Facing Doubts About Your Sexuality? It Could Be Homosexual OCD

Intrusive thoughts may be puzzling, terrifying, and overwhelming particularly when it questions who you are. Homosexual OCD or HOCD is one of the forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder that are misinterpreted. This type of OCD consists of the obsessive doubts regarding sexual orientation, in spite of the fact that it is not preceded by the previously obtained evidence of changes.

Whether it is you or your loved one who is suffering, you need to realize that you are not the only one, and there is help ready. In ocd-anxiety.com, we also have OCD Programs and Online OCD Therapy to get a person to take control over his life.

What is Homosexual OCD (HOCD)?

Homosexual OCD (HOCD) refers to a type of an obsessive-compulsive disorder in which persons are affected by recurrent and undesirable thoughts casting doubts regarding sexual identification. A heterosexual individual will be afraid that he or she is gay. Conversely, a homo may experience the insecurity that he or she is straight instead of homo.

Such thoughts are not based on real changes in sexual desire. Rather, they are compulsions, repetitive worries and terror that produce patient distress. Evidence suggests that individuals with HOCD do participate in compulsive behavior to attempt sorting out the truth but this just continues to reinforce the OCD process.

Common HOCD Symptoms

Knowing about the symptoms of Homosexual OCD (HOCD) is one of the steps toward improvement. Individuals who live with HOCD entertain negative thoughts of becoming the same-sex oriented. These ideas keep reoccurring and result in much stress.

Most people scan their bodies in order to know whether they are stimulated. Some might fail to associate with the same sex people since they fear they may develop attractions to them. There are those who cannot get out of their memories and continue to search to know whether they are straight or gay.

It is also the norm to request a confirmation to the sexuality of your friends or loved ones. Others take so much time browsing the web to see what their minds say. Such thoughts commonly result in guilt, shame and confusion.

Individuals with HOCD might develop an urge to demonstrate to either themselves or other people that they are straight. All these actions are quite fatiguing and can result in anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Without treatment, HOCD may impair your psychological well-being, ruin your professional life, and destroy your relationships.

Why It’s Not About Actual Sexual Orientation

It should be known that Homosexual OCD is not indication of suppressing sexuality. Instead, it can be referred to as a form of OCD when a mind is obsessed with a certain theme. In the current case, that theme is sexual orientation.

Individuals dealing with HOCD never had previously experienced attraction to same-sex. Their OCD caches on the what-if and does not detach. This sense of turmoil does not exist because he is gay or straight, but that he doubted, and was uncertain.

The programs of our Online OCD Therapy offer at ocd-anxiety.com enable people to distinguish between OCD thoughts and facts and cease involving themselves in the mentally checking that reinforces their disorder.

The OCD Cycle and HOCD

Just like all other forms of OCD, Homosexual OCD is a cyclic pattern. It usually begins by an unacceptable thought i.e. what will happen to me in case I become gay without knowing it! This consideration creates powerful sensation of uneasiness and worry.

The individual can attempt to monitor his/her response, seek indications of excitement, or conduct internet research in order to feel better. Such behavior allows to alleviate the anxiety in the short-term. However, this thought will quickly be replaced.

Once this cycle is reoccurring, the brain would start thinking that, these actions will always lessen anxiety. This enhances the obsessive acts that become more and more difficult to quit.

It may be repeated several times per one day. It comes with time resulting into a habit which is very hard to quit in the future. Seeking assistance through an effective OCD program can give the requisite assistance in curbing this habit.

HOCD vs. Coming Out

It should be noticed that it is necessary to differentiate HOCD and real questioning of your sexuality. Citizens, who already got used to being gay or bisexual, usually experience a feeling of clarity, although it is rather hard emotionally. Their thinking is not compulsive, fear-based or distressing in a parallel.

In comparison, HOCD is based on doubt and panic. It is characterized by constant self-diagnosis, fear of becoming gay and blind right or wrong. Crucial in this is therapy that aims at treating OCD as opposed to therapy that targets identity.

Treating Homosexual OCD: What Works

A science-based approach to treating Homosexual OCD is used at ocd-anxiety.com. The most devoted attention is paid to a treatment procedure called Exposure and Response Prevention or ERP. The therapy is termed as the most appropriate treatment of OCD and is quite successful when performed well.

With ERP, you gradually confront the thoughts or circumstances that give you anxiety without attempting to avoid them. Meanwhile, you learn to prevent the compulsive activities, such as checking, need of reassurance and refusing going to some places or avoiding some people.

When you practice this, the brain begins to realize that the anxiety will pass away by itself. There is no need to feel better by sticking to compulsions. This will re-train your mind and make you less afraid as you will have more peace and control of thoughts.

Our OCD Program: Built for Results

A science-based approach to treating Homosexual OCD is used at ocd-anxiety.com. The most devoted attention is paid to a treatment procedure called Exposure and Response Prevention or ERP. The therapy is termed as the most appropriate treatment of OCD and is quite successful when performed well.

With ERP, you gradually confront the thoughts or circumstances that give you anxiety without attempting to avoid them. Meanwhile, you learn to prevent the compulsive activities, such as checking, need of reassurance and refusing going to some places or avoiding some people.

When you practice this, the brain begins to realize that the anxiety will pass away by itself. There is no need to feel better by sticking to compulsions. This will re-train your mind and make you less afraid as you will have more peace and control of thoughts.