Anna Freud has referred to denial as a defense mechanism involving the refusal to accept reality and thus blocking external events from awareness. That thought haunts them every day and is always with them. If you think you may have HOCD or denial, it is important to remember that you are not alone. It really is as simple as that. Defense mechanisms are strategies that people use to cope with distressing feelings. All types of OCD include obsessions and compulsions. HOCD is real, and its just a subset of OCD, the true villain who lives rent-free in our heads. Anxiety is what drives HOCD, whereas denial is what drives it. Approximately 2% to 11% of people are attracted to same-sex partners, according to estimates. HOCD is a form of OCD. It is different nowadays. Introduction: My name is Nathanael Baumbach, I am a fantastic, nice, victorious, brave, healthy, cute, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you. Gays are hiding because they are afraid of being rejected. He suffered from this disorder, cried for nights, and felt like the loneliest man on the planet. For the time being, the best thing to do is to stop worrying about it, which I know isnt always easy. These intrusive thoughts also cause distress. However, this becomes an issue only after youve accepted yourself. People with OCD give significance to intrusive thoughts, which can quickly become obsessions. 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. But for some people, denial becomes a permanent way of life. Am I refusing to face the facts? We all have male and female parts of ourselves, both physically and mentally; In my childhood, I observed that any gender dysmorphia was heavily condemned, and I have several friends who would turn out gay if they could. Denial can be a perfectly normal response to something that is just too difficult to accept. What is the distinction between homosexual Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (HOCD) and denial or being in the closet? Nothing has improved. Homosexual obsessive compulsive disorder (HOCD) is a subtype of sexual orientation obsessive compulsive disorder (SO-OCD). 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). I know for a fact Im attracted to females but the fact that Im even questioning myself in the first place makes me feel like there has to be something there. You noted that you dont want to be in a same-sex relationship because you are Christian. It knows it bothers you and wants you to obsess about it. I now specialize in OCD and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. 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. Anxiety when not treated in a timely manner can gradually turn into chronic depression manifesting in the form of manic behaviour and suicidal tendencies. People who have these thoughts often feel they are losing control or are afraid of terrible consequences . Many people suffer from this condition, and there are ways to cope with it. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where you experience obsessive often uncontrollable anxious thoughts with frequent compulsions in response to those thoughts. Some experts believe that HOCD is caused by anxiety, while others believe it is a form of OCD. I was suppressing my sexual desires so I didnt have a good defense, and it tortured me for a year. Sometimes, medications are used to treat conditions like OCD and PTSD. Reviewing your day or week to feel sure that at no time did you feel attracted to someone of your own sex. That associated with the fear of being rejected by society, having watched a homosexual individual get bullied or teased or having failed relationships/ bad experiences with people of the opposite sex can act as triggers to the condition. Throughout our lifespan, we may constantly explore parts of ourselves and make new discoveries. Is it HOCD or am I denying my homosexuality? When I started treating OCD, I quickly realized how much this type of work means to me because I had to learn how to be okay with discomfort and uncertainty myself. Preoccupation with one's level of arousal toward either sex. They manipulate the medical community into making this diagnosis solely to justify their self-hatred. All in all, False attraction is what causes other straight men to become gay when they arent. 34D, 34B and 34C cup- Whats the difference? The problem with HOCD is that you cannot stop questioning it. HOCD or any other mental health issue cannot be cured entirely, in other words you cant get rid of HOCD permanently. Many gay men struggle with this as well, for a variety of reasons. (3) possible short-term relief due to the compulsions, but it doesn't last and over time gets worse. Only ten minutes after I had started reading the most recent posts, however, I realized that something was wrong: The folks with gay fears were clearly not gay. As hard as that sounds that's the only way out. Couldn't repair the damage. While pedophilia itself is defined as sexual attraction to children, pedophilia OCD or POCD is a subtype of OCD that causes fears or worries that one might be a pedophile. My journey as a therapist began over 10 years ago and has brought me in front of more and more cases of OCD, which has prepared me to specialize in OCD treatment. Is HOCD Just Denial?? Privacy Policy. Out of all the approaches to OCD treatment that I've used, I find Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy to be the most effective. This is called the state of denial or being in the closet. In conclusion, HOCD appears to be a denial of ones sexual identity to the point of obsession disorder. Please and thank you. But even if you do have feelings for other guys, its not a total disaster. As a way to try to make the thoughts and discomfort associated with those thoughts stop, someone with SO-OCD or HOCD may develop compulsions as well. This is the question I get asked the most. We are ready to support you both in person and online! and our Antidepressants of the SSRI class might lessen obsessive thinking and elevate mood. Accept that sexuality is natural and that gay feelings are normal and not a bad thing. There are some notable differences between the two. The subjects often experience intrusive, unwanted mental ima. HOCD, on the other hand, is obsessional thinking about whether or not you are gay, even when you are 100% sure that you are not. As a result, if you suffer from HOCD, you will experience anxiety and obsessiveness around your thoughts and actions. The conversations are more common to occur in locker rooms. Understandably, the thought of discussing your sexual concerns with a complete stranger may be uncomfortable. HOCD can be a very debilitating condition, leading to social isolation, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. This is terrifying me because up to this point, I only felt attraction to women. Contact us today to schedule an online therapy or download our free OCD treatment app on Android or iOS for more information. Don't hesitate to ask for help from loved ones. Dr. Valentine utilizes behavioral-based therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing anxiety-related disorders. And, whatever the answer is, you can find happiness in that way. I eventually got over it, but Im still not gay and despise homosexual sex. Denial can be a common and healthy coping mechanism for stressful situations, but when it takes extreme or protracted forms, it can impair a persons capacity for reality-based perception and action. 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. This is just a phase theyre going through.. All in all, you can figure it out through online sources as well. But how do I know if I actually have HOCD or am simply in denial? For over 2 years, I have been experiencing intrusive gay thoughts. Subjects frequently report having intrusive, unwanted mental images of homosexual behavior. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The difference between HOCD and denial or homosexuality must be made. I'm freaked out by that. Or am I just in denial.. Is It ROCD Or Am I Not In Love? They are however "LGBTQIA+ friendly therapists" and are open, welcoming, and supportive towards LGBTQIA+ people. That is romance. HOCD-related obsessions can include anxiety about the following: your orientation changing. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for HOCD and can help you learn to manage your anxiety and live a full life. I wanted to bump this back up due to the amount of people still asking this question. Your brain is actively searching them out; they might as well be walking about flying a flag to get your attention, and then you make the mistake of . 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. Many straight men are afraid of being gay. Am I denying my feelings about the situation? As of right now I don't feel much of a difference since I only started with this therapy a few weeks ago but I have all my trust in this. Coins 0 coins Premium Powerups Talk Explore. But somewhere it is believed too. Mindfulness is a form of awareness of the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours with non-judgement. How can you be gentle with yourself through your discoveries? However, there are some key differences between the two conditions. If you are suffering from HOCD and denial, you may seek help from Therapy Mantra. Mindfulness practices can be used to tolerate distress. 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