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Instrutive thoughts about sexuality
Hi guys. I’ve been here multiple times during Covid time of 2020. I found an old forum about something suffering “HOCD” (just OCD with instrutive thoughts) and I decided to post there. Little did I know I’d be here secretly on a secret email all the time for the next 3 months of my life. I did not eat much or talk much to my family and vanished from the once extroverted and happy usual self I was. I was quiet. I pushed everyone away and it was one of the worst times in my life possible. I was suffering thinking about my sexuality. I’ve had sexual dreams involving intercourse purely with men that I’ve always enjoyed or found pleasurable but with women I’ve never felt the same. It’s always been uncomfortable and makes me want to struggle free from the grasp. It’s not the thought of “this is wrong” with the same sex but moreso the uncomfortable thought of having the same body against mine in intimacy. I’ve found guys attractive but also found girls really pretty or beautiful looking. I was crying thinking about how I wanted to look like Madison Beer and be those pretty celebrities and it spiraled into a “I don’t think she’s pretty I want to be with her.” Which mentally destroyed me the more I thought about it everyday. Everywhere I looked I first thought of “Oh my god she has such nice waists” which I never thought before or ever told myself, and would switch to “ugh that guy is ugly” because I kept telling myself I was lesbian from all the thoughts I had from Madison beer. When I thought this, my mind would be clumped and I couldn’t even think straight, I was just overwhelmed and it felt forced to even talk about the body of the same sex.
I’ve had this crush on a guy or talked to majority of guys and had small little bursts of “cuteness” I felt when talking or when they complimented me. One guy I still do have a massive crush on since 6th grade and now I’m in 10th. When I think of the future I see him, even though I’m nonexistent in his life now. (Used to be best friends). I never confessed though. Every time I see him now I always wonder if it’s an excuse to hide my TRUE sexuality, and I get afraid. If I think a girl is pretty and she talks to a guy or another girl, I’ve never envied the people she spoke to/liked. I’ve only ever envied the attention she’d receive for example.
I feel bad bringing this up because it feels like I should already know how I feel, but I don’t. I see my future with a man but I wonder what it’s like with a girl sometimes. I do find women attractive, for sure but sexual intimacy is never something I’d consider even if I have thought or imaged it in my head. I see a girls curves , butt or boobs and kind of wished I had them, because they look really pretty or makes them seem more feminine.
the reason why I’m so afraid of anxious is because I have a super deep voice for a female and sometimes I sound like my brothers on call. It’s not the usual high pitched voice and people have asked if I was actually a guy through online friend calls. I hate my voice and wish I had one that was more high pitched. I hate shopping, I play video games, I don’t wear make up (hate wearing it because I don’t want makeup to defy my looks I want to be confident in my own skin.) and I don’t do girly things. I’m a tomboy moreso and the way I talk is pretty tomboyish too in terms of my slang and what “the boys” would say. That made me drive into a “Oh my god I’m a lesbian” because I act that way.
The incident that also drove me to this point is this girl I met at my new school. She came up to me wanting to be friends (she’s pretty damn popular) and I thought she was pretty. She and I talked for a couple hours during the school day and she eventually Invited me to sit with her during class even though she had other friends. I guess I felt flattered by it because I never really would expect that from someone since I’m always the one approaching. Because of this little hapoy butterfly moment of excitement from a new friendship I’ve created it randomly hit me and I asked myself, “You bloody like her don’t you?” But no, I don’t. I don’t at all, oh my golly. My brain keeps telling myself that I’m in love with her and then every single girl I walk by now and every guy I see is SOOO UGLYYY is what it’s making me think even if I think the guy is super cute. It was never like this before but it randomly hit me AFTER I started thinking I was too tomboyish or seemed like a boy because of my actions I portrayed.
now, this seems all offensive towards sexuality and ect, but I’m a supporter but think I might be one which I’ve tried to open up about so that I become more comfortable and not worried of the subject. I have friends that are from the LGBTQ community that I’ve helped them COME to their understanding... of course they do it on their own since it’s a journey of self realisation but I hate that I feel this way and feel immense guilt towards my friends too. I love them, and appreciate them for coming out and understanding theirselves but I just can’t imagine myself with another woman long term and the thought of it keeps hacking into my brain...
