I'm Aaid That I'm Gay | Psychology Today

Contents:

• HOCD – HOMOSEXUAL OCD OR THE FEAR OF BEG GAY
• YOU’RE NOT GAY: HOMOSEXUALY ANXIETY OCD
• 'HOMOSEXUAL OCD': STRAIGHT MEN WHO SPECT THEY ARE GAY
• I'M AAID THAT I'M GAY
• MEET THE STRAIGHT MEN WHO ARE TERRIFIED THEY ARE GAY

HOCD – HOMOSEXUAL OCD OR THE FEAR OF BEG GAY

“HOCD”, short for “Homosexual OCD”, is the term ed for a theme of Obssive Compulsive Disorr which the sufferer has obssns—unwanted tsive thoughts—surroundg their sexual orientatn. I will be g the term “HOCD” throughout this article to discs obssns of those who intify as heterosexual and have relentls doubts about whether or not they are gay. A more reprentative way to scribe the obssns is “Sexual Orientatn OCD” bee OCD n latch onto anyone’s sexualy, whether that be someone who intifi as gay or queer or asexual.

Furthermore, as sexual obssns of OCD n be about perverse ntent (fear that one is a pedophile or unwanted thoughts about ct), the term “Homosexual OCD” impli that homosexualy is perverse.

YOU’RE NOT GAY: HOMOSEXUALY ANXIETY OCD

The way many clients scribe is that they had a good sense of their heterosexual orientatn and then randomly had an tsive thought such as “what if you’re gay? HOCD is not to be misnsted wh nial or sexual reprsn, as those who are reprsg their te sexualy know that they are attracted to the same sex but ph away, often due to shame that om livg a heteronormative and homophobic world. It is a touchy subject among OCD sufferers and therapists alike who proclaim that HOCD is not homophobia.

While HOCD is not sexual reprsn, is not accurate to say that every person wh HOCD is not homophobic. “I have HOCD and I’m not homophobic but I would tell my kid that they should not act on their sir if they were gay.

'HOMOSEXUAL OCD': STRAIGHT MEN WHO SPECT THEY ARE GAY

“I have HOCD and jt bee I am not fortable wh or don’t agree wh one’s sexual preference don’t make me homophobic. All of the people above may have HOCD but that do not erase the blatant homophobia.

It is important to weed out what is what bee addn to hurtg the LGBTQIA+ muny, ternalized homophobia may be keepg those wh HOCD further stuck.

An OCD specialist n addrs unrlyg, or sometim overt, homophobia by askg the sufferer why their tsive thoughts bother them so much. It is important to note that not everyone wh HOCD is homophobic and that the tsive thoughts are not a choice.

I'M AAID THAT I'M GAY

It is equally important to acknowledge homophobia that is prent among some OCD sufferers bee nyg the existence of homophobia perpetuat s existence. The realy is that we live a very heteronormative world, which is reflected through mastream media showsg heterosexual relatnships, lack of diversy polics, relig groups that nounce homosexualy and claim—wh zero evince—that gay folks will go to hell, and laws that enable discrimatn agast the LGBTQIA+ muny.

While may not be the dividual’s flt for ternalizg homophobia, is up to them to undo what has been tght—OCD sufferer or not.

OCD specialists spend a lot of time advotg for and protectg the OCD muny, which is why so many are quick to note that HOCD is not homophobia. Instead of sayg is the “fear of beg gay when one is straight”, scribe for what really is: the fear of not knowg one’s te sexual orientatn. Changg the language we e and ensurg that homophobia is not reflected our practic will protect the OCD muny as a whole.

MEET THE STRAIGHT MEN WHO ARE TERRIFIED THEY ARE GAY

People who experience homosexual OCD may experience obssns surroundg the uncertaty of their attractn or potential attractn to people of their same genr. In the past, some have ed the term “Homosexual OCD” to refer to them wh Sexual Orientatn OCD that volve doubts or tsive thoughts about attractn to people of the same genr, ntrary to one’s own inty.