Mental health providers must carefully navigate treatment for OCD is sexual minorities, as to not reinforce shame and stigma surrounding intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors related to sexual identity. Simultaneously, providers should not overpathologize all rumination, as it may be a normative stage in sexual identity development.

Cleveland State University

Sexual minorities with OCD are more likely to have intrusive thoughts that carry internal and external shame and stigma when compared to the heterosexual population. As sexual minorities are already vulnerable to social shame and stigma due to minority stress, these unacceptable intrusive thoughts may hold more importance due to the fear of further negative attention.

Shame and Stigma Surrounding Obsessive Thoughts in Sexual Minorities with OCD

Pinciotti, C. M., & Orcutt, H. K. (2021). Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in sexual minorities. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 8(4), 487–495. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000437 

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