Understanding Sexual Orientation OCD and Gender Identity OCD in Teens

The period of adolescence through young adulthood is a time of significant transition. As psychologist Erik Erikson explained in his theory on the stages of development, the goal of adolescence is to develop a sense of identity that is defined by one’s values and feelings of personal worth. Erikson referred to this as “identity vs. role confusion.”
As many of us can recall, establishing your identity is no easy task. This period of time can be simultaneously exciting, scary, and stressful. Young people are learning who they and paving the road towards adulthood. And that can come with some level of stress and worry. However, for teens and young adults who struggle with sexual orientation OCD or gender identity OCD, identity exploration can become a distressing obsession.