Sex phobia (erotophobia): causes, symptoms and treatment

Some people experience anxiety and panic attacks in situations related to sex.

Sex is one of the greatest pleasures that human beings can experience, and it is beneficial not only on a physical level, but it also promotes well-being. However, some people suffer from a great fear of sex and sexuality, which is known as erotophobia or sex phobia..

Erotophobia is an irrational fear of everything that has to do with sex and sexuality, and is a complex disorder whose symptoms can vary from one individual to another. Some feel a great fear when coming into contact with sexual objects, others panic about sexual intimacy and others about penetration. People with this phobia may experience high doses of fear of any type of sexual fear of any type of sexual act or the possibility of intimacy with another person..

Types of sex phobia

As for 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 can its severity.

Eutrotophobia is a complex disorder that encompasses other specific sexual phobias. These are the following.

Genophobia

Also known as coitophobiarefers to the irrational fear and stress peaks before sexual intercourse with coitus. Individuals who present this pathology can initiate romantic relationships, enjoy activities such as kissing or hugging, but feel a great fear of sexual intercourse and penetration.

Gymnophobia

It also receives the name of knotophobia, is the fear of nudity. It is a complex disorder in which people are afraid of being naked and the people around them.

This fear may indicate body image problems or feelings of inadequacy or feelings of inadequacy, although it can also occur as a consequence of a traumatic experience.

Fear of intimacy

This fear does not have to do with the sexual act, but with the fact of feeling close to the other person both emotionally and physically..

4. Paraphobia

Fear of sexual perversion is also a complicated phobia. Some people are afraid of perverting themselves, while others fear 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 may be perverted.

5. Haphephobia

This phobia is characterized by the fear of physical contact, ie, of being touchedand often affects all relationships, not only those of a romantic nature. Some people experience it at the slightest touch, while others at a more prolonged contact.

6. Vulnerability phobia

Like extreme fear of intimacy, fear of vulnerability is often linked to fear of abandonment. Many people are afraid to show themselves as they areThey believe that others will not like them. Fear of vulnerability can affect many relationships, both sexual and non-sexual.

7. Filematophobia

Also known as filematophobia, this is the fear of kissing. It can have many causes and is often linked to physical concerns, such as a concern about bad breath or even germ phobia.

Causes of sex phobia

Sex and sexuality are very important aspects of the human condition, and erotophobia can have a devastating impact on those who experience it. on 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 experiences a traumatic event. experiences a traumatic event related to sex and related to sex and sexuality, for example, having suffered a bad sexual experience in the past or having been teased about the size of their genitals (in the case of men).

However, irrational beliefs and poor sexual education can also cause the person to develop this phobia. Some authors affirm that some people are more prone than others to develop this type of pathologies due to genetics.

Symptoms of erotophobia

Due to the variety of phobic disorders related to sex and sexuality, the object or situation that provokes the phobia may vary. However, the symptoms are usually the same:

• Intense fear of objects, situations and thoughts related to sex and sexuality.
• Extreme anxiety in the presence of the object or situation that causes the phobia or towards thoughts or images of it.
• Avoidant behaviors.
• Sensation of lack of air and hyperventilation.
• Hypersweating.
• Dry mouth.
• Disorientation and lack of concentration.
• Tension in the muscles..
• Anguish.
• Accelerated heartbeat and increased Heart rate.
• Stomach upset and headache.

Treatment

Phobias are common disorders and there are many types of phobic disorders. But in spite of the fact that the objects or situations that cause these phobias are different, the procedure is usually similar in most cases, 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 often affects relationships as well, the treatment usually includes reinforcement to strengthen the phobia, treatment usually includes reinforcement to improve self-esteem and correct those beliefs that interfere and correcting those beliefs that interfere with the patient's well-being.

Patients with some form of phobia respond well to psychotherapy, and scientific studies indicate that cognitive behavioral therapy is indeed helpful in the treatment of this disorder. Relaxation techniques and exposure techniques are the most commonly used.

An exposure technique that has been shown to be really effective in the treatment of phobias is systematic desensitization, which gradually exposes the patient to the sexual situations he/she fears while providing him/her 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, i.e. those in which the patient suffers great anxiety, drugs can be used. However, always in combination 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 shop online, study at distance learning universities and even receive therapy online.

What's more, the cell phone also serves as an aid or therapeutic tool. in the case of phobias, as there are different "apps" that help patients with phobic disorder through virtual reality or augmented reality.

• You can learn more about these applications in this article: "8 apps to treat phobias and fears from your smartphone".