Heterophobia has been talked about all over the world recently. In the case when there is a rejection of people of the opposite sex and heterosexual relations in general, they do not even talk about the disease, but rather about the phenomenon in society. Nevertheless, heterophobes often need the help of a psychotherapist.
Description
If the word "heterophobia" is decomposed into components and analyze its origin, then the translation from ancient Greek will result in a phrase “Fear of others” (others). The term does not always refer directly to a mental disorder, it is often used to describe certain social processes, discrimination of people with heterosexual orientation.
The term first appeared in use in the 90s of the last century.
Often heterophobia are homosexuals and lesbians who express hostility towards people with a traditional orientation.
The first mention of heterophobia occurs in Echel's book Kinsey, Sex and Forgery. Later, the famous rapper Eminem will write a song in which he will also sing about homophobia - Homophobic? Nah, you're just heterophobic (Homophobic? No, you're just heterophobic).
You can look at heterophobia in different ways. But experts in the field of sexology and psychotherapy tend to believe that this is still not a disease, but a multifactorial hostility of one person to any manifestations of heterosexuality. And we are talking not only about relations with the opposite sex, but also about aggression with respect to the classical and generally accepted way of life, which is usual for traditional, heterosexual families.
Children, picnics on weekends, weddings, divorces, family responsibilities, demands to give up a woman a place - all this causes great irritation in heterophobia. And since traditional families, fortunately, still prevail in the world, the attitude towards them forms a heterophobic hostility towards society as a whole and the rules by which it lives.
Heterophobe does not like his own gender with which he was born, it seems alien to him, and also often in him there is severe anxiety and irritation at the sight of everything alien, in his understanding, the norm, for example, at the sight of the homeless, the disabled.
Heterophobia does not belong to the list of phobias stipulated by the international classification of diseases (ICD-10), it is not considered a full-fledged mental disorder.
But here are some manifestations of heterophobia may be on the list of psychiatric diagnoses. For example, fear of men is called androphobia, and fear of women is called gynecophobia, and such mental disorders exist.
Heterophobes often experience fear of intimacy and in this case, the doctor diagnoses “coitophobia” and treats precisely this disorder. If representatives of sexual minorities suffer from heterophobic moods, then this may partly be even a mental norm for them, but on the whole it speaks of social discrimination.
Causes
The reasons that can lead to a person joining the ranks of heterophobes are numerous, and only one of them does not always take place, often it is the combined effect of factors on the psyche.
Heterophobia can become people who have very poor knowledge about sex and do not have the appropriate skills.
A girl or a boy who had not previously had sexual intercourse, for which they were regularly ridiculed by girlfriends and friends, may well become heterophobic, since the very prospect of entering into a relationship with the opposite sex can cause them a state of anxiety, fear and rejection, hostility.
Heterophobia often develops in people who are shy of their body (for example, in the presence of dysmorphophobia), suffering from inferiority complexes, and also after negative sexual experience, for example, after ridicule of a sexual partner, bullying, humiliation, rape.
In most cases, a negative event occurs in childhood or adolescence and is firmly entrenched in the consciousness and subconscious of a person.
In men, the most common fear of relationships with members of the opposite sex arises against the background of a fear of suddenly losing a normal erection, doubts about their abilities to give a woman pleasure. In women, the reason may lie in the features of the first sexual contact - for example, if there was severe pain. From the point of view of the development of heterophobia, the first sexual contact is also dangerous, which immediately ended in an unwanted pregnancy and subsequent abortion.
In the case of homosexuals, it is very difficult to understand what was primary - heterophobia first appeared or initially the attraction to people of the same sex was basically based. Both scenarios are possible.
Symptoms and signs
If we are talking about supporters of same-sex love, then everything is pretty obvious: heterophobic moods will erupt with ridicule against traditional couples, avoidance of traditional sex, demonstrative contempt for traditional marriage between a man and a woman, etc.
In other cases, careful observation will be required to "calculate" the heterophobe. What may indicate heterophobia:
- a person sincerely and for a long time, and sometimes even loudly indignant at the sight of a kissing couple on a park bench, at the entrance, on the street;
- couples who cuddle on the street, somehow demonstrate their relationship, are extremely unpleasant (to disgust) to a person;
- if love scenes occur when you switch the TV, the person switches the channel in disgust or turns it off altogether;
- a person does not have a permanent partner, he remains lonely, despite the fact that he looks good, is quite successful in his career, study, has a social status;
- a person with irritation rejects any signs of attention from the opposite sex;
- he refuses to go to weddings and christenings of children to his friends, acquaintances, relatives, while always finding good reasons that supposedly prevented him from attending the celebration.
Heterophobic men often develop erectile dysfunction, not caused by any medical reasons, diseases, or infections. Heterophobes of both sexes are shy they are unpleasant to visit beaches, water parks, swimming pools, where people are almost completely undressed.
In severe cases, a person develops aggression.
He can beat a kissing couple on the street, aggressively attack the family neighbors only because the crying baby or the erotic noises of the spouses behind the wall prevent him from sleeping.
How to get rid?
There is a hostile attitude towards heterophobia in society, and therefore it is very embarrassing for a person who notices the first symptoms of such a violation to consult a doctor or psychologist, to admit this to relatives and friends. And this interferes with the timely deliverance from fear of members of the opposite sex and relations with them.
Very often, a man who suffers from heterophobia is considered gay, and this is far from always true, and a woman is credited with novels with other ladies, and at this time there is not a drop of truth either.
But the fear that you may be suspected of belonging to sexual minorities in one way or another prevents the heterophobe from recognizing the existence of a problem and asking for help. And while a person tries to hide his true moods and fears, hostility and fears, heterophobia is progressing, and the quality of life of a heterophobia is declining. Meanwhile, the sooner you start therapy, the greater the chance of getting rid of the disorder quickly and forever.
In the treatment, which is carried out by psychotherapists, methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy are used. It allows you to establish the reason for the hostility to heterosexual foundations, relationships, traditions. The doctor helps to reconsider incorrect psychological attitudes and change them to more positive ones., which will allow easier and more tolerant attitude to the representatives of the other sex.
Both individual and group therapy, psychoanalysis are shown, in severe cases - hypnosis and suggestion methods. Additionally, sedatives, sleeping pills, and vitamins are sometimes prescribed.
Separately, frigidity in heterophobic women and the absence of an erection in men with such a disorder are not treated. In the process of replacing the previous psychoanalyses with new ones, the problem of the sexual plan is solved by itself.
It’s difficult, almost impossible to help yourself on your own, without going to the doctor, with severe heterophobia controlling your emotions is very very difficult. Moreover, cure is impossible without eliminating the root cause.
The following video introduces the world to heterophobia.
