Sexual trauma can occur in many forms and for survivors often results in short- or long-term psychological consequences, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more. In the days and weeks following occurrences of sexual trauma, survivors may grapple with confusion, guilt, social withdrawal, and anger. Despite its potential to cause psychological…
Relationships come in all shapes and sizes, and not all are monogamous. While most people are only familiar with monogamous relationships, polyamory involves multiple nonmarital relationships between partners. Polyamory isn’t about being able to do whatever you want with other people, while still reaping the benefits of going steady with…
When it comes to pornography usage, mental health professionals are divided. Many believe that pornography may be beneficial for sexual exploration, enjoyment, education, and eliminating feelings of shame surrounding sex—while others deride its consumption, or are ambivalent. Regardless, when pornography usage begins to affect someone’s relationships, self-worth, or daily functioning,…
Exhibitionistic disorder is a condition that causes someone to compulsively expose their genitals to unsuspecting passersby, typically in a public setting. This behavior elicits sexual stimulation and pleasure but is a significant source of distress for the exhibitionist. Exhibitionistic disorder is classified as a paraphilic disorder, which means it’s a…
Male hypoactive sexual desire disorder (MHSDD) is a sexual disorder that affects individuals who were assigned as male at birth. This mental health condition severely reduces a man’s desire for sex—he may experience difficulty in being physically intimate with a partner, or may struggle to become aroused by erotic images…
Transvestic disorder is a paraphilic disorder characterized by emotional distress or functional impairment due to erotic cross-dressing. Is cross-dressing a mental issue? No, it’s not. Cross-dressing is simply the act of dressing as the opposite gender. The behavior is typically practiced by cisgender, heterosexual men who wear traditionally feminine apparel…
Everyone has their sexual preferences or fetishes — for some, that involves extremely erotic practices like being tied up, handcuffed, or being otherwise made to suffer. That said, there’s a fine line between having a sexual fetish and struggling with sexual fantasies and behaviors that cripple your life. When it…
Our personal relationships with sexual desire are deeply complex. From the pangs and angst of our awkward teenage years to the difficulties of navigating healthy intimacy in adult relationships, understanding just how we feel about sex can be a lifelong journey. But as personal as sex is to all of…
In college, I had a friend who I found incredibly unique and inspiring. Not only was Margaret relaxed in the most stressful of circumstances, but she was kind, accepting, and loving—all of which rubbed off on those around her. She kept her cool during exam week, calming everybody else’s nerves;…
Pets and kids are notoriously bad at respecting bedroom boundaries. These big-eyed housemates have been known to claw at doors, swat at exposed body parts, and whine when they’re excluded from intimate activities. I’m thinking of toddlers of course, but this behavior applies to pets as well. Have you ever…
Many of us shiver or clam up at the mention of sex (we’ll get into why later) but talking about sex (when and where appropriate) is vital to our health and wellbeing—these conversations allow us to understand safe sex practices, explore our personal feelings about sex, and ultimately maintain a…
A common misconception is that as we age, we stop having sex or lose interest in sex altogether. This simply isn’t true, as supported by a recent University of Michigan/AARP poll of 1,000 older adults, or those between 65 and 80 years old. This poll found that nearly two-thirds of…