I was fine for the entire year eventually after getting rid of the instructive thoughts but I want to vent it now and get some help before it’s too late again and I won’t be my usual self and cry everyday. I can’t cry, I need to be strong.
Thanks... : )
Comments
Wow hey! Yeah it’s been going great. I forgot the password into this account haha. I appreciate the checkup loads! I’ve been feeling much better than before. The advice that’s been given feels amazing and I’m truly grateful. I have a new issue that’s uprisen but it correlates to old problems
Hey there! We're glad to hear that you're feeling better with regards to HOCD. I see you've mentioned you've had a new issue come about. Please do feel free to create a thread about this issue for support. 😊
Hi @UnderstandingBridge sorry it took so long to reply! I saw your message a while ago and was happy to hear that you resonated with some things. It's certainly no rush to try and figure out who you are, especially not until you get out of school and then some people graduate university or get a career and still don't know!
I relate to the makeup thing too, I refused to wear it in high school. Honestly I had super low self esteem and didn't even want photos taken of me. I think not wearing makeup and wearing baggy clothes was my way of trying to be 'comfortable' in my own skin when it was really me settling for less because I didn't have the self esteem to actually find clothing and makeup I loved (well, makeup I was just disinterested in and still am struggling with). Also, as has been said already, it can be scary to try makeup on when you don't want to draw attention to yourself, particularly when if you wear it people will notice! For me something happened after I was in year 12 and had my glo up and got my freedom I guess? I've been developing my style lots since then, including dyeing my hair crazy colours etc. But I look back at photos of me at that age now and think wow, there's nothing wrong with the way I looked. Well, except for braces I guess I would just say you're still growing and your body and mind and style is still figuring itself out too!
Hello @UnderstandingBridge, sounds like things have been tough for you lately. I am sorry to hear that you have these intrusive thoughts and are sometimes unsure how to manage them. Do you have have any strategies that you use that helps with these thoughts at all? Do you have anyone that you feel comfortable talking to about what you have been going through?
Hi @UnderstandingBridge thanks for reaching out. It sounds like a really confusing and complex problem that your brain is trying to force you to solve as soon as possible- that's just my impression of the intrusiveness? I wanted to relate this to my own experience that I had when I was around your age before I realised I was asexual/bi. I remember feeling so distressed and upset that I wasn't swooning over boys like everyone else in my year, but assuming the opposite and being attracted to girls exclusively also filled me with dread because I didn't feel that much differently. Neither sat right with me. I found myself trying to find evidence either way to try and get an example, which definitely was keeping me up at night. I definitely remember finding ONE guy I was attracted to and thinking about them forever because it seemed to be a relief I guess? So I guess I was trying to prove something to myself too.
Finding asexuality as a definition gave me some respite because it gave me something to grasp onto. I wonder if finding a more defined label of possibly bisexuality leaning towards male or female attraction could help? Maybe even the romantic spectrum, for example being romantically attracted to one sex but sexually attracted to the other? Just as a way of answering your own question I guess without trying to pick every piece of evidence.
I also want to say that it's normal to be bisexual, if that's your case, and decide you don't want to be with one sex even if you're attracted to them. I have a friend who wants to have the classic nuclear family even though she is actually more attracted to women, so she dates men. Another friend is bi ace but she wants to be with a girl. Another friend doesn't know what she is attracted to fully yet at age 24. I can't fault their way of viewing their sexuality or their journey- it's such a personal thing, and it's fine to find yourself struggling to come to terms with things that everyone around you seems to accept or have sorted out for themselves.
Finally about worrying about being tomboyish, I don't think that will be a thing that has to make you date certain people if you don't mind me saying. Neither is makeup or video games or not liking shopping. I know lots of girls who don't shave their legs or don't wear makeup and never wear dresses, it's becoming a lot more common. If you're hoping to find a guy in particular who is into that, I promise there are lots who would really like to find someone who is similar to them as a partner, rather than a super feminine girl, if that makes sense? And you never know, you might find your interests change as you get older and that might introduce you to new groups and ideas and people too! As for your voice, I find that lots of people will overlook qualities that you think are dealbreakers, it will seem weird for you but it becomes up to them and not you if that makes sense! I also do know people have found ways to change their speech to sound more masculine and feminine, whether by a speech therapist or just practice by themselves. I'm not trying to say that the way to fix it is to change yourself but if it really comes to that know that you can do it Anyway I hope something I said helped, I feel like I rambled a bit!
