Privacy Policy. 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. I dont want comments telling me to accept this cause thats what I DONT want. Denial, on the other hand, is more about not wanting to accept that youre gay or lesbian. This may be because they are constantly thinking about their fear or because they are avoiding people and situations that trigger their anxiety. HOCD can feel very real if you let the obsession take over. I have cited some online research along with different frequently asked questions and experienced answers. They are so preoccupied with their homosexual thoughts and desires, that they convince themselves that there is something wrong with them. Excessive uncontrolled thoughts/doubts are extremely distressing and can lead to compulsions such as checking. (Facts). Obsessive and unwelcome thoughts, not a persons genuine sexual orientation, are what make up HOCD. Many gay men struggle with this as well, for a variety of reasons. Harm OCD is a subset of classic obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Thats just having issues with your orientation. 1. denying their true feelings to others or themselves. Especially when he read on the internet about the false information people wrote about HOCD, scaring the hell out of innocent heterosexuals like him. Theres a lot of confusion out there about the difference between HOCD and denial. Its too soon for a label while youre still figuring things out. Is HOCD Just Denial?? This is a thread in another sub that I posted describing how the entire shitstorm started: https://www.reddit.com/r/bisexual/comments/7vfza0/majorly_confused/. Engaging in compulsive behaviors like checking, reassurance-seeking, or avoidance, Doubting their sexual identity and seeking reassurance from others, Avoiding situations that might trigger their thoughts, Suppressing their true sexual orientation. For example, someone may deny that they have a problem with alcohol even though their drinking has caused problems in their life. From your paragraph, I understand that you identify as a female with a desire to have a boyfriend. They arent afraid to be gay. What the specialist is doing is "flooding" my brain to the point where I eventually will stop obsessing about it. We are ready to support you both in person and online! In your heart of hearts, at your very core, if your comfortable with and know you are , straight, then your straight. * Those with HOCD thoughts were already deeply struggling with other areas of OCD. Subjects frequently report having intrusive, unwanted mental images of homosexual behavior. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder message board, open discussion, and online support group. Also I have nothing against the LGBT+ community - just that I don't identify with it! We are here to help! Learn more about our services and book today! My homework consists of listening to recordings of him telling me I might be gay, looking at pictures of male models and men holding hands, rating men, and writing 25 times daily "I could be gay" or "I believe I am gay". PLEASE READ UNDERNEATH NOW!!! There are some notable differences between the two. There are many potential causes of HOCD and Denial. Typical HOCD symptoms include: Currently suffering from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) Recurring unwanted or intrusive thoughts about your own sexuality. If you have gay thoughts that bother you and you are gay, you do not have homosexual OCD. The good news is that both HOCD and denial are treatable conditions. Last Updated on April 11, 2023 by Mike Robinson. HOCD Test - Do You Have HOCD? Mindfulness practices can be used to tolerate distress. Any answer isn't good enough. Or, someone may deny that they are angry even though they lash out at others frequently. Nothing has improved. I found out about HOCD by myself, when I read about it once and it seemed to describe my situation to a T(Oh yeah I'm contantly reading and searching for stuff too). 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. Denial HOCD (Harm OCD) and Denial are two different types of mental health and behavioral disorders that are characterized by fear, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive thoughts. HOCD vs. To be clear, the therapists mentioned on this page are not necessarily an LGBTQIA+ individual themselves. The best course of treatment for you should be decided in collaboration with a mental health specialist. When something is too difficult to accept or goes against ones ideas or ideals, denial is a coping method that entails rejecting or blotting it out. These intrusive thoughts also cause distress. They may also try to compulsively engage in activities that counter the obsessions, such as straight men who overcompensate by watching hetero porn or avoiding all contact with members of the same sex. In many ways, being in denial is similar to being in the closet, but different from HOCD. This is called the state of denial or being in the closet. Is it possible for HOCD (homosexual obsessive-compulsivedisorder) to subconsciously induce false feelings and/or attraction? Many gay men struggle with this as well, for a variety of reasons. I really see the difference here, you have never FEARED the attraction, you loved the attraction, despite not being able to admit it to others. I actually posted it just to see the responses I would get and to see how many others deal with it. Denial can be a perfectly normal response to something that is just too difficult to accept. Instead of fighting what you fear, agree with it, face it first hand. Here at ANZPath, we highly recommend talking to a HOCD therapist and. (2) attempts to resolve the fear through some sort of compulsion (research, checking, testing