- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
I feel like people with HOCD and actually were gay are worrying about coming out in a hostile environment, they aren’t stressing about actually being attracted to men/women.
- Date posted
- 3y
Absolutely. That makes sense
- Date posted
- 3y
Trying to find certainty about this is the same as trying to find certainty about your sexuality. Your ocd will make you think the answer matters or will be helpful, but it won't. You won't get certainty and obsessing over the nature of ocd will perpetuate your soocd just as much as obsessing over your sexuality. Trust me, it's a vicious cycle.
- Date posted
- 3y
So does that mean someone can have HOcD and realise they are Gay? As my therapist said people with hocd or PoCD are not gay or pedophiles??? So are you saying someone can have PoCD and realise they are a pedophile. This is where I am getting confused.
- Date posted
- 3y
No, you have ocd about actually being gay and sleeping with dudes. They might have ocd about coming out because they are worried their family or people they know wont accept them. The thing causing the ocd is different. I don’t think most people with HOCD realize they are gay because it’s just ocd.
- Date posted
- 3y
So does HOCd mean I am not Gay and POCD mean I am not a pedophile. But your saying you don’t think most people with Hocd realise they are Gay so you’re saying it in a manner that it can happen. So can someone with PoCD realise they are a pedophile? But then sometimes I think I am just scared to come out
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
Yes it’s possible they can come to a realization that it’s not OCD but this is rare.
- Date posted
- 3y
So I could realise what I am feeling is true as I get no disgust from the thoughts so then wouldn’t that mean they have been misdiagnosed and were an actual pedophile then
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
No. There’s a possibility that everyone with OCD can act on their thoughts but the thoughts and feelings are just thoughts and feelings. These emotions or thoughts have no insight or truth to them. Unless you have a plan or deep desire to engage in pedophilia you aren’t a pedophile. A pedophile becomes a pedophile when they act on their thoughts and inappropriately abuse or molest kids. What Michael Greenberg is saying is just because you have homosexual obsessions it doesn’t mean anything about your sexuality.
- Date posted
- 3y
Could you explain in more depth what you mean about the Michael Greenberg comment as this has left me in so much distress. So does HOCD mean I am not Gay as that what therapists have told me and my family? All the books, audios I read say the same. Why does it not have anything to do with sexuality???
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
Michael Greenberg is excellent young clinical psychologist but he sometimes says things without thinking about implications. Greenberg is basically saying you’re obsessions do not define you. Other therapists told me things that in hindsight were completely wrong and invalid about my obsessions and it wasn’t til I saw an OCD specialist that they confirmed that these obsessions were not me but a manifestion of OCD. Are you seeing an OCD specialist? Because regular therapists misdiagnose OCD regularly because they’re not trained in it.
- Date posted
- 3y
When you say completely wrong and invalid what do you mean? What did the say to you. I have been diagnosed with OCD by over 8 professionals who said I am not Gay and it’s OCD? So are you saying the obsessions mean these are not true then? No therapist has ever said to me people with HoCd realise they are Gay. What did therapists say to you??
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
99 percent of people HOCD/SO-OCD aren’t gay. Same things happens with gay people who have heterosexual obsessions and think they are in denial about being gay and are really straight. If eight professionals say you have OCD then you shouldn’t have any reason to not believe them. This is the only time I’ll give you reassurance. Obsessions do not equal desire. It looks like Dr. Greenberg’s article triggered you and sent you spiraling. It’s a very very very rare occurrence where it’s not OCD and the person was actually gay but it likely happens with one person if ever to a therapist.
- Date posted
- 3y
So if I have been diagnosed with ocd does that mean I am not?
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
Have you been taught and practiced ERP? Have you gone over your core fear and values with your therapist?
- Date posted
- 3y
Then I start thinking could I be Gay and just have ocd about been straight as I feel no attraction towards women at all.
- Date posted
- 3y
I don’t know what my core fear is? And no I haven’t done ERP but I get all these graphic gay sex images and feel I like them
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
What type of treatment are you receiving for your OCD?
- Date posted
- 3y
Nothing at the moment. So does this mean I am not Gay as I want to get to the end of this and realise I am not and over 8 therapists said this will happen?