Hey thanks for your reply! I’ve always considered myself more on the asexual spectrum and my brother sees himself “borderline asexual” (He’s heavily straight I’m certain.) that gave me closure.
I feel like I’m trying to force myself to like a specific gender or anyone because I’m 16 and have to get a life sooner. I’ve never been really attracted to anyone at all. I’ve fantasised about guys, duh hahaha and felt a butterfly sensation but sometimes with girls not really. Usually just an experiment type feeling.
ueah, a lot of girls are not following the normal societal “norms” as everything is changing now but I compare myself a lot and wish I was more like others to the point where I hype others and don’t give myself any room for improvement or help at all. I don’t like to be that girl who wants or asks for compliments so I don’t say anything, but because I don’t like to vent those thoughts out, it keeps building up.
I really appreciate your reply and everyone. I was feeling good for the past couple days and sort of pushed that thought aside and allowed myself to just be me which helped a lot. Venting and all your replies helped greatly and I’m truly appreciative of it. To answer everyone else’s questions (don’t know how to ping or pinpoint it here without replying for 25 times) I’ve been recently writing it down into forums so people can relate and I can vent and share our experiences in a positive manner with hope that things will get better. Also just pushing the thought of love out of my head and getting my life together instead. I really want to wear makeup and I think it looks really nice but I don’t know why I feel so uncomfortable with it. Uncomfortable with even trying to look good as well. I don’t like receiving compliments. I don’t like the thought of the attention on me but I want to wear makeup because it makes me feel like I would be confident. No girl boy anything type feeling, just I’m afraid and insecure I guess of putting it on because I seem so much more masculine. I also don’t like the “Omg girls night!!” Thought or saying when people say it aloud. Of course I won’t show anything but it makes me feel weird inside even though I do want to do it. I don’t know what feeling it gives me. Is it fear, or is it because I’m insecure about others and their thoughts...?
Hey @UnderstandingBridge,
It sounds like you are going through a powerful time of reflection. The topic of sexuality can definitely be a journey. It can take sometime to understand and being 16 can be confusing in many different ways. Exploring yourself as an individual can uncover many facets of yourself, which can be a rewarding process however scary. I recognise that it can be difficult to seek out help and compliments sometimes, particularly when at such a low point. It seems like you find much strength in venting and receiving feedback, as it appears to offer an opportunity to reflect and discover more about yourself.
I acknowledge the conflict you have with wearing makeup. I appreciate that you like the look of it, but have difficulty with the attention that follows. This can be especially true if you think others are thinking something about you that you do not like. I'm wondering if you trust the compliments you receive from others? Do you think that others can compliment you without wanting something from you or have an agenda?
Hi there! It's been a while... sorry! I do find a lot of happiness venting out but it's only to people I have no idea who they are because they personally don't know me. It helps a lot to vent but I can't find myself venting to someone personally in real life as I get super uncomfortable. It's indescribable. I portray a really positive and happy persona at school but when I'm in my own space all the thoughts come zooming in. I gusss when I'm with others and my mind is being tAken off of the thoughts I feel much better. Being here really helped me go through Covid and one of the darkest times in my life before though and I'm forever ghratrful.
I don't know if I trust the compliments from others... the feeling I feel is indescribable. I feel cringe, yucky, disgusting wheb people compliment me. Personality and I'm head over heels hapy but in regards to look I feel super awkward and embarrassed . It's just super weird. I don't like to be considered or seen as "manly" and the way I walk seems so gangster. Maybe it's honestly because I have huge thunder thighs and my legs rub against each other but still... I get super anxious when I don't like makeup of anything like that still
We're glad to hear the being here really helped you through COVID.
It sounds like you feel uncomfortable venting to people you know and also when receiving compliments about your looks.
We're glad that you can vent anonymously with us here.