yourself etc.) Avoiding situations that might reveal their true sexual orientation. HOCD causes immense distress and confusion for individualsboth from the obsessions and from their efforts to suppress and ignore them. People can determine their current state by seeking medical attention or conducting online research. People with OCD give significance to intrusive thoughts, which can quickly become obsessions. Another key difference between HOCD and denial is that HOCD is focused on doubting your sexual orientation, while denial is about accepting it. This is called the state of denial or being in the closet. All in all, you can figure it out through online sources as well. The primary difference between the two is that individuals with HOCD experience unwanted and intrusive thoughts about their sexual orientation, while individuals in denial suppress their true sexual orientation. In addition to this book, our clinic has therapists who are specially trained to treat OCD, HOCD, and other subgroups of the disorder. Sometimes because a woman doesnt seem to turn on by women and men dont seem to turn on by men. These are some differences, did you like them? In addition to seeking professional help, individuals can also learn coping mechanisms to manage their anxiety and improve their mental health. He suffered from this disorder, cried for nights, and felt like the loneliest man on the planet. Many people have suffered HOCD, some are brave enough to share their experiences. They might have accepted their true sexual orientation but denied it to others or themselves due to external or internal factors. 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. Copyright 2022 MantraCare Corporation | All Rights Reserved. Sexual orientation OCD (HOCD). Seeking professional help and support can also help individuals learn coping mechanisms to manage their anxiety and improve their relationships. And if you discover you have feelings for women, thats fantastic as well. I think about this literally all the time, and it's very negatively impacting every area of my life. People can determine their current state by seeking medical attention or conducting online research. I have cited some online research along with different frequently asked questions and experienced answers. Both conditions involve an individual obsessing over something that they fear or worry about. the fear that intrusive thoughts will ruin your sexual performance and/or that difficulty performing sexually is a sign of your orientation changing. HOCD and denial are two distinct conditions with different causes and symptoms. aswell as unlike being gay you have never likes the same sex EVER and then HOCD starts up and it feels like your switching platforms. Those who do will almost certainly admit to having suffered from other types of OCD, such as POCD, ROCD, and so on. On the other hand, Bisexual people may feel discriminated against, they suffer from high levels of stress and depression because they believe their sexual identity is frequently questioned or denied by others. Were here when you need us! Our test help you understand and handle your OCD better. In CBT, you will collaborate with a therapist to pinpoint the unhelpful ideas and convictions that fuel your HOCD and challenge them, as well as to create coping mechanisms to deal with the intrusive thoughts and lessen anxiety. How does your religion view individuals within the LGBTQ community? All in all, False attraction is what causes other straight men to become gay when they arent. But now i get it.Everytime i find an argue against my "homosexuality" it lasts only about an hour. 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. Before we delve deeper into the differences between HOCD and denial, let us first understand what these terms mean. We will show you! 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. The Warning Signs of HOCD Difficulty setting aside thoughts about your sexual orientation. Questioning your sexual orientation is incredibly common . Diminished attraction to the opposite sex. I've been struggling with this issue for about a few months now. Those are both terrible fears to have. Compulsions & urges due to OCD? Meeting with a psychologist can be a resourceful option to work through some of these difficult thought processes. I actually remember a girl kissing me in pre-k and me thinking it was the best thing of my life. In this blog post, we will discuss the differences between HOCD and denial and how to tell if you are suffering from OCD. https://www.reddit.com/r/bisexual/comments/7vfza0/majorly_confused/. A person in denial about their alcoholism may compulsively check the liquor cabinet or drink in secret. (Video) HOCD or denial? Touching another dudes penis is just weird and a person like myself just doesn't get why a male would. My feelings are up and down on this. If youre not sure whether youre suffering from HOCD or denial, some key differences between the two can help you figure it out. That is romance. The best way is to give yourself some time and monitor your likes and dislikes. This might mean avoiding TV shows or movies with homosexual content, steering clear of conversations about sexuality, and even avoiding being around people who identify as LGBTQ. Unwanted thoughts also occur in this state. Great post man. These are just a few of the key differences between HOCD and denial. Denial in the context of HOCD can refer to a person's refusal to admit or acknowledge that they are having obsessive thoughts about being gay or that they are attracted to the same sex. Simple denial While this has no bearing on their sexuality, it does have an impact on their disconnect from reality. 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