I told my new therapist I have HOCD. I told him I am sexually attracted to men, but I had a couple gay fantasies and got aroused at them when I was a teenager. He then said I should watch/read about people being bisexual. Why would he he say that? Trying to say I might be bisexual? Is that normal for an OCD therapist to do that kind of thing?

Don’t settle for that. Find another therapist who will help you treat HOCD as HOCD. Whether or not you’re bisexual is not important to getting the right treatment.

Thank you for the advice. I might email the treatment place to see if that’s normal.

@Anon7 Of course. Do what makes you comfortable.

@OCDumb >:( Thank you. I didn’t know if what he said seems weird because of anxiety or legitimately seems off

@Anon7 Right, I understand.

Maybe he meant that as an exposure assignment?

Possibly. But this is only my third session. He’s still trying to figure out my diagnoses

Is this NOCD therapy?

Nope

@Anon7 Welp that explains it. Also u need find someone that only specializes in OCD

@RememberWhoYouAre. That is one of his specialties though. So I don’t know what to think

@Anon7 What else does he do? Also i have heard from OCDstories podcast is that u need to find a person who only does OCD not someone who does a little bit of both

Treats ocd, Tourette’s PTSD and ocd spectrum disorders. He is a member of the international ocd foundation.

Ahhh I see makes more sense. Well what do you feel and want to do? Did he explain why to do that?

It does make me anxious. I do not think I am bisexual. He said to see if being bisexual would be something is something that would fit with you or something. I hope I’m explaining it right

Its probably just subtle erp to trigger you and sit with it, then habituate with it

Not as easy but you are not your thoughts

@RememberWhoYouAre. I hope that’s what he’s doing

@Ope Thank you 😊

Search your core values. Write them down. Ask the therapist what specific homework he recommends for this.

Thank you.

She said I’m sorry that was way too soon and triggering to you.

@Ope Thank you. I hope so. I’ve just been dealing with a ton of homework from my internship. I start next month on my internship. The homework plus the ocd has me stressed out almost all day. I think a new better therapist will help though.

@Ope I’m sorry. I know it’s horrible

The owner?

@hocdgirl No she didn’t. She just apologized

@hocdgirl Maybe. But it was so early for that. The owner did acknowledge it was way too soon for me. I did switch therapists

@hocdgirl I know the triggering will come down the line but I’ll be better prepared. Are you in therapy too?

@hocdgirl I get embarrassed too. But ive found it helps to tell everything so they know what you’re going through

Consider avoiding the pornography, not on the basis of compulsive avoidance but because it is a fact that habitually watching pornography can desensitize you to sexual imagery, healthy sexual relationships and in some cases increase feelings of shame and isolation which often leads to stress in healthy relationships. It’s not moralizing to avoid something demoralizing. Continuous use of pornographic imagery can complicate escalating ERP.