I am really concerned by Michael Greenberg article that he posted saying HOCD doesn’t mean you’re not Gay and it doesn’t mean you are Gay it just means you have ocd about your sexual orientation. Really need help understanding this

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.

Absolutely. That makes sense

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.

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.

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

Yes it’s possible they can come to a realization that it’s not OCD but this is rare.

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

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.

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???

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.

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??

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.

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.

So if I have been diagnosed with ocd does that mean I am not?

Have you been taught and practiced ERP? Have you gone over your core fear and values with your therapist?

Then I start thinking could I be Gay and just have ocd about been straight as I feel no attraction towards women at all.

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

What type of treatment are you receiving for your OCD?

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?

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.

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

You’re really confusing me as you said HOCd means this is not true???

https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/is-so-ocd-hocd-just-denial-sexual-orientation-ocd

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????

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.

@Fjrath So this is what I am saying does this mean I am not Gay or a pedophile then if diagnosed with OCD

@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.

@Fjrath Why is it possible mate

@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.

@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

@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.

@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.

@Anonymous Because if they aren’t doing ERP with you then they aren’t helping you. Nothing works for OCD except ERP.

@Anonymous They also said I would come to conclusion I am not Gay at the end of it.

@Anonymous Yes that’s true but that happens when you fully recover.

@Fjrath Or along the way when you make the breakthrough of how your OCD works and it’s patterns.

@Fjrath So why didn’t you say that to me in the beginning mate that I would realise I am not

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