Scarleteen

How common is sexual OCD in those who have been sexually abused/assaulted?

Hi UnicornKitty,

Do you mean OCD that tends to focus on sex as the thing it attaches obsessive thoughts to? Or are you referring more to the idea that sexual assault can lead to compulsive sexual behavior later on?

I’m referring to sexual thoughts and feelings that are unwanted and horrifying to the individual

Got it. So, those are for sure things that survivors of sexual assault can experience. Not only can assault result in a person having things like flashbacks or unwanted recollections of what happened, it can also create complicated, conflicting, or negative reactions to sexual thoughts or feelings the individual has later on. It really depends on the individual and how they react to and cope with the assault and any resulting trauma.

Now, whether those thoughts are a component of OCD is a bit trickier to say, because OCD has two components; the obsessive thought and the compulsive action the person does without really wanting to, often as a means of dealing with or soothing the obsessive thought. What you're describing sounds like it might be closer to something like an intrusive thought, which are by definition unwanted and often upsetting to the person who has them (they can appear along with or as part of various mental health issues like anxiety disorders or OCD).

Ok, thank you so much for your input! Much appreciated!