Is anybody else becoming irritated by this narrative that HOCD is the result of ‘internalised homophobia’? I initially saw a few people who didn’t have HOCD question whether this theme was the result of homophobia, but I just brushed that off as ignorance on their behalf because they don’t understand what it’s like to have the theme. But, then it started to shift over into the therapy world, where I’d see therapists posting on Instagram & writing blog posts about how this theme has links to homophobia. I understand and appreciate that there will be select individuals who have this theme, possibly because of underlying toxic religious beliefs for example, who have internalised, or even externalised homophobia, but they make up such a tiny portion of the entire population of HOCD sufferers, that it actually angers me that even PROFESSIONALS are generalising that narrative to the whole community. In these blog posts and Instagram posts, I’d read that the ‘media’ may have led to feelings of homophobia… in 2021, I have no clue about what media is explicitly condemning homosexuality… but okay. To me, it’s less activism as it’s just a desire to turn mental health political, and from professionals, that upsets me. I’ve noticed that a lot of the clinical psychologists have said that individuals with HOCD TEND to be very current in their political beliefs, & do not believe it’s at all wrong to be homosexual, bi sexual, transsexual. Any thoughts on this?

yeah it drives me insane. Like we suffer bc we don’t want to lose our identity. And also, we can’t controls our theme. It’s a fear of losing yourself rather that “internalized homophobia”, plus queer ppl can sufferr from SO OCD too! Ofc that my brain is going to doubt everything and say I’m actually gay in denial w internalized homophobia. But those mental health professionals should educate them better on the subject!

Exactly!!! It’s a fear of losing your identity, or ‘never knowing’ who you are. I have never thought that it was wrong to be gay, ever. It seems to me that some therapists just want something to talk about, or just want to sound like they have a new take. And yeah, my OCD definitely tells me that! Like, ‘maybe I think I’m not homophobic, but I am, and that means I’m actually bi but in denial’ you’re not alone there, but it’s just OCD!

Yeah, Im scared of this one because Ive loved women all my life and it feels like im losing a massive part of who I am. I don't want to lose those feelings and I dont want all my friendships to keep feeling weird

This is exactly it, it’s a fear of losing something. Like a foundation in your identity crumbling. I’ve been in your spot before, and it gets better. OCD distorts reality so much!

Yes it’s frustrating when people say that. I never saw a professional say that but I know that even lots of professionals don’t understand pure ocd. For me I’m not really afraid of being gay. I don’t even care if I’m gay if that is what I really want. But it’s more that I want to love a man and I’m afraid I can’t... like I’m not allowed to cause I might be gay or I’m doing something horrible pursuing a man cause I might be gay. Then when I’m in a relationship I fear so badly that i will hurt the person because I might realize I really am gay in the future and divorce them. It’s linked to relationship ocd and harm ocd. I don’t think I have internalized homophobia and I grew up with only accepting people around me. But still the OCD tells me that I am gay and just have internalized homophobia, so it does really bother me when people don’t understand ocd and seem to confirm this idea that “maybe I am just struggling with internalized homophobia”

Yes. An OCD specialist I used to follow on Instagram wrote one of these articles and it made me very triggered and upset. It’s so hard for me because I have scrupulosity too and I have a fear of being homophobic. I always try to be so supportive of the LGBT community. I’ve never had an issue. Now I have people telling me that if I have this OCD then I am homophobic and it hurts. It’s scary honestly. I feel shame. My SO OCD started because I was afraid of judgement from other people. Now it’s more of the identity change. Like I know deep down what my identity is, but I’m scared it’s not what I thought and these thoughts scare me.