Why Am I So Scared to Have Swx Again

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What Is Erotophobia?

Erotophobia is a phobia or excessive and irrational fear of sex. This condition is frequently complex as people with erotophobia may be scared of sex in more than than one way. For instance, they may fright the act of sexual intercourse (genophobia) along with having a fright of being touched (haphephobia).

Information technology's important to annotation that erotophobia is not a simple aversion to sex, sex activity acts, or intimacy. The level of fearfulness created by this condition causes very real distress.

Symptoms of Erotophobia

For a fear of sex activity to rising to the level of becoming a phobia, the fear must be excessive, irrational, create great anxiety or distress, and occur for at to the lowest degree half dozen months. Information technology'southward non simply "being scared of sex," which tin can be natural—and fifty-fifty expected—in some situations and for some people.

Signs that you or someone you lot love may have erotophobia include:

Having a strong negative attitude toward sex activity
Having a stiff negative response to a sexual stimulus
Experiencing feelings of avoidance toward sexual practice

If left untreated, someone with erotophobia may non only avoid romantic relationships but also other forms of intimate contact.

Underlying Fears

There are certain underlying fears that, if you lot have them, may exist signs of (or even contribute to) an elevated fear of sex. They are:

Fearfulness of intimacy: The fear of intimacy is oft, though not always, rooted in a fear of abandonment or its twin, the fear of engulfment. Those who fear intimacy are non necessarily afraid of the sex act itself but are afraid of the emotional closeness that it may bring.
Fear of vulnerability: Like the fear of intimacy, the fright of vulnerability is frequently tied to a fearfulness of abandonment or fear of engulfment. In this case, people are agape that if they are totally themselves, others volition not like them. Fright of vulnerability tin can affect all types of relationships, both sexual and not-sexual.

Related Phobias

People with erotophobia tin can accept 1 or more phobias or fears related to sex. Here are a few to consider.

Genophobia

Besides known every bit coitophobia, genophobia is the fear of sexual intercourse. People with genophobia may be able to brainstorm romantic relationships and may quite enjoy activities such equally kissing and cuddling simply are agape to motility into a more physical brandish of affection.

Erotophobia vs. Genophobia

Sometimes the terms erotophobia and genophobia are used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. Erotophobia is a phobia of any aspect of sex (physical, emotional, or psychological) while genophobia is a fear of the physical act of sex activity.

Paraphobia

Paraphobia, or the fear of sexual perversion, tin involve a fear of being perverted yourself or a fear of the perversion of others. Additionally, some people with paraphobia are able to relish sexual relationships that fit well within their personal moral code, while others are afraid that whatsoever course of intimacy might be perverted.

Haphephobia

Besides known as chiraptophobia, haphephobia is the fear of being touched and tin can touch on all relationships, not just those of a romantic nature. Some people recoil from even passing contact by a relative, for example, while others are merely afraid of more protracted bear upon.

Gymnophobia

Gymnophobia, or the fear of nudity, can appear in different means. Some people are afraid of being naked themselves, others of people beingness naked around them. This phobia may co-occur with torso prototype issues or feelings of inadequacy, although it can as well occur lonely.

Philemaphobia

Also known as philematophobia, the fright of kissing tin have many causes. 1 potential cause is a concern over bad jiff. Someone with a germ phobia may also develop this fright.

Diagnosis of Erotophobia

To exist diagnosed with a phobia like erotophobia, certain criteria must exist met. Criteria for a specific phobia diagnosis include:

Having a marked fear of a specific object or situation that is out of proportion or excessive and occurs for six months or more
The fright provokes an immediate response most of the fourth dimension, often leading to abstention of the situation or increased distress when the state of affairs presents itself
The fear impacts other areas of the individual'southward life, such as socially or professionally
The fear is non a result of any other mental disorder

Causes of Erotophobia

While information technology isn't always easy to pinpoint a specific cause of erotophobia, some people may be at a higher take chances of developing this phobia.

Sexual Abuse

Although not everyone with erotophobia has been raped or sexually driveling, those who have been traumatized sexually are at increased risk of developing some class of erotophobia.

Other Trauma

People who have been through other types of major traumas also accept a higher risk of developing anxiety disorders, including phobias.

If the trauma was concrete, for case, yous may develop a touch-related erotophobia. Conversely, those who have been through psychological or emotional corruption may be more probable to develop intimacy or vulnerability fears.

Personal, Cultural, and Religious Mores

Many religions and societies frown on sexual intercourse except for procreation. Research suggests that there is a positive relationship betwixt erotophobia and growing up in a religion with strong ideas around sex activity and what is appropriate.

If you take moved abroad from a restrictive background but are agape to change by patterns of thought and action, yous may be at risk of developing a phobia.

Sexual Operation Feet

Sometimes, it isn't actually sexual activity that we fear. Instead, nosotros may worry most our own ability to please a partner. Sexual operation feet is very common, affecting upwardly to 25% of men and 16% of women, and can impact concrete function during sex or inhibit sexual want.

Age

Some researchers suggest that older people, such every bit those in older care homes, may develop erotophobia due to the perception that sex in this historic period group may be pathological or that information technology should non occur. This is often referred to as ageist erotophobia.

Concrete Concerns

Some people worry that sex activity will hurt. Others wonder if they will be able to perform due to a physiological condition or sexual dysfunction. These physical concerns tin can contribute to the development of a sex-related phobia such as erotophobia.

Fears that have a legitimate medical ground are not considered phobias. Nonetheless, some people feel fears that are far out of proportion to the reality of the situation. If your fearfulness is inappropriate to the current risks, you might have a phobia.

Handling for Erotophobia

Because erotophobia is then circuitous, seeking professional help is recommended. This professional person can aid determine what type of treatment remedies are needed, such as medication and psychotherapy.

Medication

Some practitioners prescribe medications to help reduce erotophobia symptoms in patients. Two drugs that are sometimes used for erotophobia treatment are:

Prozac (fluoxetine): a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that tin can help regulate anxiety and mood
Xanax (alprazolam): a drug used to reduce anxiety

Other drugs for treating specific phobias include antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), benzodiazepines, and beta-blockers.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy tin help ease specific phobias. This is a type of psychotherapy that involves identifying and changing thought patterns that negatively impact one'southward life.

Sex therapists are licensed mental health professionals who have completed boosted training and certification in the treatment of sexual concerns. Still, it is not always necessary to seek a sex therapist equally almost mental health professionals are capable of treating and managing erotophobia.

Depending on your therapist's style and school of thought, you lot may need to face hard and painful memories in order to heal and move forward.

Combination Approach

Some patients get better results when combining medication and psychotherapy. When the appropriate avenues are pursued with both of these erotophobia treatment options, the ability to resolve this condition is promising.

Coping With Erotophobia

There are some things you can do on your own to help yous better cope with erotophobia and its symptoms. For example, relaxation exercises and breathing control exercises can aid reduce the anxiety that comes with an elevated fearfulness of sexual practice.

If someone you dear has erotophobia, educating yourself about this condition can increase your agreement of what they are going through. If you are their partner, it may even assistance to nourish their counseling sessions (if the therapist agrees and recommends it).

A Word From Verywell

There are several treatment options that tin can assist relieve symptoms of erotophobia. Your dr. or therapist tin can help decide which ones are best for yous based on the severity of your fear of sex activity and the impact that it is having on your life.

In the meantime, be patient with yourself and honest with your therapist. Over time, your fears will lessen and y'all can learn to enjoy your personal range of sexual expression.

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Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/fear-of-sex-2671739