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

Erotophbia is an irrational fear of anything to do with sex and sexuality, and is a complex disorder whose symptoms may vary from individual to individual. Some people have a great fear of coming into contact with sexual objects, others have a panic about sexual intimacy, and still others have a panic about penetration. People with this phobia may experience high doses of fear of any type of sexual act or the possibility of becoming intimate with another person .

Types of sex phobia

As for the irrational fear, anxiety and avoidance experienced by people with erotophbia, the object or situation causing the phobia may vary from case to case, as well as its severity.

Erotophobia is a complex disorder that encompasses other specific sexual phobias. They are as follows.

1. Genophobia

Also known as coithophobia , refers to the irrational fear and stress peaks of sexual intercourse. Individuals with this pathology may initiate romantic relationships, enjoy activities such as kissing or hugging, but feel a great fear of sexual relations and penetration.

2. Gymnophobia

It is also called nudophobia, is the fear of nudity . It is a complex disorder in which people are afraid of being naked and of those around them.

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

Fear of intimacy

This fear has nothing to do with the sexual act, but with the fact of feeling close to the other person in both the emotional and physical sense .

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 sex that fits well within their personal moral code, while others are afraid that any form of intimacy may be perverted.

5. Hephatophobia

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

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 are , because they think that others will not like them. Fear of vulnerability can affect many relationships, both sexual and non-sexual.

7. Phylemaphobia

Also known as filematophobia, it 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 a phobia of germs.

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. Some people who suffer from this phobia choose to live their lives asexually, that is, without having sex, and others have serious difficulties in maintaining intimate relationships with other people in a satisfactory manner.

Generally, the cause of this phobia is the associative learning or classic conditioning that occurs when a person experiences a traumatic event related to sex and sexuality, for example, having had a bad sexual experience in the past or being teased about the size of their genitals (in the case of men).

However, irrational beliefs and poor sex 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 Erotophbia

Because of the variety of phobic disorders related to sex and sexuality, the object or situation that causes 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 causing the phobia or towards the thoughts or images of it.
  • Avoidance behaviour.
  • Feeling of shortness of breath and hyperventilation.
  • Hypersudation.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Disorientation and lack of concentration.
  • Tension in the muscles .
  • Distress.
  • Rapid heartbeat and increased heart rate.
  • Upset stomach and headache.

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 often affects relationships as well, the treatment usually includes a reinforcement to improve self-esteem and correct 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 actually useful in treating this disorder. Relaxation techniques and exposure techniques are the most commonly used.

One exposure technique that has proven to be really effective in the treatment of phobias 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 behavioural 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 may be used. However, always combined with psychological therapy and never as the only therapeutic option.

“Apps for the treatment of phobias

Today, new technologies are part of all areas of our lives. We can buy online, train at distance learning universities and even receive therapy online.

In addition, the mobile 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”