It sounds like you are also beating yourself up about appearing manly (or believing that you appear manly), and being hard on yourself for disliking things that are stereo-typically "feminine", like makeup.
I'm wondering if you feel uncomfortable receiving compliments about your looks because you personally are having trouble accepting the way you look. I'm also wondering if you find it hard to vent to others that you know because you're afraid of judgment and of ruining this 'happy' persona that you portray. I feel like these are all incredibly common things to feel, and I believe you are not alone in feeling this way if it is the case. I also, growing up, used to find compliments incredibly awkward but have definitely begun to embrace them with age.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you might benefit from practicing self-compassion and self-acceptance. You might start by telling yourself that it is okay to have 'thunder thighs'...it is okay to not be happy all the time! If you agree - it might be worth checking out this online, self-help self-compassion program by My Digitial Health (Federation University). It is currently free and is undergoing evaluation. This workbook on self-compassion by the Center of Clinical Interventions (CCI) is also worth checking out! CCI also have a workbook on appearance concerns (and other things), which may be of use as well.
I'd recommend checking these resources out and employing some of the strategies learnt! If you do, let us know how you go with them 😊
Sending you support and love! 💓
Hey Maddy. I hate venting to people. I like to separate my personal life from people I personally know. I don’t want to be known as someone who’s “sad” or, “seems happy but is sad.” I just want to be known as myself. I disklike the stereotypes I portray myself as but I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s just the way I’ve always been. I’ve always had a deep voice and I can’t control it... it’s just me but I just beat myself up a lot. Being anonymous does help a lot since it feels personal in a less personal way.
yah you’re right though. Compliments feel superrr awkward hahaha, like I hate being hyped in my Instagram posts so I just have none. I got asked if I was ever sad by my friends because I seem to be “always the same” which I try to be. It’s like a flick of a switch in how I feel. In bustling environments rids me of my ill feelings towards myself because I’m so distracted.
. I don’t like my personal life interfering with my abilities which is why I hate feeling this way in general.
I try to tell others that they’re perfect the way They are, that they’re beautiful and not everyone will like them even if they’re were something else or someone else they currently are, so to just embrace who they want to be because you don’t need the worlds acceptance. Problem is, I can’t ever take my own advice. It’s pathetic, and I don’t know why. I just hate having a label on myself or being those... pick me girls or want validation from others to allow myself to be happy. I wanna be happy for myself. I guess that’s why I hate people knowing my personal life. I don’t think anyone in the world including the people I grew up with know a thing about how I feel except that I’ve always been so positive. I just can’t come to talk about myself. That’s why being anonymous here (even though the government probably know how I feel anyway, smh. Not like they’d care of something. Haha)
but yeah, small update I guess. I’ll check out the stuff you sent though, thanks a lot 🙂
It can be hard to just be yourself around many people and there's nothing wrong with having a deep voice at all. Everyone is different. Don't be so hard on yourself.
It's actually pretty common for people to not take compliments very well. It takes some practice to receive a compliment well haha
As hard as it can be do take your own advice, as many of us struggle with, lets keep trying to be kinder to ourselves also in the process. Happiness isn't a destination or something you can get externally. It is definitely something we keep working on for ourselves. Also remember that happiness is an emotion and emotions are not constant. So it is okay to not be okay at times and then feel okay other times.
This space is where you are more than welcome to express yourself.
We are here for that support!
Yeah, definitely... I would like to get into voice acting to feel half better about yself but i just can't. It's just that instrutitive thought of, 'oH i'M SO masculine so im secretly a male.' My personality, the way i act, behave is just like a normal teen boy, but I just don't like that. I don't like assosciating with words like 'Pretty, beautiful, dress, daughter' because I feel like i shouldn't be proud to be those things as I act so masculine. I just wish i could assosciae myself positively with it because those words make me happy, but then it's that after feeling of, 'Oh... but am i really when i act like this...?' 'Am I really pretty, beautiful, a 'daughter' when i act just like a brother?' I grew up with 2 brothers I really look up to which may probably have made me develop this thought process but it honestly sucks. My parents buy me stuff and I feel so invalid still that I am underserving of those goods because i'm not who they think i am, when really i do know who i am.
