Will a therapist tell you your gay

Clients who didn’t know me frequently came up to me asking gleefully whether I was gay. Unfortunately, engaging in compulsive behaviors only provides temporary relief, and actually reinforces the idea that every time an obsession arises, one must engage in a compulsion in order to make it okay.

We're here to help. What is my sexuality? A trained mental health therapist can help you in dealing with issues like depression and anxiety that may arise. Here is a brief example. Although no one can define your sexuality for you, we can help you understand some of the reasons that you might be grappling with your sexuality, as well as how to get help and learn to accept uncertainty about your identity.

These are examples of compulsions : repetitive physical or mental acts that a person feels compelled to engage in to relieve the distress they feel about not knowing their sexuality and try to achieve certainty about it. While it’s understandable if you want to be “sure” about your sexuality and sexual identity, it’s quite normal to be unsure, to go through changes with your sexuality over time, and to question what you once believed was true about yourself.

As a result, many people feel unsure about how they identify, or they become overwhelmed by the many ways to explain their sexuality. This is just one example of how ERP therapy works. Say you are struggling with the idea that you could be gay and have to leave your partner.

While traditional talk therapy effectively treats many mental health issues, it can potentially be counterproductive for SO-OCD. Others may compulsively watch porn as a way of confirming or disproving their doubts about their sexuality , or compulsively date in order to prove to themselves that their sexual orientation is accurate.

Although this comment may feel helpful, for someone struggling with OCD, it may only feed their compulsive need for reassurance. However, discussing your sexuality, sexual orientation, or gender identity may lead to better, more comprehensive care. Instead of feeling empowered to explore their sexuality with a blank slate, they are filled with dread when thoughts of sexual identity arise.

But my coming out did more than that. For other questions, contact us. But what happens when these doubts consume your life? But to tell you the truth, this is not an uncommon predicament. Or, they might fear that their sexual orientation could abruptly change e.

People with SO-OCD experience intrusive thoughts, images, sensations, or urges related to their sexuality, most often triggering doubt or uncertainty. Reach out to us. You don't have to come out to your doctor. Knowing that your struggle is real, normal, and a part of figuring out who you are is important.

I made my identity common knowledge, and I started running a therapeutic group for LGBTQ clients. If you are open about your sexuality and gender identity with your therapist, you may be able to start working with them to identify ways in which your experiences as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, both positive and negative, have shaped the person you have become.

The idea behind ERP is that by purposely exposing yourself to triggers and then preventing yourself from engaging in your compulsions—which is made easier by working with a trained ERP therapist—you teach yourself a new way to respond, without reinforcing the vicious cycle of OCD.

Kris engages in compulsive behaviors like reassurance-seeking asking friends if their relationship seems stable and avoidance not going on Facebook. I didn’t just come out to Jay; I came out as a therapist. In fact, uncertainty is the reality that everyone—with or without OCD—has to live in!

However, there is no definitive time by which people know. Sexuality is defined in many ways and using many terms. If you find yourself experiencing doubts or uncertainty about your sexuality, you might feel very alone. Sexuality is the subject of political debates, family feuds, church sermons—and, sadly, often the reason behind bullying and self-harm.

Someone with SO-OCD may experience fears around being perceived as having a certain sexual orientation, such as gay, bi, or straight.