Sex Phobia (erotophobia): Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Sex is one of the greatest pleasures that human beings can experience, and it is beneficial not only on a physical level, but also promotes well-being. However, some people suffer from a great fear of sex and sexuality, what is known as erotophobia or sex phobia.
Erotophobia is an irrational fear of everything that has to do with sex and sexuality, and it is a complex disorder whose symptoms can vary from one individual to another. Some feel great fear when coming into contact with sexual objects, others feel panic about sexual intimacy and others about penetration. People with this phobia may experience high doses of fear of any type of sexual act or the possibility of being intimate with another person.
Regarding the irrational fear, anxiety and avoidance experienced by people with erotophobia, the object or situation that causes the phobia can vary from case to case, as well as its severity.
Erotophobia is a complex disorder which encompasses other specific sexual phobias. They are the following.
1. Genophobia
Also known as coitophobia, refers to irrational fear and stress spikes when faced with sexual relations with intercourse. Individuals who present this pathology can begin romantic relationships, enjoy activities such as kisses or hugs, but feel a great fear of sexual relations and penetration.
It is also called knotophobia. is the fear of nudity. It is a complex disorder in which people are afraid of being naked and that the people around them are naked.
This fear may indicate body image problems or feelings of inadequacy, although it can also occur as a result of a traumatic experience.
3. Fear of intimacy
This fear has nothing to do with the sexual act, but with the fact that feeling close to the other person both emotionally and physically.
4. Paraphobia
The fear of sexual perversion is also a complicated phobia. Some people are afraid of perverting themselves, while others are afraid of the perversions of others.
Some people with paraphobia are able to enjoy traditional sexual relationships that fit well within their personal moral code, while others are afraid that any form of intimacy could be perverted.
5. Haphephobia
This phobia is characterized by the fear of physical contact, that is, to be touched, and often affects all relationships, not just those of a romantic nature. Some people experience it with minimal contact, while others experience it with longer contact.
6. Vulnerability phobia
Like extreme fear of intimacy, fear of vulnerability is often linked to fear of abandonment. Many people They are afraid to show themselves as they are, because they believe that others will not like them that way. The fear of vulnerability can affect numerous relationships, both sexual and non-sexual.
7. Philemaphobia
Also known as filematophobia, it is the fear of kisses. It can have many causes and is often linked to physical concerns, such as a concern about bad breath or even germ phobia.
Sex and sexuality are very important aspects of the human condition, and erotophobia can have a devastating impact in those who experience it. Some people who suffer from this phobia choose to live their lives asexually, that is, without having sexual relations, and others have serious difficulties in maintaining intimate relationships with other people in a satisfactory manner.
Generally, the cause of this phobia is associative learning or classical conditioning that occurs when a person experience a traumatic event related to sex and sexuality, for example, having suffered a bad sexual experience in the past or having been mocked for the size of their genitals (in the case of men).
Now, irrational beliefs and poor sexual education can also cause a person to develop this phobia. Some authors claim that some people are more likely than others to develop this type of pathology. due to genetics.
Symptoms of erotophobia
Due to the variety of phobic disorders related to sex and sexuality, the object or situation that triggers the phobia may vary. However, the symptoms are usually the same:
Treatment
Phobias are common disorders and there are many types of phobic disorders. But even though the objects or situations that cause these phobias are different, The procedure is usually similar in most cases.
On the other hand, since sex is a very important part of a person’s life and usually also affects relationships, Treatment usually includes reinforcement to improve self-esteem and correct those beliefs that interfere with the patient’s well-being.
Patients with some type of phobia respond well to psychotherapy, and scientific studies indicate that cognitive behavioral therapy is really useful for the treatment of this disorder. Relaxation techniques and exposure techniques are the most used.
An exposure technique that has proven to be really effective In the treatment of phobias, it is systematic desensitization, which gradually exposes the patient to the sexual situations they fear while providing them with adaptive tools to cope with the phobic stimulus. In addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnosis or Mindfulness have also been shown to be effective.
In extreme cases, that is, those in which the patient suffers great anxiety, drugs can be used. Now, always combined with psychological therapy and never as the only therapeutic option.
“Apps” for the treatment of phobias
Nowadays, new technologies are part of all areas of our lives. We can buy online, train at distance universities and even receive online therapy.
Besides, The mobile phone also serves as an aid or therapeutic tool In the case of phobias, there are different “apps” that help patients with phobic disorder through virtual reality or augmented reality.