I try to convince myself i'm a pretty girl, and when i look back at old photos i feel so... pretty (back when i was skinnier. i've gained alot through eating LOL, unhealthy at the moment but i'm tryna work back on losing some weight to get back.) and i feel so perfect, or in par with who i am. now it's just so... muddled and i'm so confused and feel so ugly and seeing myself as a male makes me so disgusted and sad because i know that's now who i want to be and know i'm not. it just hurts.
Hey @UnderstandingBridge, I can hear how difficult this situation has been for you. Throughout your posts, you have compared some masculine and feminine terms which seems to create some distress for you as you feel a bit of mismatch in associating with them. I am wondering if it be helpful for you to use more neutral language? Rather than it being about being a 'pretty girl', it could be about being a 'beautiful person'. You could also try to reframe some of your thoughts around these words. For example, anyone can be pretty, beautiful or wear a dress 😀
Hi @UnderstandingBridge! I don't think you've talked to me before, but anyway nice to meet you! I've been reading everything you've said. Umm, I'm gonna say some stuff but I have no idea if it'll help. Ok, here goes. I think you're perfect how you are, everyone is different. I hate make-up a lot, but I'm not really a tomboy. I'm probably definitely girly heh. But sometimes, I don't know, why I seem like a guy or feel like one if that makes any sense.... And whenever i played lego with my bro, I was always usually a guy and had to sound like one. I loved it. If you have a deep voice then that's fine! My brother is like a girl, and he sure does scream like one, lol. Don't beat yourself up. You have no need to! I can't take my own advice too! I'm such a hypocrite, if that's the word. You should embrace the way you are. Because you're perfect just the way you are. 😁 Don't know if any of this helps, but I hope you don't feel bad or offended by any of it.
Awe, Hi AngelJoy! It's a pleasure to have you even speak to me, and i am very thankful and glad. Yeah I get alot of where you are coming from though, sometimes i just feel too masucline and then get into a constant instrutive circle of, 'I litrally am secretly a man.' and i get super anxious and sad. I love legos, anything to do with 'boy toys', but it's all honestly just because I love being creative and whatnot. I'll try not to beat myself up too much. I'm glad you're also a hypcorite just as I am! Makes it easier to understand each other haha It does help me, and i appreciate your kind words. It makes me feel more in par with someone to say the least. 🙂
Hiii. Lol, a pleasure to even speak to me? What, am I famous? Haha. I thought I was the only one who felt this way, thank goodness I found someone else who does. I got rid of all my lego now. 😬 I've grown out of it, I'm into drawing instead how. So I got a desk in my room. Well, if you ever need any help or anything I'll be here. You just have to tell me.
@UnderstandingBridge it sounds like these thoughts have been taking a toll on you. Something that could help is to journal your thoughts and feelings to try to determine the why behind them. Have you found anything to help you to cope?
I personally do not know too much about this so i hope that some others respond that know more but I wanted to suggest that maybe it could be worth doing some more research to try to gain a better understanding as this could help you to decide for yourself what your sexuality is (and what if anything are you doing to do, come out?) and how to cope with these intrusive thoughts, Here are some videos I found to get you started https://youtu.be/A5Vxc3iMPng
Hi! It does take a big toll on me and I think about it at least once a day. I haven't found a reason except being anxious and letting my thoughts get into my head which drives me down a spiral of unhappiness. I don't really see a future with anyone except being solo or having a really close friend. I do have this crush on this dude in my year level who I always happen to be looking at even though I try not to. I'm just afraid my voice is too deep, my body is too big, my arms are too broad that he won't want to like me or have any interest in me at all
It shouldn't matter about that. If they don't appreciate you for how you are then they're not right for you. Never change for anyone.
Hey @UnderstandingBridge... Im so sorry that youre struggling with these difficult thoughts. Sexuality can be a complex issue at the best of times. Its great though that youre so self reflective and wanitng to learn about yourself. The good news here is that regardless of your sexuality: There is no right or wrong! The LGBTQI community is also very accepting of all people with all body shapes , which might be worth reminding yourself when youre feeling anxious or self conscious. If the thoughts become too difficult in the day, it mihgt be helpful to try and get out of your head for a bit and do something active as a form of positive distraction! 🙂