Intercourse as coping mechanism: Find out how to cease it

When one thing unfavorable occurs in life, we both bask in our favorite meals, catch a film or typically want to do issues we like. Some others might flip to intercourse to deal with aggravating conditions. It’s true that folks’s motivations and coping mechanisms are complicated and might range 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 professional shares methods to cease utilizing intercourse as a coping mechanism.

Health Photographs reached out to Mehezabin Dordi, Medical Psychologist, Sir HN Reliance Basis Hospital, Mumbai, to know extra about it.

Utilizing intercourse as a coping mechanism

All of us have alternative ways to take care of conditions in life. In keeping with the professional, coping mechanisms are compulsions or habits which can be fashioned over time. They serve to assist an individual handle explicit emotions or conditions. Partaking in sexual actions can present a short lived escape or distraction from emotional ache, stress, anxiousness or despair. It’d function a method to numb or quickly alleviate unfavorable feelings. It is usually not at all times about unfavorable feelings. Partaking in promiscuous behaviour could be a means to spice up vanity or search exterior validation for some people. Some individuals may hyperlink their self-worth to sexual experiences or the eye they obtain from others. It can be a way for self-soothing and stress reduction. Partaking in sexual actions can launch endorphins and supply a short lived sense of delight and rest, says the professional. It might function a method 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 resembling –

1. Trauma

Individuals who have skilled previous trauma, resembling sexual abuse or assault, may develop coping methods that contain utilizing intercourse as a means to deal with or regain management over their experiences, says the professional.

2. Habit and compulsive behaviours

Intercourse habit, hyper sexuality or compulsive sexual behaviours might be related to underlying psychological well being points resembling obsessive-compulsive dysfunction, impulse management problems or different addictive behaviours.

3. Relationship difficulties

Some individuals may use intercourse as a method 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

Folks and their experiences can range vastly, however there are some indicators that may point out an unhealthy relationship with intercourse:

1. Compulsive or addictive behaviour

Partaking in intercourse or sexual actions turns into a compulsive or addictive behaviour, the place the individual feels a scarcity of management over their sexual urges or behaviours. They could have interaction in dangerous or unsafe sexual practices regardless of unfavorable penalties, says Dordi.

2. Utilizing intercourse as a major coping mechanism

The individual constantly depends on intercourse as the primary means to deal with stress, emotional ache or different life challenges. They could flip to intercourse as a way of escape or distraction reasonably than growing more healthy coping methods.

3. Interference with day by day life

The individual will get so preoccupied with intercourse that it begins to intrude with their day by day functioning and relationships. They could neglect tasks, expertise difficulties at work or college or face strained relationships resulting from their extreme give attention to intercourse.

4. Points with intimacy

As a substitute of searching for emotional connection and intimacy by means of intercourse, the individual largely makes use of intercourse as a method to keep away from emotional vulnerability or true intimacy. They could have interaction in quite a few sexual encounters, however battle to kind deep emotional connections with their companions.

5. Unfavorable emotional penalties

Regardless of the momentary reduction or pleasure intercourse may deliver, the individual experiences unfavorable emotional penalties, resembling guilt, disgrace or remorse, says Dordi.

In the event you recognise these patterns and really feel distressed, attain out to a physician.

Find out how 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 mirror in your patterns of behaviour and determine the the reason why you flip to intercourse as a coping mechanism. Discover your feelings, triggers and the unfavorable penalties that come up from this behaviour.

2. Handle underlying points

If there are underlying psychological well being points, resembling trauma, despair, anxiousness, or relationship difficulties, you need to deal with them.

3. Problem unfavorable beliefs and attitudes

Discover and problem any unfavorable beliefs or attitudes you might need about intercourse, relationships or your personal self-worth.

4. Discover various coping methods

Determine and observe more healthy coping mechanisms to switch intercourse as the primary technique of coping with stress or emotional ache. This may embrace participating in hobbies, train, mindfulness or meditation, journaling or searching for assist from family and friends.

5. Develop a assist system

Be with household, mates or assist teams as connecting with others who might need comparable experiences can assist. It might present validation, understanding and encouragement all through the method of change.

Don’t overlook to give attention to self-care actions to advertise total well-being and vanity. So, get sufficient sleep, keep a nutritious diet, train often, observe rest methods and have interaction in actions that deliver pleasure and fulfilment.