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fear of mail genitalia
Sexual Phobias

Phallophobia – The Fear of Male Genitalia

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The Extreme Fear or Disgust of Male Genitalia

Have you ever woken in the middle of the night shaking with fear, thinking about penises or feeling disgusted by male genitalia?

Do you find it difficult to have relationships with men because you fear penises?

If so, don’t worry. We’ll go through all the details surrounding this confusing and potentially embarrassing fear and help you understand how to manage it and perhaps overcome it.

What Is the Phobia of Male Genitalia Called?

The fear of male genitalia or the fear of an erect penis is called phallophobia. It is also known by other names such as ithyphallophobia and medorthophobia.

As a sufferer of phallophobia, you might have experienced a trembling sensation all over your body. You may also have felt hopeless, ashamed, and withdrawn. However, all hope is not lost. Phallophobia, like any other phobia, is treatable. It’s important though to accept that you might have a phobia.

What Is Phallophobia: A Guide

The word phallophobia is derived from the Greek words phallo meaning “penis” and phobos which means “fear.” While phallophobia impacts both men and women, the latter are more likely to suffer from it. Although phallophobia is not rare, it can develop suddenly in some while in other cases, symptoms take time to become severe.

Those suffering from phallophobia might experience a heightened sense of anxiety or panic attacks when even thinking about a penis. Women suffering from phallophobia often find it difficult to form relationships with men. They may even refuse to get married or become physically intimate with a man because of their fear of male genitalia. However, the symptoms of phallophobia don’t appear only when exposed to a penis.

The phobia can be triggered simply by looking at the outline or curvature of the penis through clothes or at something that resembles a male appendage. Sometimes, phallophobia is triggered by accidentally touching a penis, or talking about or listening to someone discuss male genitalia. Men who suffer from phallophobia might avoid wearing clothes or light fabrics that can reveal the curvature of their genitalia.

Men may also fear getting into relationships with other men. When coupled with severe psychiatric conditions, phallophobia may result in issues such as Klingsor Syndrome, or self-amputation of the penis.

Phallophobia Causes

There are various reasons why people suffer from phallophobia. Let’s take a look at some of them:

  • Family history of mental illnesses and anxiety disorders
  • Sexual abuse or rape at the hands of a man
  • Fear of male aggression and masculinity
  • Embarrassment of one’s genitalia, especially if made to feel ashamed of it by others
  • Cultural and religious factors

Some cultures and religions frown upon sexual intercourse and teach that sexual acts should only be performed after marriage or for the purpose of procreation. As a result, parents and family members might teach their children that sex is something dirty or shameful. They may also refuse to discuss genitalia and sexual abuse, which can develop into phallophobia simply due to unclear or nonexistent sex education at the right age. Women who have been taught to abstain from sex or from forming relationships with men before marriage may begin to think penises are something to be afraid of, which, in turn, makes them fear sex as well.

Symptoms of Phallophobia

Let’s take a look at the mental, emotional, and physical symptoms of phallophobia.

Mental/Emotional Symptoms

  • Feeling hopeless and worthless
  • Feeling disconnected
  • Irritability
  • Mood swings
  • Confusion
  • Lack of concentration
  • Uncontrollable anger
  • Feeling guilty and shameful
  • Fear of dying
  • Feelings of dread and an impending doom
  • Fear of losing control
  • Self-loathing
  • Self-harm
  • Feeling withdrawn from others
  • Feeling incapable of having healthy relationships with men

Physical Symptoms

  • Hot or cold flashes
  • Headaches
  • Trembling
  • Excessive sweating
  • Shortness of breath
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Nausea
  • Feeling faint
  • Dizziness
  • Numbness
  • Dryness in the mouth
  • Ringing sensation in ears
  • Hyperventilation
  • Increased blood pressure

Phallophobia Treatment

There are a variety of treatments available to treat phallophobia. You can either overcome it through different self-help techniques or with professional help. Read on as we look into some of these treatment options in detail.

What to Do to Help Myself with Phallophobia?

In case you might be wondering how to get over phallophobia on your own, there’s a wide set of potential activities that can help you recover. You can start by adding physical activity into your schedule. Vigorous exercises such as jogging, fast walking, and aerobics are beneficial in reducing anxiety, stress, and improving concentration. They also help divert the mind from intrusive and disturbing thoughts, guiding you closer towards more positive ways of thinking.

Cutting down on foods such as caffeine and foods rich in fat can also aid in reducing anxiety and symptoms of phallophobia. Moreover, following a particular schedule or exercise regimen can improve your sleep cycle and self-image. This, in turn, helps boost confidence in overcoming your fears.

