I just did an exposure that was so intense I started crying. It was reading an article about how women can change sexuality into lesbians later in life and I’m so scared because I thought that could be me and now I have to agree with it for exposure. This is really hard and terrifying

Thank you! I’m confused because i thought reading articles that scare you and agreeing with the thoughts was exposure, or that was what I was told to do

Sorry she is struggling too. Sometimes it does feel very real, for my therapy I was supposed to agree and say I am gay when I get the thoughts and then do nothing and the anxiety is supposed to lessen eventually. Has she done therapy yet? For me it is so scary because I am engaged and happy most of the time until ocd makes me question everything

I hope her ocd gets better, I’m sorry she’s going through that. I am similar as I have always had male crushes and question myself daily, it is so hard but the exposure seems to help.

Hi really sorry to hear about your daughter. Hocd is vicious and has taken over people's lives. The urge to check is strong so please please there maybe healthier ways to cope with this. Also tell your daughter if she doesn't want to be with a woman , she wont be simple. These women who have come out as lesbians later on, knew for sure and most importantly were happy to.

Ask her to write her thoughts down .

Also if she can , everytime she gets a Thought ask her to chant Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. 108 times every morning . It goes like Hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare hare Rama hare rama rama rama hare hare . This 108 times , everyday. You can google this also if you want .

@Anonymous Thank you I will

@Anonymous Are you of Indian descent ?

That is her brain wanting to check whether she is which is why her brain is telling her to test it out. That would backfire dangerously. Please tell her to not give in to the thoughts. Thoughts that feel good really don't pressure you to do something . I think that is what my perspective is

OCD is vicious and it's not about homosexuality . OCD will take anything that you love and are attached to and it will make you question that. I remember when I was her age or a little younger , I used to ask everyone whether Ghosts exist or not . Everyone I met the same question. It became obsession. So do ghosts exists , I don't know maybe they do maybe they don't. I am not going to go to a haunted house and find out.

I am recovering from it yes

No you need to get it out , otherwise the more she or both of you surpress it stays in the head and gets worse. Let it out.

@Anonymous How can I let it out ? Do I talk to her about it everyday ? I feel like that bothers her even more and more

@rachel1219 Just ask her about her feelings and if she's feeling bad ask her to write it down in front of you. No need to analyse what how when . Just write it down.

Yes and let it develop naturally.Shes too young . If she loves men she will naturally gravitate towards them if it's the other wise it will. Anyhow she will be who she wants to be

20+ I had a dream which triggered me

Ohhh yeah tell her it's normal .

Any woman remotely pretty you begin to check why did I think that , do I want to be with her etc

@Anonymous Should I show her more pretty women then ?

@rachel1219 That is erp should be done via a therapist .

Just listen to her , don't label it as anything . Ask her how does this thought make her feel and how does she want to respond to it.

The key is to make her , aware of the thought pattern.

Ok ... If the thought feels good to her then alright , but if it doesn't then it's not true.

Like she mentioned that she knows her sexuality but she can't help but try out when she grows up . That thought

If thoughts are worrying her , then ask her what is her response. Does she want to check , ruminate or Isolate herself. Ask her what is her response ?

@Anonymous What is ruminate ?

See we all appreciate beauty , you need not be bisexual for that. It's what you like and thats it . If you feel good with men , good women good or both good .

Exactly she's too young , I mean has she even dated or liked a guy prosperly? Tell her to enjoy herself 😁. Anything she needs I am always here to advise as an elder virtual sister.

@Anonymous Thank you so much- we are of Indian descent - my husband would never want her dating in high school. And might I add- she still has an active crush in school right now . Who is a male

@rachel1219 Even I am Indian 😊. I understand the mentality , I had my first boyfriend when I was 15 years of age .

@Anonymous Oh ok . Ya I worry for her but I guess I’m thankful it didn’t happen later in life where she was a college dorm wondering what the hell is happening to her.

I am in University right now .

@Anonymous Doing my masters

If you get the right amount of help and ERP it definitely gets better.

@Anonymous Problem with my daughter is that she actually thinks she is “turning “ Gay so she thinks the erp won’t help her. She thinks the erp will make her believe more she is gay

@rachel1219 That is what OCD tricks you into believing that. ERP will make it worse. But on the contrary it makes it better.

@Anonymous I understand.

I have suffered for 7 years . Not seeking help was my mistake. I should have. Please have her seek help.

@Anonymous 7 years ? Omg. Are you married or with someone now ?

@rachel1219 Sorry if my questions are too personal

@rachel1219 No I am single , I will only be with someone whenever I get a grip on this

@rachel1219 No no that's fine I understand why you are asking these questions.

I think opening up to them was a task for me , but yes they have been extremely supportive as far as my feelings are concerned and encouraging me for therapy.

Get her therapy. I think that will turn things around for her and you .

See if she has no issue then it's alright. But if it's bothering her and if it's taking over her life and making her anxious then it's an issue

Let her decide when she wants to be open to therapy .

Ok for now just listen to whatever she says and leave the option of therapy open to her.

Yes let her come to you. If things get too much therapy is always there.

OCD reduces attraction to the original orientation , that is very normal . That only haooens because she's focusing on this too much. Tell her to tell you , how does she want to respond to the thought ? Does she want to check or ruminate . If she says check or Ruminate just let it be and ask her to write it down

Don't tell her to move on , it's better not to say anything.

@Anonymous But if I don’t tell her to move on - she will harp on the thought?

she has to realize that herself otherwise it will build up inside her and her mind will push her to check.. let her realize that checking and rumination does nothing .

I will pray for her as well.

We all will. Every one on NOCD will .

I am not on any medication no

Medication is a personal choice , I cannot comment on that. Depends on whether it's helping her rather than harming her.

Ok list those compulsions and ask her whenever she feels an urge to perform a compulsion just put a timer , for example 5 minutes just sit with the feeling breathe in and out . After that ask her how she feels. Keep doing until the need to perform a compulsion goes awat