Leigh Randa, PhD

Therapy with A Positive Belief in You.

Homosexual OCD: Understanding This Complex Form of Anxiety

In obsessive compulsive disorder, “obsessions” are persistent unwanted and intrusive thoughts that a person struggles to avoid. Often the thoughts are focused on something the person fears about themselves. For example, an obsession may be about getting sick (contamination), sinning, or leaving the stove on.

One “obsession” may be the fear of being a homosexual, sometimes referred to as “homosexual OCD” or “HOCD.” It refers to constant unwanted and intrusive recurring thoughts of being gay, including graphic mental images of performing sexual acts with members of the same sex.

Are Those With HOCD Gay?

A person with homosexual obsessive compulsive disorder is not gay/lesbian. They are almost always heterosexual. In some cases, the person may have been raised in an environment that judges homosexuality as wrong or immoral in some way. That is why the “obsession” about being gay leads to anxious thoughts and behaviors.

It is possible for someone that does not have prejudices about homosexuality to also struggle with HOCD as well. In those cases, the anxious thoughts are often caused by feeling they do not understand themselves.

What Are The Symptoms of HOCD?

Homosexual OCD tends to come with behaviors, known as compulsions, that make it hard for a person to come to terms with their own heterosexuality. That is because those with HOCD often perform “checking” behaviors to make sure they are straight. Examples include:

  • Watching gay pornography to see if they get aroused.
  • Trying to imagine themselves in homosexual acts.
  • Looking at members of the same sex to see if any attraction occurs.

The person then tries to gauge their sexuality based on their behaviors, ultimately leading to more stress and anxiety. HOCD can also become more pronounced over time, as this obsession/compulsion cycle can reinforce the stress it causes.

Treatment for HOCD

Those that struggle with homosexual OCD can find relief with effective obsessive compulsive treatments. These treatments are focused on helping you overcome these obsessions, reduce the anxiousness associated with fearing sexual orientation, and preventing compulsive checking behaviors.

If you believe you may struggle from HOCD, please call Dr. Leigh Anne Randa today at 858.224.3767. Dr. Randa serves the Kansas City and the surrounding towns.

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