Professional Help

If self-help methods don’t seem to improve your symptoms, it may be time to seek professional help. Therapists use several treatment methods including exposure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR).

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat anxiety disorders and phobias. Under exposure therapy, you are safely and repeatedly exposed to your fears, with the goal of desensitizing you. In the case of phallophobia, your therapist will start by showing you images or videos of male genitalia, to the point you start viewing a penis as a part of the human body and not something that will cause harm.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

In CBT, the therapist helps you replace your irrational thoughts with something positive and logical. The process begins with your therapist helping you trace the root cause of your phobia, why you have a fear of someone or something, and then finding ways to deal with the fear. CBT is a short-term process and aims to change your mindset in response to certain situations or stimuli.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

MBSR is an eight-week evidence-based program that offers secular and intensive mindfulness training to those suffering from anxiety, depression, stress, and other mental disorders. You can expect to learn a wide range of skills and techniques that will help you overcome phallophobia.

How to Avoid Phallophobia Altogether?

If you feel that phallophobia is negatively impacting your life, then it may be in your best interest to avoid the triggers. You can start by avoiding movies or TV shows that depict sexual acts, and refrain from looking at photos or reading about male genitalia. Try to keep your conversation with men as minimal as possible, and communicate through calls or virtually rather than meeting in person.

You might also avoid going to places that may have a large number of men and seek out professions dominated by women. For girls, it may be better to attend an all-girl school or university. All that said, remember this: there’s a fine line between maintaining a healthy space and isolating yourself.

Conclusion

Those suffering from phallophobia might be under the misconception that they are alone and no one would understand them. As a result, they often isolate themselves and tend to avoid social gatherings. This, in turn, further aggravates anxiety and depression. However, like any other phobia, phallophobia is treatable. So, don’t feel ashamed. If interaction with men is something you can’t avoid, equip yourself with skills that can help you overcome phallophobia. Seek help. Very soon you’ll have a normal and healthy life.

Sources

● https://optimistminds.com/phallophobia/
● https://www.findzebra.com/details/r1Aw32p-phallophobia?q=

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Your Fear Goes Up and Down

Are you someone who would rather climb the stairs than take the elevator? You call it squeezing in a workout after being sedentary the whole morning. Or perhaps you claim it's a faster route. These are both typical, normal, and acceptable reasons. But what if you need to be in the conference room on the eleventh floor in five minutes, and you're wearing your business suit and wingtips? Would you still prefer to take the stairs? If your answer is yes, then maybe it's time to take a closer look at your reasons for avoiding elevators. Elevators stir all sorts of emotions in passengers. From the discomfort of closeness to strangers to the sensations in our gut, elevators can be a source of the heebie-jeebies for many, but for some, they can also be a source of terror. Let's dig a little deeper into the latter, and see what this terror is all about and what can be done to manage it. To begin with, does being inside an elevator give you chills or the sweats? Or does it trigger an unpleasant memory? Perhaps you remember movies you've watched where something terrible happens inside an elevator. From Silence of the Lambs, The Shining, Final Destination 2, or the king of all elevator horror films, 2010’s Devil, the elevator becomes witness to something sinister and horrible. And you want nothing to do with any of it. You know that you're not claustrophobic. You can deal with heights just fine, too. And you know that you're not going to be trapped inside. All of these contribute to a fear of elevators—but they don't apply to you. Yet being inside one does something to you. It's hard to explain.

What is the Fear of Elevators Called?

What you have is a fear of elevators, which is called elevatophobia. It is most commonly triggered by an experience of getting stuck inside either due to a power outage or technical maintenance. Hearing about other people's experiences or watching a movie about similar circumstances can prompt a fear of elevators getting stuck with you inside. Usually, claustrophobics and agoraphobics may also develop elevatophobia because the triggers and objects of these fears are related. Claustrophobia is the fear of closed and cramped spaces, while agoraphobia is the fear of being trapped without any means of escape. Put the two together, and the elevator becomes the perfect combination of both phobias. The space is limited and closed, with only one means of entry and exit. You can add another point of access if you consider climbing the cables like they do in the movies, but that certainly isn't ideal.

