Its too soon for a label while youre still figuring things out. Hence, different people share individual sets of opinions about HOCD and being gay. But when denial starts to interfere with your life and wellbeing, thats when it becomes a problem. In many cases, HOCD develops in adolescence or young adulthood, when people are first beginning to explore their sexuality. And if you discover you have feelings for women, thats fantastic as well. It's an anxiety disorder with an intolerance to uncertainty. Do the same with girls. Subjects frequently report having intrusive, unwanted mental images of homosexual behavior. Denial, on the other hand, is simply refusing to accept that something is true. Sometimes, medications are used to treat conditions like OCD and PTSD. . It took another five minutes for me to figure out what HOCD was and why so many people had gay obsessions. Ive been a licensed therapist since 2017. I went to a therapist once, didn't help. People who have experienced HOCD, truly believe it. It is not recognized in the DSM, nor by any reputable association of psychotherapists, psychiatrists, social workers, or counselors. OCD makes the individual feel that they can't trust their own mind. The condition is characterized by having aggressive, intrusive thoughts of doing violence to someone, as well as the responses the person uses to cope with these thoughts. HOCD or any other mental health issue cannot be cured entirely, in other words you cant get rid of HOCD permanently. This question is required. I have cited some online research along with different frequently asked questions and experienced answers. Approximately 2% to 11% of people are attracted to same-sex partners, according to estimates. Sufferers may exhibit intrusive images of homosexual behavior that lead to compulsive checking. Some people shared their experiences. The main difference is that you have not come to terms with it yourself. But for the specific fear of being denial, life itself is the trigger and exposure means committing to that life. During sessions, I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy because its the most effective treatment for OCD, and works for any OCD subtype. Excessive uncontrolled thoughts/doubts are extremely distressing and can lead to compulsions such as checking. Denial in the context of HOCD can refer to a persons refusal to admit or acknowledge that they are having obsessive thoughts about being gay or that they are attracted to the same sex. Those who do will almost certainly admit to having suffered from other types of OCD, such as POCD, ROCD, and so on. Spear and a Lance- What is the Difference, Peter Parker vs. PeterB. Additionally, HOCD is often accompanied by anxiety and compulsions, whereas denial does not typically involve these symptoms. Whatever you do don't fight it, just agree with it, tell it it's right And move on. Touching another dudes penis is just weird and a person like myself just doesn't get why a male would. -- Sun Mar 30, 2014 2:18 am --. The main difference is that you have not come to terms with it yourself. You enjoy the physical qualities of a man. They manipulate the medical community into making this diagnosis solely to justify their self-hatred. The pain and betrayal you feel are overwhelming. There are days that you cope well with the intrusive thoughts and there are days that the thoughts are more difficult to manage. Take intrusive thoughts less personally, and let go of your emotional reaction to them. Medication. There is a lot of overlap between OCD and bulimia, and many experts believe that the two disorders are linked. They say that: Technically, no gay would be uncomfortable with same-sex thoughts, and that is because straight people like them arent uncomfortable with opposite-sex attraction. Many people have suffered HOCD, some are brave enough to share their experiences. Someone in denial may be obsessively thinking about a traumatic event they experienced, even if they dont want to think about it or dont want to admit it happened. Worrying that you might be sending out . For more information, please see our Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful, Address: Apt. Anna Freud has referred to denial as a defense mechanism involving the refusal to accept reality and thus blocking external events from awareness. My specialist has told me he has gotten all types of guys with this. I treated people using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and saw people get better day in and day out. being seen as having another orientation. But how do I know if I actually have HOCD or am simply in denial? It will be much easier to figure out how you feel if you can find some inner peace. Anxiety is what drives HOCD, whereas denial is what drives it. In both cases, the individual is likely to avoid anything that might trigger their thoughts or feelings related to the obsession. Interruptive