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
You need to find an OCD Therapist/Specialist that practices ERP. I can’t give you reassurance. It’s not about whether you are or you aren’t gay. It’s about finding happiness despite these obsessions.
- Date posted
- 3y
But you said HOCD means this is not true? And so have over 8 therapists? So are you saying it could be true then? Is this the same for POCD it’s not about whether I am pedophile or not but if I am why was I diagnosed with OCd
- Date posted
- 3y
You’re really confusing me as you said HOCd means this is not true???
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
- Date posted
- 3y
I am so confused what do you mean it’s not about whether I am gay or aren’t gay? Isn’t that same as POCD finding out if we are or aren’t? How can therapist say it’s ocd and then someone realise they are pedophile????
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
It doesn’t matter if the thoughts are about pedophilia, homosexuality, harm, contamination, suicidal, relationships, the content is junk it’s the way you react to these thoughts. If the eight professional therapists say you have OCD then YOU HAVE OCD. Otherwise they would diagnosed you with Pedophilia.
- Date posted
- 3y
@Fjrath So this is what I am saying does this mean I am not Gay or a pedophile then if diagnosed with OCD
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Anonymous Yeah, you probably aren’t gay or a pedophile. Is it possible, yes, is it probable, no. Please go seek an OCD specialist who practices ERP so they can help you better.
- Date posted
- 3y
@Fjrath Why is it possible mate
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Anonymous Because we live in uncertainty. As my therapist explained and reminded me it’s possible that I can act on my thoughts, anything is possible but does it mean I want to do it? No. It’s possible that I’ll go take a shower with milk and peanut butter but is it likely? No. It’s possible I can go out and get hit by a car. It’s possible a tree can fall on me when I’m coming back home from work. It’s possible I can choke on my food and die on 2-16-2022. Anything is possible but is it probably? No. We live in a world or uncertainty but OCD makes us realize what others don’t.
- Date posted
- 3y
@Fjrath I just want to realise I am not Gay and my therapist said I will realise this isn’t true. Why do I get no dislike from the thoughts and feel I am liking the gay porn
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Anonymous If your therapist means you can’t come to the conclusion you’re not gay then they are right with OCD it’s not our job to figure it out, we will never satisfy the OCD because it’ll always doubt. I think you should maybe seek another opinion with someone who’s experienced in OCD and practices ERP.
- Date posted
- 3y
@Fjrath Why would I need a second opinion when all the ocd therapists have said it’s OCD and I am not Gay. So are 8 therapists wrong and this could be true? As I am going on what they are saying and even my family says it’s ocd and I am not They have said this isn’t true and I am not Gay? Every therapist has said this OCd and people with hocd aren’t Gay.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Anonymous Because if they aren’t doing ERP with you then they aren’t helping you. Nothing works for OCD except ERP.
- Date posted
- 3y
@Anonymous They also said I would come to conclusion I am not Gay at the end of it.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Anonymous Yes that’s true but that happens when you fully recover.
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
@Fjrath Or along the way when you make the breakthrough of how your OCD works and it’s patterns.
- Date posted
- 3y
@Fjrath So why didn’t you say that to me in the beginning mate that I would realise I am not
- Date posted
- 3y
But this article says it’s not denial or confusion but then you say it’s not about whether you are gay or not? But it isn’t ultimately isn’t it? So wouldn’t you suggest to people to go experiment? Because if they liked it how can it be OCd
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 3y
Don’t pay attention Dr. Greenberg he says controversial things without explaining them.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 19w
I wanted to voice that homosexuals can get HOCD too. I remember when i was younger and knew i was gay i still got HOCD one time when watching The Office. I thought Pam was so pretty and then started doubting my whole identity because what if i am straight? Oh god, what a terror if i was heterosexual. But anyway, thought that maybe this would help heteros with HOCD by knowing that this is a universal symptom across OCD sufferers of all sexual orientations. A big problem is calling this subtype “Homosexual OCD,” because its not. It has nothing to do with being homo or hetero or bi or anything. Its just OCD being a bully. I think labelling subtypes is an issue altogether, as it can unconsciously make people feel like its not just OCD. But it is. Does this make any sense? What are yall’s thoughts on this? Or is this just my OCD talking? (Im not seeking reassurance just genuinely find this interesting) TLDR; each time we “qualify” OCD with a subtype, we reinforce that the subtype is part of the issue. In reality, OCD is just a broken loop in our brains, and thoughts are just thoughts. And Pam Beesly is a hottie.
