Sexual Intrusive Thoughts

By Monnica Williams, Ph.D., ABPP

Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts, impulses, or mental images that cause anxiety, and stress. They can also make it hard to carry out everyday responsibilities at work, at school, or in the home. These thoughts may focus on the fear of committing an act a person considers harmful, violent, immoral, sexually inappropriate, or sacrilegious. The person does not want to act on these thoughts (although the OCD may attempt to persuade the person that there is a chance), and these thoughts bring no pleasure, causing extreme distress.

Sexual Intrusive Thoughts consist of unwanted sexual thoughts. This may include fears related to one’s sexual orientation or what others might think. It may also contain mental imagery of sexual behaviors that the individual finds immoral or abhorrent. The person may fear committing a harmful sexual act or being sexually aggressive. Individuals with OCD may even suffer from unwanted intrusive thoughts about committing a sexual act with a child. This is not the same as having a sexual fantasy, being a pedophile, or being homophobic.

Examples of sexual intrusive thoughts:

Recurrent fears of sexual acts with a child
Recurrent worries about having a different sexual orientation
Repetitive thoughts of touching someone inappropriately on impulse
Unwanted sexual thoughts or images involving animals
Distressing thoughts about sex involving religious figures

DISCLAIMER: The content found here is intended to serve as educational content and is not intended to replace therapy. For treatment-related questions, please be sure to work with your local provider or contact a local clinician.

Additional Resources:

Psychology Today Article

Videos: Sexual Intrusive Thoughts

Choose a title below to view related OCD videos

Sexual intrusive thoughts

Chad Wetterneck, PhD, discusses sexual intrusive thoughts and how they occur in a variety of ways. Common ways include doubting whether or not your sexual orientation is what it really is and imaging yourself acting on what you consider an unwanted impulse.

Fear of sexual intrusive thoughts

Chad Wetterneck, PhD, discusses the fears associated with sexual intrusive thoughts. One of the fears is wondering whether or not you would act on an unwanted impulse. Another fear is wondering what type of person does this make you if you are thinking this way.

Example of sexual intrusive thoughts

Chad Wetterneck, PhD, provides an example of a sexual intrusive thought. It is important to practice exposing yourself in order the alleviate symptoms.

Stigma around sexual intrusive thoughts

Chad Wetterneck, PhD, discusses the stigma around sexual intrusive thoughts. This condition often becomes under-diagnosed, and there is a double layer of stigma associated with sexual intrusive thoughts. The first layer is mental health, and the second layer is a topic that is not frequently discussed in culture, such as sex.

Sexual intrusive thoughts vs. fantasy

Chad Wetterneck, PhD, discusses the difference between sexual intrusive thoughts and fantasy. sexual intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts. Fantasy thoughts bring pleasure.

ERP with sexual intrusive thoughts

Chad Wetterneck, PhD, discusses a treatment known as exposure and response prevention (ERP). Slowly exposing yourself to more triggers can reduce the amount of sexual intrusive thoughts.

Sexual Orientation OCD

Chad Wetterneck, PhD., discusses sexual orientation OCD, the different aspects of this subtype and the treatment goals.

What is Sexual Orientation OCD?

Monnica Williams, Ph.D., ABPP talks about sexual orientation OCD (SO-OCD)

Common Sexual Orientation OCD Fears

Monnica Williams, Ph.D., ABPP gives examples of common Sexual Orientation OCD (SO OCD) fears and compulsions (rituals).

Sexual Orientation OCD vs Sexual Orientation Identity

Monnica Williams, Ph.D., ABPP explains the difference between Sexual Orientation OCD fears and a person's sexual orientation identity.

Signs of Sexual Orientation OCD

Monnica Williams, Ph.D., ABPP talks about common compulsions (rituals) for Sexual Orientation OCD (SO OCD).

Stigma Related to Sexual Orientation OCD

Monnica Williams, Ph.D., ABPP talks about stigma related to Sexual Orientation OCD and how common the fears are experienced.

ERP for Sexual Orientation OCD

Monnica Williams, Ph.D., ABPP explains Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP) for Sexual Orientation OCD and address fears related to going to treatment.

Finding an OCD Provider

Monnica Williams, Ph.D., ABPP talks about the importance of finding an OCD provide.

Treatment for Sexual Orientation OCD

Monnica Williams, Ph.D., ABPP explains Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP) for Sexual Orientation OCD (SO OCD).

Why am I experiencing these symptoms?

Monnica Williams, Ph.D., ABPP explains that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) tends to latch on to things that are important to an individual.

What is Pedophilia OCD

Chad Wetterneck, PhD., discusses what pedophilia OCD is and how the thoughts present.

What is Pedophilia OCD, and what is it not

Chad Wetterneck, PhD., discusses how pedophilia OCD is very different from being a Pedophile. Pedophilia OCD can be distressing to the individuals dealing with these thoughts and often includes avoidance behaviors.

Exposure Examples for Pedophilia OCD

Chad Wetterneck, PhD., discusses how professionals determine the correct exposures for individuals with pedophilia OCD. Examples of specific exposures can vary from person to person depending on what that individual needs.

How to support someone with Pedophilia OCD

Chad Wetterneck, PhD., discusses how friends and family members can support those with sexual obsessions. Support can look different for every person depending on where they are in their journey.

How to talk about taboo intrusive thoughts with others (family, friends, therapist)

Chad Wetterneck, PhD., discusses how an individual with taboo intrusive thoughts can communicate their thoughts with therapists, family member and friends. It is important to communicate these thoughts with a mental health provider to properly treat the OCD.

Other Thoughts

Chad Wetterneck, PhD., discusses the fear that some individuals with OCD feel when considering having a child.

Testimonials | Sexual Intrusive Thoughts

Sexual Intrusive Thoughts are something we often avoid talking about due to the shame and guilt associated with this subtype of OCD. However, Sexual Intrusive thoughts are a common subtype of OCD that many people experience. This subtype of OCD includes unwanted intrusive thoughts, impulses, or mental images that cause extreme anxiety and distress. This may include fears related to one’s sexual orientation and what others may think. It may also contain mental imagery of sexual behaviors that the individual finds immoral or abhorrent. The person may fear committing a harmful sexual act or being sexually aggressive. These thoughts bring no pleasure to the individual struggling. This is not the same as having a sexual fantasy, being a pedophile, or being homophobic. These thoughts are not action’s an individual with OCD wants to commit and goes against who the person is.

For those that struggle with this form of OCD, we want you to know that you are not alone, and help is available.