OCD Sexuality and Homosexuality

OCD sexuality may be characterized by specific obsessions like homosexuality. When this happens, it can be difficult for the person to distinguish between, say, having the disorder and being gay. So how can a person tell the difference between OCD sexuality and homosexuality?

OCD Sexuality – 10 Characteristics of Homosexual OCD

If you answer yes to any or several of the following questions, then you're more likely to have OCD sexuality issues rather than being homosexual.

1. Do you have doubts about your sexuality?
2. Do you often have intrusive, unwanted thoughts about your being gay?
3. Do you find yourself unable to get rid of these intrusive thoughts?
4. Does seeing a person of the same gender as you trigger unwanted thoughts on being gay?
5. Do you avoid people of the same gender as you because you end up being anxious or fearing that you'll start having these thoughts?
6. Are you constantly worried that you may be showing signs that you're gay?
7. Do you repeat certain actions simply because you fear that you performed them the first time in a "gay" way? (For instance, OCD sexuality issues may compel you stand up and sit back down in a way you feel is more masculine than the first time. Another example of an OCD sexuality condition is if you always worry that the way you walk looks gay.)
8. Does repeating the action momentarily take away your anxiety? (With OCD sexuality, you may need to repeat the compulsion several times because the anxiety keeps coming back.)
9. Do you strongly feel that being gay is totally opposed to your desires and values? (OCD sexuality involves thoughts that you deem inappropriate or unacceptable.)
10. Do homosexual thoughts repulse rather than arouse you?

OCD Sexuality – 5 Signs That You May Not Be Suffering from the Disorder

If you answer yes to the following, then you probably don't have the disorder.

1. Are you attracted to the same sex, even secretly?
2. Do you have sexual encounters with the same sex?
3. Do you prefer persons of the same gender as you for sex or dating?
4. Do you feel comfortable with sex or dating partners of both genders?
5. Do homosexual thoughts give you pleasure, even secretly?

It's true that homosexual people experience some distress or anxiety connected to their sexual preference.

However, most of these are caused more by social stigma or fear of being discriminated against (or even the difficulty in finding partners) than the repulsive feelings associated with OCD sexuality.