The thought, sight, or possession of an erect penis may just be scary. If you can relate to that kind of fear, you probably have Ithyphallophobia.
The penis has been a symbol of manhood and sex for centuries. In some cultures, the penis is celebrated in fertility festivals where women ride on penises carved out of wood.
Still, it is far from fiction when you hear people of any gender say how deeply they fear anything related to an Erect penis. Ithyphallophobia is the irrational fear of having, seeing, or thinking about an erect penis.
The big question here is – what could be responsible for this phobia? Let’s explore the possible causes of Ithyphallophobia (fear of having, seeing, or thinking about an erect penis).
Common Possible Causes and Triggers of Ithyphallophobia ( fear of having, seeing, or thinking about an erect penis)
There is a wide range of reasons why a person may develop Ithyphallophobia. The fear of seeing, thinking, or having an erect penis can be triggered both in men and women, and the causes are usually not gender-specific.
While there is no particular cause of Ithyphallophobia, there are some factors that may play a role in its development. Below are the most popular likely causative factors:
Upbringing or observatory learning: People who grow up around others who are either afraid, or have unknowingly transmitted a sense of danger or uncertainty associated with seeing, thinking about, or being an erect penis, may experience Ithyphallophobia.
- Past Experience: Ithyphallophobia might also be induced by bad experiences in the past such as rape, or suggested from individuals who may have had bad experiences in the past with thinking about, seeing, or having an erect penis.
- Genetics: A persons with Ithyphallophobia may have ancestors who had been afraid of having, seeing, or thinking about an erect penis, and unknowingly passed the fear down through their genes to their offspring and so on.
Possible treatment options for Ithyphallophobia
For many people who are suffering from the thought, sight, or possession of an erect penis – Ithyphallophobia, it is common to shy away from treatment.
Such people often don’t feel the need to get treatment because it is easy for them to avoid the object that causes them fear.
This knowledge of possible avoidance gives people dealing with Ithyphallophobia a sense of control over the problem. But there are times when avoidance may not be enough or even possible.
It is important not to attempt self-help and always seek professional help when you feel overwhelmed by this or my other phobia.
Also note that all phobias can be overcome, but there is no specific treatment available for tackling them that has been proven to work on all of them, or is even guaranteed to work.
The effectiveness of the treatment method used zero’s down to the individual and what works best for them. Below are the standard treatment alternatives for Ithyphallophobia.
Talking Treatments for the treatment of Ithyphallophobia
Talking treatments, also known as talking therapies, may include counseling, and they might be quite effective for treating the fear of having, seeing, or thinking about an erect penis or Ithyphallophobia.
Talking therapies are quite effective because they are a very laid back treatment, and they are physically nonintrusive. Talk therapy usually involves talking to a highly skilled and proficient professional about what you’re experiencing, your thoughts, and your behaviour.
There is a broad range of talking therapy, but all of them have a common goal. They all aim to do the following:
- Help the patient recognize unhelpful behaviors and patterns in the way you think or act, and identify easy ways to change them.
- Help the patient resolve any complicated feelings, or find simple ways to live with these feelings
- Help the patient make sense of the things they see or feel and better understand themselves.
- Give patients a safe place and time to talk to someone who is not judgemental
Talking therapies, in most cases, are the same thing as counseling, therapy, psychological therapy, psychotherapy, talking treatment.
(CBT) Cognitive behavioral therapy
CBT treatments are one of the most popular phobia treatment methods, and it stands on the concept that what people think and how they perceive things are sometimes not real and may influence their behavior.
Experiencing distress and anxiety may sometimes bend and distort a person’s perception over reality. With cognitive behavioral therapy, the aim is to identify whether or not what you feel or think is an accurate depiction of reality.
In a case where your thoughts and feelings are found to be irrational, this treatment method employs strategies to help challenge and overcome them.
For example, when a person is terrified of having, seeing, or thinking about an erect penis or experiences Ithyphallophobia, with the help of Cognitive behavioral therapy, such a person is able to identify whether or not their fear is an accurate depiction of reality.
And if it is not, steps can be taken to work on changing that.
Medications for Ithyphallophobia
Medications have not yet been formulated for the treatment of Ithyphallophobia or any other phobia, for that matter. Medications should never be taken without first consulting a doctor.
In general, doctors will never recommend medication to you for overcoming any phobia. Therapies have been found to be a definitive way to treat or help people overcome fears.
However, there are certain medications that are prescribed as short term fixes to the symptoms or side effects of phobias. Below are some of them:
- Antidepressants
- Tranquillizers
- Beta-blockers
Physical Symptoms of Ithyphallophobia
People who deal with the fear of having, seeing, or thinking about an erect penis usually deal with a wide range of symptoms. Some people may experience panic attacks that are distressing and may happen without prior notice.
Below are some of the most common physical symptoms;
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Hot flushes or chills
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- A choking sensation
- Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Pain or tightness in the chest
- A sensation of butterflies in the stomach
- Nausea
- Headaches and dizziness
- Feeling faint
- Numbness or pins and needles
- Dry mouth
- A need to go to the toilet
- Ringing in your ears
- Confusion or disorientation
- Hyperventilation
- Tightness in the chest/chest pain and difficulty breathing
- A rise in blood pressure
Psychological Symptoms of Ithyphallophobia
In some severe cases of Ithyphallophobia, a person can suffer psychological symptoms such as:
- Fear of losing control
- Fear of fainting
- Feelings of dread
- Fear of dying
- Fear of harm or illness
- Guilt, shame, self-blame
- Withdrawing from others
- Feeling sad or hopeless
- Feeling disconnected
- Confusion, difficulty concentrating
- Anger, irritability, mood swings
The fear of having, seeing, or thinking about an erect penis, or Ithyphallophobia isn’t quite common and is rarely reported. However, when it begins to disrupt how you live your life daily, we recommend that you seek help immediately.
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