Question on OCD, HOCD in general.

With HOCD does your brain know you aren't gay, but takes you to the point that you believe it, just to get you to obsess, and compulse over it? I know OCD is based on fear. So, whether the fear seems legitimate or not to others it is real to your mind.

Another thing, I see all these 15 and 16 year old kids that are absolutely sure they aren't gay. If they are sure of that, why are they asking? I thought ocd was the doubting disease? There are times when I can tell myself I'm not gay, then there are just as many if not more times I tell myself I must be gay. I'm just never sure, am I the only one?

You're right about OCD being the doubting disease, but here's why. The part of your brain that controls anxiety is twisted with OCD. If you run into let's say a bear, your body will produce anxiety to protect you, your brain sees seeing a bear dangerous. Now with OCD, your brain will produce anxiety when you have a thought, it will tell your brain that the thought you're having is dangerous and needs to be taken care of. This is where reassurance comes in, when you say sometimes you feel you aren't gay and can tell you aren't, then some days you think you are. This is probably because you seek reassurance and your anxiety goes down, your brain is happy, until the thoughts come back and your brain needs it again and again. Reassurance seeking is never the answer to OCD, because thoughts aren't dangerous.

Can OCD make you believe that you're gay, even though all the evidence is to the contrary? It's like, I should know I'm straight, but I can't convince my mind of it. Can constantly looking for reassurance lead you to a point, where reassurance is harder to find, or near impossible?

nowthisisstupid wrote:Can OCD make you believe that you're gay, even though all the evidence is to the contrary? It's like, I should know I'm straight, but I can't convince my mind of it. Can constantly looking for reassurance lead you to a point, where reassurance is harder to find, or near impossible?

yes this is why you do ERP therapy.