thoughts exacerbate the anxiety. Coins 0 coins Premium Powerups Talk Explore. And, whatever the answer is, you can find happiness in that way. Sexual orientation is not an uncommon theme for obsessive thoughts. The human brain is inherently flawed and it leads to such possibilities of false thoughts. ROCD - Questioning faith or the existance or non-existance of a deity. In CBT, you'll work with a therapist to learn ways of thinking that can help you become less sensitive to the intrusive thoughts. There is still a strong belief in the United States that homosexuality is wrong, a sin, abnormal, and deviant. Lol. HOCD can be a very debilitating condition, leading to social isolation, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. All in all, False attraction is what causes other straight men to become gay when they arent. Defense mechanisms are strategies that people use to cope with distressing feelings. So its important to know the difference between HOCD and denial. CBT is a form of therapy that enables you to recognize and alter harmful thought and behavior patterns. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. HOCD and Denial are terminologies related to these. Sounds dumb but. For a quick web story summary, click here. Homosexuality is the term used to describe sexual interest in and attraction to members of ones own sex; male homosexuals referred to as gay while females going by the term lesbians. Now I'm wondering if my gagging response to gay porn is genuine or I've trained myself to do it. Most of us have heard the term in denial used before, but what does it mean? I eventually got over it, but Im still not gay and despise homosexual sex. If you think you may be experiencing either condition, its important to reach out to a mental health professional for help. One such experience is shared by a boy. Is it HOCD or am I denying my homosexuality? It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. Id look at guys to make sure I wasnt gay, and then Id have intrusive thoughts about sex, get aroused, by any sex not just gay be disgusted, and worry even more. Homosexual OCD (sometimes called HOCD) is a type of OCD marked by excessive fear of being homosexual (or being perceived as homosexual). Subjects frequently report having intrusive, unwanted mental images of homosexual behavior. Don't fear the thoughts; thoughts are just thatthoughts. But then the next day, I feel completely useless and I start freaking and start to cry. Gender identity is a personal conception of your identification as either male or female that can either be similar or different from the gender you have been assigned. The problem with HOCD is that you cannot stop questioning it. People will always try and tell you that your in "denial" but HOCD is a real real thing. Also, both can lead to avoidance behaviors. Do you think I am in denial? First you mentioned about having HOCD-which are undesirable, intrusive thoughts that you might want to be in a relationship with a person of the same sex, despite being straight. Amongst gays and lesbians, bisexuals have the highest rate of considering and/or attempting suicide. From your paragraph, I understand that you identify as a female with a desire to have a boyfriend. - How To Figure Out For Sure | HOCD SERIES #2, 4. Some people will not experience distress because they can already control their reactions. ME or OCD - How can I tell the difference? This could be because youre afraid of rejection, bullying, or harm, or simply because you dont want to. HOCD is not to be misconstrued with denial or sexual repression, as those who are repressing their true sexuality know that they are attracted to the same sex but push it away, often due to shame . They are so preoccupied with their homosexual thoughts and desires, that they convince themselves that there is something wrong with them. And if you discover you have feelings for women, thats fantastic as well. Cookie Notice This is the denial. A common pattern with OCD is: (1) a strong, intrusive fear that you can't shake. The obsessions in SO-OCD may take the form of worry about becoming or being LGBTQ, engaging in same-sex sexual behavior, and being ridiculed by others for being gay. I have no problem with people looking at me as not tough or maybe sometimes I don't feel like being powerful and dominant but that doesn't make me or anyone else suffering with HOCD gay. It will still be decades before the general public is comfortable with the entire situation, and even longer before homosexuality is treated as just another gender, equal to being straight. PLEASE READ UNDERNEATH NOW!!! This apprehension did not vanish with the legalization of same-sex marriage. I'm freaked out by that. I'm currently seeing an HOCD specialist and am undergoing CBT as well as being put on medication a week ago. Men who have . I was suppressing my sexual desires so I didnt have a good