When one thing detrimental occurs in life, we both take pleasure in our favorite meals, catch a film or typically choose to do issues we like. Some others might flip to intercourse to deal with hectic conditions. It’s true that individuals’s motivations and coping mechanisms are complicated and might fluctuate from individual to individual. However let’s face it, utilizing intercourse as a coping mechanism could also be something however wholesome. It shouldn’t be used to take care of unhappiness, grief or stress. An skilled shares the best way to cease utilizing intercourse as a coping mechanism.
Well being Photographs reached out to Mehezabin Dordi, Scientific Psychologist, Sir HN Reliance Basis Hospital, Mumbai, to know extra about it.
Utilizing intercourse as a coping mechanism
All of us have other ways to take care of conditions in life. In response to the skilled, coping mechanisms are compulsions or habits which are fashioned over time. They serve to assist an individual handle explicit emotions or conditions. Participating in sexual actions can present a brief escape or distraction from emotional ache, stress, anxiousness or despair. It would function a technique to numb or quickly alleviate detrimental feelings. Additionally it is not at all times about detrimental feelings. Participating in promiscuous behaviour could be a means to spice up shallowness or search exterior validation for some people. Some individuals would possibly hyperlink their self-worth to sexual experiences or the eye they obtain from others. It may also be a way for self-soothing and stress aid. Participating in sexual actions can launch endorphins and supply a brief sense of enjoyment and rest, says the skilled. It may well function a technique to relieve stress and quickly escape from life’s challenges.
Intercourse as coping mechanism and psychological well being
Behind using intercourse as a coping mechanism, there might presumably be underlying psychological well being points reminiscent of –
1. Trauma
Individuals who have skilled previous trauma, reminiscent of sexual abuse or assault, would possibly develop coping methods that contain utilizing intercourse as a method to deal with or regain management over their experiences, says the skilled.
2. Dependancy and compulsive behaviours
Intercourse dependancy, hyper sexuality or compulsive sexual behaviours will be related to underlying psychological well being points reminiscent of obsessive-compulsive dysfunction, impulse management issues or different addictive behaviours.
3. Relationship difficulties
Some individuals would possibly use intercourse as a technique to navigate relationship issues or fill emotional voids. They could search validation, intimacy or a way of management by means of sexual encounters.
Indicators of unhealthy relationship with intercourse
Individuals and their experiences can fluctuate vastly, however there are some indicators that may point out an unhealthy relationship with intercourse:
1. Compulsive or addictive behaviour
Participating in intercourse or sexual actions turns into a compulsive or addictive behaviour, the place the particular person feels an absence of management over their sexual urges or behaviours. They could interact in dangerous or unsafe sexual practices regardless of detrimental penalties, says Dordi.
2. Utilizing intercourse as a main coping mechanism
The particular person constantly depends on intercourse as the primary method to deal with stress, emotional ache or different life challenges. They could flip to intercourse as a way of escape or distraction relatively than creating more healthy coping methods.
3. Interference with every day life
The particular person will get so preoccupied with intercourse that it begins to intervene with their every day functioning and relationships. They could neglect duties, expertise difficulties at work or faculty or face strained relationships on account of their extreme give attention to intercourse.
4. Points with intimacy
As an alternative of searching for emotional connection and intimacy by means of intercourse, the particular person largely makes use of intercourse as a technique to keep away from emotional vulnerability or true intimacy. They could interact in quite a few sexual encounters, however battle to kind deep emotional connections with their companions.
5. Damaging emotional penalties
Regardless of the non permanent aid or pleasure intercourse would possibly convey, the particular person experiences detrimental emotional penalties, reminiscent of guilt, disgrace or remorse, says Dordi.
Should you recognise these patterns and really feel distressed, attain out to a physician.
The best way to cease utilizing intercourse as a coping mechanism
Working with a therapist or counsellor on this may be of nice assist. However listed here are another methods to take care of this downside.
1. Self-awareness and reflection
Take a while to replicate in your patterns of behaviour and establish the the reason why you flip to intercourse as a coping mechanism. Discover your feelings, triggers and the detrimental penalties that come up from this behaviour.
2. Deal with underlying points
If there are underlying psychological well being points, reminiscent of trauma, despair, anxiousness, or relationship difficulties, you must handle them.
3. Problem detrimental beliefs and attitudes
Discover and problem any detrimental beliefs or attitudes you may need about intercourse, relationships or your individual self-worth.
4. Discover various coping methods
Establish and apply more healthy coping mechanisms to switch intercourse as the primary technique of coping with stress or emotional ache. This will embody participating in hobbies, train, mindfulness or meditation, journaling or searching for help from family and friends.
5. Develop a help system
Be with household, associates or help teams as connecting with others who may need comparable experiences will help. It may well present validation, understanding and encouragement all through the method of change.
Don’t neglect to give attention to self-care actions to advertise total well-being and shallowness. So, get sufficient sleep, preserve a nutritious diet, train repeatedly, apply rest strategies and interact in actions that convey pleasure and fulfilment.
