Is it ok to let groinal response happen?

I have a question about groinal response, is it okay for me to let the sensation happen? Because there was this one time, I got a groinal response while laying in bed because my foot was pointing towards my mom's room (I know this sounds crazy, but I get groinal response so easily, that's how I know it's not real arousal) and I saw someone say on a forum that you should let it happen, and not move, or try to stop it. I didn't try to "hold back" the response, and I just let it happen, and that makes me feel really guilty. I think that's what you're kind of supposed to do right? I've seen people say that you should sit with it, instead of compulsively trying to stop it, but now I feel bad for not compulsively trying to stop it.

[Hidden]

Can someone respond pls? This is really worrying me.

[alyssuh]

While i have not had any experiences with gronial responses, to me its the same as any compulsion ocd makes you do. Instead of trying to stop it, hold it! Feel what it is doing to you and realise that while its something your body can’t control, it means nothing and it should not make you feel guilty. I know its hard to not feel that way but with practice and time and exposure to it, the negative feelings and the anxiousness will diminish

[Selesnya]

I know that Chrissie Hodges talks about this some. I would check YouTube:

youtube.com/results?search_...

[cambridgeborn in reply to Selesnya]

Thanks so much for alerting us to Chrissie Hodges. She is amazing!

[Onedayatatime33]

I used to get the groinal response all the time. It was linked to my main POCD obsession but also happened at times I was anxious in general about other things. The thing that helped it subside was to just let it happen and don't fight it. Fighting it only reinforces it, as with any compulsion. Over time, it decreased and got better. Just think of the groinal response as any other anxiety response your body gets (heart racing, sinking feeling in your chest, sweating, etc). To your brain, it's just a response but to us, it's alarming because it's in a private area that we think of as reserved for sexual things. It's nothing more than an anxiety response! Just let it happen and don't fight it. It will get better over time.

[Hidden in reply to Onedayatatime33]

Thanks!! That's a great way to look at it

[Indian88]

Hi Samantha ..it’s absolutely normal to have groinal response because it is response from our mind to a thought which is sexual in nature. It doesn’t link with our sexuality in any way.It one can say is a symptom of hocd . Believe me I have suffered from it for past 11 years I know when it happens one is bound to question our sexuality but it’s ocd monster which lead us to think always opposite .

[Hidden in reply to Indian88]

but was it okay for me to let the response happen?

[Indian88 in reply to Hidden]

It’s not in your control as I said any thought sexual in nature will induce that response.Stopping that response will create more anxiety so you are absolutely right on letting that happen

[NWOntario]

Don't just let it happen (and, in fairness, you don't really have a say in the matter: it's going to happen whether you let it happen or not). While it's happening, try saying a fear statement ("The response means these thoughts are true"). If you can't do that, don't worry - but it'd be awesome exposure. Good luck!