Has anyone gone on a date with the gender that SO OCD makes them believe they are attracted to before? I have been struggling for some time on and off and consider doing this to try and demonstrate self acceptance to myself if that makes sense? I dont know if it would be a compulsion, I have used dating apps obsessively before but i feel very little from just photos on a screen.

what might be best is to first write out what doing this would entail. are you seeking reassurance by going on a date with this person? you could always write out a story of what it would be like to go on a date with someone you're not attracted to and what that might feel like for you. would it provide anxiety or would you be self checking the whole time? this not only will help you experience in your mind what it would be like to date someone of the opposite sex, but also, keep yourself from involving others feelings from being hurt in the process. there is also this movie called Happiest Season. it is a christmas movie, but its about a girl who is dating another girl who hasn't given self acceptance to her sexuality. maybe watch that and see if its triggering for you? or picture yourself in that situation? i hope this helps!

Thank you for your advice If it is triggering do you mean that the film would act as a sort of exposure? I dont know how I will know if I want to go on a date or if I just want to know for sure, I would worry that I will go my whole life and never know or will regret later or something I have dated men in the past which wld be temporarily reassuring I just thought that accepting anything is the way out?

@Leavely Yes! I would say if it’s triggering, it is an exposure. I don’t think dating the opposite sex would be a bad idea, as long as it’s not for reassurance to check how you feel. That would be going into your compulsions

@Jesse Miller Right okay, thank you, at the moment it would be to check, so thank you for helping me distinguish compulsion vs want (if that makes sense)