How do I know it’s HOCD and nosy questioning? My obsession seems to have stemmed from questioning. I’ve had gay thoughts and fantasies and have looked at/masturbtaed to attarctive men/gay porn. But I’ve always been sure of my attarction to women. I’ve always considered myself straight, if not slightly bisexual etc. I’ve always been sure of my attraction to women. As I began obsessing on the possibility I was more attracted to gay stuff then straught stuff. It seemed I had lost my attraction to women, overnight. I wasn’t getting aroused at straight porn or photos of attractive women, all of which had previously aroused me. It seemed to happen in a day, ever since then my mind has been in distress. It’s been on my mind ever since, really stressing me out. The possibility I’ve lost my attraction is so scary and distressing to me. It’s on my mind 24/7. Because I know I might already have a slight attraction to guys, my mind is terrified that this could mean I’m fully gay. I’ve always been attracted to women now suddenly I’m scared I’m not and it feels so damn real. Does this sound like HOCD ? I’m really scared man

It feels so scary. It seems like overnight I lost my attraction to women and straight sex, even though it would make no sense to happen so quickly. I’ve always been attracted to women and have always been arouse, now whenever I imagine or see, my mind starts telling me I’ve lost my attraction and it feels so real. It feels so distressing, I can’t stop ruminating and researching about it. Does this sound OCD like ?

@ramosvitorio Absolutely and I’ve been there. The less you ruminate (ie engage in compulsions) and the more you practice erp the better it will eventually get. I know it sucks. I know it’s scary. It does get better.

@pureolife How do I know this is not just me discovering my sexuality. I’ve done so much reflection and I think I’m realizing that I may be more gay/bisexual then I previously had thought I was. And I guess I’m fine with that. What terrifies me is the prospect that I may of never been attracted to women. I’m so scared of my attarction to women disappearing. For some reason it just really scares me. I don’t want to loose my attarction, I really don’t. Does that fact that I’ve had gay fantasies/masturabted and may be bisexual, means that this isn’t HOCD and I’m merely discovering my sexulaity

@ramosvitorio Trying to “figure out” the answer to that is actually the problem and it’s what’s keeping you in the ocd loop. You have to stop trying to find the answer! You have to stop mentally reviewing your past, analyzing, testing, ruminating, etc. I know if feels like all of that will help you find an answer, but it actually won’t. It’s just ocd and it will never be satisfied with any “answer” you come up with for very long. Maybe this article will help: https://drmichaeljgreenberg.com/marks-gay-and-thats-it-a-response-to-mark-ameen-johnsons-article-about-hocd/

@pureolife Wow thank you very much! I think it’s true, ever since I started obsessing over whether I was enjoying gay stuff more than straught stuff, this whole spiral started. I’ve read that OCD sometimes stems from genuine real life concerns and leaves you stuck on them that’s why it feels so real. Would you agree with that ?

@ramosvitorio OCD tends to attack our values. So for people who suffer from thinks like SOOCD, their identity and sense of self and feelings of authenticity are very important to them.