Woke up this morning an the first thought I could think was an intrusive thought, sometimes I don’t think I even have OCD it seems so real, I struggle with POCD and it seems real it’s insane but I think over the years I definitely have struggled with other types of ocd since my childhood like I used to think about my family dying tragically and have intrusive thoughts like that and then as the years went on I think I developed a little bit of health OCD and would think there was things wrong with me specifically HIV/AIDS I can’t be bothered anymore

Your OCD will never let you feel totally satisfied with your diagnosis. My advice is to risk it and go ahead with OCD treatment and see what happens for the very likely possibility that it is OCD. Don’t chase certainty. You’ll never find it

This does help, actually, and I’m glad you recovered from it!!

Why is it like I want to be with a man 😒. I used to be girl crazy and now in the last year or so it like I've completely turned. Bare in mind I'm 38 ..... this all started at 22

This is my experience too!! Got married March of this year and this happened to me!! I love hearing your story!!!!

@Riddled Thanks, it became mixed with ROCD, I can recognise now but in that first year I felt quite overwhelmed. When my first baby arrived my OCD had a new focus and being able to unpick all the different threads of OCD when I look back on it now it seems so clear but back then it seemed impossible to comprehend.

I know right, it’s the worst thing to believe you’re something even if you’re not. I know I’m not a p*dophile and the thought saddens me and leaves me so uncomfortable, I just can’t help but wonder why my brain is so reluctant to making it up

No this is OCD. Just accept the thoughts and eventually you’ll see it for what it really is.

I was 9 when I had contamination OCD and then it was that and harm for the rest of my childhood years into health OCD in my 20's which was horrible and religious. In 2010 II read an article in a magazine about a lady named Diana Wilson in the UK and her story mirrored mine in so many ways. That was 11 years ago. I went to my doctor who didn't understand and then another doctor who had no clue what I was going through. Then a therapist who didn't have experience with OCD so it hasn't been easy to get any help.

It was worse at age 22. I thought I wouldn't get through it.

@Emerald Green I'm 38 now its worse than ever. All I want is to love women like I did. I've started dating. But it feels as tho I will be leading them on etc...

@Ihateocd83 I am sorry you are going through it. I think it doesn't matter what the theme that OCD takes but that it can totally distort everything it can latch onto, that you value. I read Chrissie Hodges book and this is what OCD she was dealing with. If you haven't read it, it might help maybe.

https://drmichaeljgreenberg.com/how-to-stop-ruminating/

@Anonymous Very useful article!

What if you just accept that you’re not sure and do nothing about it? I think “coming out” would be self sabotaging for you because you don’t even know if it’s true.

I honestly think if you stop ruminating over it and just accept maybe, maybe not, in time you will be able to see it logically. But you really need to commit to not ruminating.

@Anonymous I just don't know how to get my mind off the subject. I don't know if these feelings are legit or fake I just feel absent in life at the moment I think I look gay a few random people have said so aswel. No one I have known for a long time tho like good friends etc. I just don't know what I have done to deserve this my life feels ruined sometimes 😔

@Ihateocd83 Read the post of just posted on the main feed about it feeling real. Also just because someone may say you “look gay” does not mean you are gay. Being gay has nothing to do with appearance. Some of the buffist manly looking men are gay. It has nothing to do with that. You need to let thoughts come in and out without paying attention to them. I know it’s hard but it works. Just try it for a day.

@Anonymous OK thanks

Ah it’s under the subtypes real events and pure o

“As a result of repeated strong emotional reactions to urges, they turn into obsessions. Your brain registers that strong emotional reaction as something important or real and you become trapped in the OCD cycle. It’s not having these thoughts that make you think they’re real but your reaction towards them. Your reaction is also the exact reason why they become obsessive because your brain starts constantly reminding you of that “danger” to avoid.”