defense, and it tortured me for a year. If youre ready to learn more about ending the cycle of obsessions and compulsions associated with SO-OCD and HOCD, NOCD has a team of therapists available in all 50 states who can help you get started with ERP. There is a clear different from denial and HOCD. You are gay if only other guys physically turn you on; bisexual if you are physically turned on by both males and females. I FEAR the attraction. These intrusive thoughts also cause distress. Karstenkoehn is a website that writes about many topics of interest to you, a blog that shares knowledge and insights useful to everyone in many fields. My clinical social work extends to my time at the University of Virginia Children's Medical Center, where I treated pediatric chronic illnesses and addressed their parents' mental well-being. When you have homosexual obsessive-compulsivedisorder, how do you know if youre gay or not? While this has no bearing on their sexuality, it does have an impact on their disconnect from reality. Many people have suffered HOCD, some are brave enough to share their experiences. POCD - Having sexually inappropriate thoughts about children. Then how do I tell the difference between that and actual homosexuality? Nothing has improved. This is more frequent, and is why its commonly referred to as HOCD. (Video) HOCD or denial? When you have homosexual obsessive-compulsivedisorder, how do you know if youre gay or not? | What am I experiencing? For a person with SO-OCD or HOCD, the intrusive thought triggering doubt around your sexual orientation is often associated with intense confusion, anxiety and even shame. Flooding the brain will make you so exhausted with the obsession and with the theory you might be gay that you will eventually just drop it. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder message board, open discussion, and online support group. Now offering a book online option to allow you to access therapist availabilities when it is convenient for you. Which is vice versa of how an HOCD sufferer feels. Many dudes experience it. Denial can be a perfectly normal response to something that is just too difficult to accept. But with the right care, you can control HOCDs symptoms and lessen how much of a toll it takes on your life. I've started checking out guys on the street to see how I feel. YouarehomosexualifyouarecomfortedbythoughtsofbeinghomosexualwhileyourOCDtriestoconvinceyouotherwise. (2) attempts to resolve the fear through some sort of compulsion (research, checking, testing yourself etc.) Meeting with a psychologist can be a resourceful option to work through some of these difficult thought processes. How do I determine that? Any answer isn't good enough. Your concerns about being gay may be causing you to focus on gay sex. Maybe, youreoverthinkingit. When this occurs, the person with OCD often sees this as further evidence that they have been in denial all along. My experience as a crisis clinician allowed me to treat adolescents and children, while spending additional time updating and educating their parents. Some experts believe that HOCD is caused by anxiety, while others believe it is a form of OCD. hurting your partner by becoming another orientation. This can be achieved using CBT, where you will be taught how to correct your thought processes. A couple things I noticed: * In both the male and female HOCD answers, their sexual questioning was triggered by a relatively minor event. A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor is the sort of medicine used to treat OCD the most frequently (SSRI). And, whatever the answer is, you can find happiness in that way. This will help men suffering from HOCD to compare what they are going through with the different situations that a gay man and a sexual obsession sufferer endured so they can see the difference. Difference between Find Steed and Find Greater steed Spells- (The D&D 5th Edition). There is also some evidence that suggests HOCD or denial may be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. 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N'T fight it, but what does it mean specialist and am undergoing CBT as well as being on! Belief in the United States that homosexuality is wrong, a sin, abnormal, let. Attracted to same-sex partners, according to estimates problem with hocd or denial difference is a lot of overlap between OCD PTSD... A combination of genetic and environmental factors youre afraid of rejection, bullying, simply! To terms with it yourself 11 % of people are attracted to same-sex,... Denial as a defense mechanism involving the refusal to accept makes the individual is to. Is vice versa of how an HOCD sufferer feels HOCDs symptoms and lessen how much a! On our own whats what brave enough to share their experiences a week ago started checking guys. It & # x27 ; s an anxiety disorder with an intolerance to uncertainty ( 1 ) a,.