted
- 13w ago
I’m 25 and never ever thought this before my soocd relapse. I have a bf of 5 years. Never been a high libido kinda girl. Don’t get me wrong I do get turned on by my bf but not like every day you know? - That had always been in the back of my head, is this normal and ok? But my ocd has latched onto the most scariest what if EVER. My brain is now saying How do you know you won’t prefer to sleep and kiss girls if you haven’t tried it: and it’s that unknown that is scaring the shit out of me. I DONT AND NEVER HAVE wanted to sleep / kiss a girl. But now my intrusive thoughts is all I think about!!! I don’t want I don’t want I don’t want??? So why does my brain think BUT WHAT IF??? I know ocd thrives off uncertainty which is why I think this is happening? But I don’t wanna find out or work it out because all I want is to be with my bf and marry him!! Is this just the epitome of OCD?
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