Symptoms of Elevatophobia

If for some reason an elevator stops due to an outage or some technical difficulty, passengers with elevatophobia may go into full panic mode. Even if the maintenance team advises that it will just be a matter of minutes, by then, the person's mind has become irrational with the fear of the elevator falling, being stuck for hours, or other unpleasant thoughts. You would expect a person to exhibit the following physical symptoms: Additionally, you would be filled with that overwhelming anxiety where you feel that you have zero control over the situation. You start fearing the unknown and are filled with negative thoughts about death and imminent doom. You become irrational and unresponsive.

Possible Complications of Elevatophobia

When the panic sets in, the possibility of emergencies related to pre-existing conditions may make themselves known. This might include serious health crises like heart attacks or asthma attacks. When this happens, fear becomes a medical emergency. Elevator rides do not last long; it's just a matter of minutes or even less. But the fact that a person can escalate from panic to a near fatal medical situation classifies the fear of elevators as a 'hard phobia.'

Trying Some Self-Help Methods

Your fear of elevators can likely interfere with your social and work life and relationships. Not everyone understands that elevatophobia, like most phobias, can be crippling. But don't be disheartened. Depending on the level of your fear and level of control, you can gradually face and manage your phobia. Here are some recommendations you can try:
  1. Make a List of Everything that Entails Riding in an Elevator This is a systematic approach to getting over your anxiety. By following a step-by-step process, you can identify where the fear kicks in at its strongest. You can write a list of steps like pressing the topmost button and waiting to arrive on that floor, watching as the door closes and opens, being alone inside the elevator, or having delays with the doors opening. Now try doing the opposite. For example, face away from the door or occupy yourself with your phone so that you are distracted.
  2. Create Your Fear Ladder Although the name says fear of elevators, it is not the whole process that scares you. There are just phases and parts of the elevator riding experience that cause you to panic. So go back to the list you initially created and label the fear level you feel. You can do it numerically, too, like ten being 'really scary,' six, 'manageable scary,' and one, 'not scary at all.' You can put the corresponding fear levels so you can focus more time and effort into activities that are more scary to you.
  3. Face Your Fear By now, you have identified what scares you the most. You can try repetitive action to minimize your fear and increase your sense of ‘normalcy’. Remember that the longer you expose yourself to your fear, the better you get at handling your emotions. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stop. Pushing yourself too fast and too soon can backfire. Modify your pace and go slower instead.
  4. Talk About Your Fear People by nature, unfortunately, are not quick to offer understanding and support. You need to tell them what's wrong before they can empathize. Talk to someone who you trust and ask for their support, especially in the initial phase of overcoming your fear. If you are too afraid to ride the elevator alone, you can ask them to go with you, and before you realize it, you are on your floor, and there was no indication of panic.
  5. Learn To Be Patient Be patient with yourself and your predicament. This is, after all, your fight against fear. It might take hundreds of elevator ride practices before the fear gets under control. Even then, there might be some hesitations and episodes of nervousness. These are acceptable and expected, so cut yourself some slack and congratulate yourself for every progress.

Seeking Professional Help

Along with self-help, you can always enlist a medical professional's aid to support you with your elevatophobia. Talking to someone who has experience with similar cases can be comforting, because you know that you are not alone, and this situation can get better. Talk to your doctor about the severity of your fears and the symptoms that you experience. Explain how you deal with it in an attempt to control it. An exam and a health history are made to ensure that there are no unrelated or underlying problems that your symptoms might mask. Usually, phobias like this are approached with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Your doctor will talk about these options with you, and it's entirely up to you, with your doctor's recommendation, what you want to pursue. For psychotherapy, the most common type is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which aims to help you find different ways of behaving, thinking, and reacting when about to step inside an elevator or when already inside it. With medications, there are beta blockers and benzodiazepines, but note that these can have side effects. Whatever these side effects are, you should promptly share it with your doctor.

Simple Tips to Overcome Elevatophobia

Elevators are not perfect, but their likelihood to malfunction, fall, or get stuck is very low. If you are not fully confident with this information, you can help overcome your elevatophobia by learning common elevator safety tips and basic elevator operations. These should help curb your mild fear until you become more self-assured. In addition to that, here are some of the things that you can do to gradually overcome your fear of elevators—both in getting on and riding one.

Conclusion

Yes, elevatophobia can be a challenge in today's world, but don't allow the elevator to win. Don't let it stop you from taking a job on the top floor or attending a social gathering on the rooftop. Sure, you can take the stairs if you insist and arrive winded and sweaty, with the party about to wrap up. But is this the quality of life you seek? Elevators are designed to make life easier. There are guaranteed ways to help you overcome elevatophobia. Take the first step and seek help. Soon, you’ll see yourself breezing through the floors with those arduous stair climbs little more than a memory.
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