- Date posted
- 17w
trigger warning!!!!!! I’m really scared right now. I’ve been reading Elle Warren’s articles about her experience with HOCD/SO-OCD, and it feels so similar to mine. She went through the same fears of being a lesbian, felt distressed by her attraction to women, and spent hours ruminating, Googling, and analyzing her feelings. She even experienced groinal responses and revisited old memories, just like I do. Eventually, she had a moment of realization in college when she flirted with a girl, and everything clicked. She now identifies as a lesbian. I’m terrified that the same thing will happen to me. I thought the OCD fears were supposed to never be true and that HOCD thoughts are usually just compulsions that don’t end up being real. But reading her story, it’s like I’m seeing my own experience mirrored. What if it clicks for me, just like it did for her? What if I realize that I am a lesbian? Elle’s story makes me so scared. I thought my feelings of attraction to women were just OCD-driven, and now I’m questioning everything. I thought I was straight, but now, reading her journey, I’m wondering: could my OCD fears actually be real? Elle’s experience was very similar to mine: • She got distressed when she thought she might like women, not relieved. • She spent a lot of time ruminating, Googling, analyzing, and comparing. • Her attraction to women only became intense when her OCD flared up. • She said things like, “I feel peace when I believe I’m straight.” • She had already been diagnosed with OCD and had a history of this pattern. After years of fear and distress, Elle had a moment of calm and realized that it was true. I’m scared that this could happen to me too. Will I have a similar moment of acceptance, where everything clicks and I realize I’m gay? Or will I come to accept that this is all OCD, and that I’m straight, with the possibility that I’m not? I also keep thinking back to when my OCD lessened the first time. Did I go back to men because I wasn’t actually attracted to women, or was it just because the grip of the OCD had loosened? Elle also talked about the shame associated with non-heterosexuality. She mentioned that, like many of us, she had internalized stigma around being gay, and that it made her fear the possibility of being non-heterosexual. I can relate to this so much—growing up, I never saw it as an option to be anything other than straight, and now it’s hard to shake that fear and shame. Elle mentioned that she found reassurance in seeing other people with HOCD who worried that their fears would come true, but eventually realized they were just OCD thoughts. That idea is comforting, but also a little scary, because what if that moment of realization happens for me too? What if I finally accept that I am a lesbian? Or, what if I’m just struggling with OCD and eventually realize I’m straight? I just don’t know. The scariest part is that, just like Elle, I feel like I don’t have any obvious signs. She had no idea she was a lesbian until one day, everything clicked. She was 21, just like me when my OCD fears really flared up, and she had a breakthrough moment in Denver when she made friends with lesbians. That hasn’t happened for me yet, and it’s terrifying to think that it could happen in the future. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m really scared about where this will lead.
- Date posted
- 10w
I’ve been struggling with HOCD for years, and it started with an intrusive thought about being gay when I was younger. It came up at age 12 and ever since, I’ve been trapped in a cycle of doubt and anxiety. I obsess over whether or not I’m secretly gay, even though I don’t feel that way at all. What makes it worse is the fear that I might have internalized homophobia, and that’s why I’m having these obsessive thoughts. I worry that my anxiety is a sign that I’m repressing something or rejecting part of myself. It feels like my mind keeps repeating the same question—am I gay?—and no matter how much reassurance I get, the fear doesn’t go away. I used to pray for my family members, fearing that if I didn’t, something bad would happen to them, and now it feels like I have to control these thoughts, or something will go wrong. For a while, it was quieter, but a week ago, the thoughts spiraled up again, and now the anxiety feels overwhelming again. It’s exhausting, and I don’t know how to break free from this constant loop of doubt. Has anyone dealt with the fear of internalized homophobia alongside HOCD? How do you manage the anxiety that comes with it?
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