Monsters in The Closet
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder affecting about 1 in 200 Americans. Sufferers have intrusive thoughts that and attempt to use obsessions or compulsions to attempt to lessen fear and anxiety. Those with OCD experience negative lifestyle alterations due to this disorder and it can affect children, teenagers and adults.
Homosexual OCD
A relatively new subcategory of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder manifestation is known as Homosexual OCD or HOCD. HOCD symptoms are not much different from regular OCD symptoms, including severe anxiety and intrusive thoughts that may go away only when compulsive behaviors are observed.
HOCD symptoms include the fear of being “turned gay”. This can be in a homophobic sense or not. HOCD itself is not a homophobic condition. The fear of sexual orientation change usually has more to do with loss of sexual identity than with actual fear of being gay. However, in homophobic individuals with HOCD, the manifestation will obviously have a homophobic slant. It’s important to note that people who identify with the gay orientation may also experience HOCD, but the fear then is that they are “turning straight” or being perceived as straight.
The fear of being seen as gay. Again, this is not necessarily a homophobic reaction, could just be persistent thoughts and feelings of being seen as gay when one is not. Compulsive behaviors may be aimed at preventing the incorrect assumption of homosexuality.
Fear that all relationship or sexual issues are indicators of sexual orientation change.
The fear of being in denial about their own sexual orientation. Obsessive thoughts may center around the thought that perhaps the HOCD sufferer is actually so closeted that they don’t even know they’re gay.
Compulsions related with HOCD
The compulsory symptoms of HOCD revolve around proving to oneself or to the outside world that you are correctly sexually identified. Mental compulsions might include the need for self-affirmations such as “I am not gay” said a certain number of times. The homophobic personality may obsess on how “gross” or “wrong” being gay would be. Obsessive mental analysis of past sexual experiences to review them for “gay signs” might be another symptom of HOCD. If you devote time to wishing that you didn’t have homosexual thoughts, this could be a symptom of HOCD.
OCD Disorders Are Severe
The most important thing to remember if you are experiencing HOCD symptoms is that there is help available. Therapy can be an excellent way to work through these issues and there are anxiety medications available that can lessen the intrusive thoughts associated with HOCD.
